Hurling & Camogie

Loughgiel's defence of Antrim and Ulster camogie crowns continues today at Randalstown

Loughgiel captain Una McNaughton lifts the trophy after the Shamrocks’ Ulster final win over Slaughtneil
Loughgiel captain Una McNaughton lifts the trophy after the Shamrocks’ Ulster final win over Slaughtneil Loughgiel captain Una McNaughton lifts the trophy after the Shamrocks’ Ulster final win over Slaughtneil

Crosskeys Inn Antrim Senior Championship semi-finals: 


Today: Saturday September 24; Venue: Tír na nÓg, Randalstown 

12.30 Loughgiel (holders) v Rossa 

2pm Dunloy v Portglenone

Three weeks ago, Loughgiel's defence of their Antrim and Ulster camogie titles looked precarious.

Early in the opening half of their quarter-final of the Crosskeys Inn Senior Camogie Championship against Ballycastle, they had a player red-carded.

They responded well to go 0-10 to 0-0 ahead, but 10 minutes into the second half their opponents were just three points in arrears.

However last season's Ulster Player of the Year Caitrin Dobbin hit a goal and Loughgiel were able to hold on and make it through to meet Rossa in the opening game on today’s semi-final bill at Whitehill, Randalstown.

However they still have injuries to key players and a couple of suspensions and look a little vulnerable against a team that beat them in an early league game.

Rossa, in the club’s centenary year, have seen a return to action of most of the players that won numerous Antrim titles in the recent past – and even an All-Ireland club title in 2008.

However there is a question mark over the availability of key scoring forward Mairiosa McGourty (below) who will field for Antrim footballers in Croke Park tomorrow.

Rossa's Mairiosa McGourty is a superb all-rounder with great experience: McGourty is pictured here in action for Antrim against Colleen Atkinson (Wexford) in the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship Final at Croke Park, Dublin on September 11 2011
Rossa's Mairiosa McGourty is a superb all-rounder with great experience: McGourty is pictured here in action for Antrim against Colleen Atkinson (Wexford) in the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship Final at Croke Park, Dublin on September 11 201 Rossa's Mairiosa McGourty is a superb all-rounder with great experience: McGourty is pictured here in action for Antrim against Colleen Atkinson (Wexford) in the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship Final at Croke Park, Dublin on September 11 2011

Rossa had asked for a postponement of this semi-final but a suitable alternative date could not be found and it has to go ahead today.

Despite Loughgiel's injuries and suspensions, Rossa will need to be at their best and McGourty and Jane Adams (above) will also need to pose plenty of questions up front if the holders are to be dethroned.

Dunloy gave a solid team display in seeing off Cushendall in their quarter-final three weeks ago, but deeper analysis would suggest that they overly depend on Nicole O’Neill from placed balls for scores.

Portglenone, in the second semi-final, will pose a bigger challenge than Cushendall did, but they will need something extra special from their forwards if they are to put their neighbours on the back foot.

Dunloy are playing with a bit of assurance this season; their stick-work is crisp and there certainly is a fair semblance of team work in their play.

Aileen Martin should be in their starting line-out, having returned from an extended holiday with her fiancé Neil McManus at the end of August, and she will be central to the team’s game-plan.

On the other hand there is a bit of experience in this Portglenone team. After all they contested four finals in a row 2011-14, in comparison to Dunloy’s last appearance which was back in 2008, also a losing one.

Three things point to a Dunloy win – their league form, the fact that they have already played a championship game and the other fact that Portglenone’s last competitive action was back in July.

If things go to form, it should be a Loughgiel v Dunloy decider on Saturday October 8.