Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie CHampiofinal: Down 0-15 Antrim 0-9
DOWN had Antrim in bother in Portglenone in the first round of the Very National League three months ago. Antrim then moved Róisín McCormick to midfield and that opened the door for goals. They eventually won the game comfortably.
On Saturday in Rossa Park, Antrim tried the same tactic, but Down didn’t buy the move second time round. The set up defensively with Dearbhla Magee superb at full-back, initially as a marker, then as a sweeper, and Catherine McGourty excellent in goals from set-plays especially during the first half.
They led from pillar to post to record their 21st provincial title and take their fourth crown in five seasons. The key again was work-rate and Down had that in spades up front from Niamh Mallon and Sara Louise Graffin, their two main scorers. But they also got it from practically every player in red and black.
Antrim just hadn’t the same hunger. Yes, they should have stayed in touch a lot better than they did, missing seven frees very much in range. But the simple fact was that Down outmanoeuvred the Saffrons tactically and let their physicality do the talking.
Mallon’s accuracy was impressive. Apart from an early free, from a difficult angle, she was deadly accurate from the placed ball and kept Antrim on the back foot. Her three points from open play were top drawer – as were the other scores from her team-mates.
Siobhán McKillop burst into life for Antrim just after half time with three quite brilliant points inside the first four minutes. But that was as good as it got for the Saffrons and they relinquished the trophy after just a year in their possession.
Mallon opened the scoring in the 8th minute from a free and had her side 0-3 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the first quarter, all the scores from frees with Amy Boyle responding for Antrim.
Points from Caitrin Dobbin and Róisín McCormick closed the gap, but Down pulled away with super scores from Sara Louise Graffin (two), Lauren Clarke and Mallon to lead by double scores, 0-8 to 0-4, at the break. The wides count had started to mount for both teams, but was more acutely felt by Antrim.
Although Mallon placed Sara Louise Graffin for a point on the re-start, Siobhán McKillop fired over three excellent points inside the next three minutes and the gap was down to two points.
Antrim had the upper hand at this stage, but were wide from a couple of frees. At the other end, Down took every opportunity that came their way and slowly put daylight between the sides.
Mallon fired over three frees midway through the half, one from right out on the side-line beside her own substitute bench. There were also goal chances for Down.
Dearbhla Coleman had one but was closed down. Then Saoirse Sands got her shot off in the 52nd minute, but Caitriona Graham saved. The sliotar came off a fence and back on to the pitch. Sands lashed out at it in frustration and hit the Antrim goalie. Referee Sean Curran brandished a red card.
Fortunately for Down, the 45 still stood and Mallon clipped it over for her tenth score.
Antrim fired four shots wide in the last ten minutes, before Dobbin eventually got their ninth point. But Down sub Ciara Fitzsimons picked up a pass from Graffin to return the serve immediately and Down had secured their 21st crown.
Down: C McGourty; A Savage, D Magee, R Smyth; B Savage, B Fitzpatrick, A Mallon; I O’Hare, C McGilligan, L Clarke (0-1), D Savage, S Sands, D Coleman, SL Graffin (0-3), N Mallon (0-10, 0-7 frees)
Subs: A McAleenan for A Mallon (46), O Boyle for R Smyth (54), C Fitzsimons (0-1) for C McGilligan (54).
Antrim: C Graham; L McKenna, K Laverty, M Lynn; M McGarry, C Conlon, C Patterson; A Boyle (0-1), M McKillen; S McKillop (0-3), S Graham, K McKillop; C McArthur, R McCormick (0-2), C Dobbin (0-3, 0-2 frees)
Subs: A Connolly for L McKenna (40), Á Magill for C McArthur (40), F Kelly for K McKillop (49), N Cosgrove for M McGarry (47)
