Loughgiel capture 3 in a row

In what can only be described as perfect conditions for a game, Loughgiel was the venue set for the NWP Recycling Ulster Premier League Final.  The pitch was in immaculate conditions and the sun shining.  Loughgiel and Eoghan Rua Coleraine both lined out with Loughgiel shooting into the sun, and Eoghan Roe having the advantage of a slight wind in the first half.

Eoghan Rua were first out of the blocks with two pointed frees within the first five minutes one from Grainne McGoldrick and one from Grace McMullan.   Loughgiel begin to find their feet shortly afterwards and stepped up not allowing Eoghan Rua to gain too much of an advantage.  They forced Eoghan Rua into fumbling the ball and were constantly putting them under pressure.

At the other end of the field Loughgiel could not register a score, they hit three consecutive wides, having fought hard to get the ball they just couldn’t raise the white flag.  Eoghan Rua converted another free from 21 yards out through Grainne McGoldrick, it was this point that kick started Loughgiel.

A long range puc out from Ciara Johnson was played over Eoghan Rua’s Megan Kerr and into the hand of Loughgiel corner forward Joanne Campbell, instantly she ran towards goal, with Aisling Carey hot on her heels, Joanne played a simple hand pass to Aisling McFadden and this time Aisling made sure the score counted as she rattled the ball past Aileen Moore to raise the green flag.

Emma McMullan was on hand for the Shamrock’s to take the lead, collecting the loose ball from the puc out and slotting between the posts.   A foul on Lucia McNaughton 45 yards out was pointed by Racquel McCarry to extend Loughgiel’s lead to two.

The lead did not last too long as a free taken by Meabh McGoldrick was played into space for Grainne McGoldrick to run on to as she side stepped through Loughgiel she easily took her point.  In a simlar manner a long free was struck into defence but Aine Connolly and Eimear McGarry cleared the ball out the win only for it to go over the end line, Grainne McGoldrick took the game back to level scores but converting the free.

From the puc out a great ball down the centre of the field and with Lucia just out in front of Meabh McGoldrick she caught the ball on the bounce and played a quick ball to the wing to Emma McMullan who caught the ball on the bounce also, she took a perfectly timed side step around Orlagh Mullan to take her own score.

The next couple of minutes was more like a rally in the French open tennis between Emma Connolly and Maureen Heneghan than a game of camogie with both of them clearing the ball out of their own defences on a number of occassions.

The next few minutes were dominated by Eoghan Rua and they made light work of the Loughgiel defence, finding the gaps at the most appropriate time, with Rosanna McAleese scoring a point, Grace McMullan a goal and Grainne McGoldrick converting another placed ball.

After two attempts at a 45 yard free Racquel McCarry kept the Shamrocks in touch and reduced the deficit to three points once again.  Before the break Eoghan Roe had one more attempt but it was saved by Loughgiel goal keeper Ciara Johnson.

Half time Eoghan Rua 1-7 Loughgiel 1-4

Within 30 seconds of the restart the teams were level with a great run from Joanne Campbell and the ball placed well on to the in running Shauna Devlin who spotted Racquel McCarry in an open position so choosing the correct option she passed the ball and Racquel raised the green flag.

In what could be described as block of the match Meabh McGoldrick stood strong and timed her stick work perfectly to execute a shot by Shauna Devlin, this was followed up by Eilis McNamee clearing the ball out of the Eoghan Rua defence.

Racquel McCarry put Loughgiel in front once again with a pointed free.  At the other end a free was awarded against Siobhan McCloskey for a high challenge on Grainne McGoldrick, her attempt just dropped short and was evidently cleared by Eimear McGarry.

Racquel McCarry proved to be worth it in the full forward position by rising highest in the square after a high ball in from midfielder Charlene Hamill, as she stepped out of the path of Maria Mooney to score yet another goal leaving Aileen Moore with no chance.

This was followed by a great spell by Loughgiel with Emma McMullan, Charlene Hamill Racquel McCarry and Lucia McNaughton all registering points.  Emma Connolly and Helen Carey challenged for the puc out with Emma Connolly coming out on top and a cross field ball to Emma McMullan gave her the upper hand on Aisling Carey to register another point.

With seventeen minutes gone on the clock the first sub was made with Niamh Tosh coming on for Orlagh Mullan for Eoghan Rua.  Lucia McNaughton caught the puc out from the oddest of angles and with a great burst of pace she kept her nerve to score her second point of the match.

Maureen Heneghan out jumped Maeve Connolly to collect the ball from the sky and as she took the ball on the run she was challenged by Aisling McFadden, but Maureen got the ball into the full forward line, with Clare Tracey and Aine Connolly both running for the 50/50 ball, they tackled for a few seconds but Aine Connolly cleared out of defence.

Loughgiel had another opportunity for a goal with the ball hopping about the square but no one was able to get a touch to put it in the net, instead it was Shannon McWilliams for Eoghan Rua who got the touch and cleared it out over the side line.

Julie Dickson was introduced at this point for Loughgiel as she replaced Shauna Devlin at half forward, instantly Julie got involved but her shot was not on target and slipped to the outside of the post.

In the last five minutes of play Eoghan Rua began to put the pressure on, with a superb run by Katie Mullan avoiding three different challenges by Loughgiel she laid the ball off to corner forward Rosanna McAleese who composed herself to take a point.

In the last minute, Grainne MCGoldrick took on the option of running at Loughgiel, this proved worth it as after a long run she passed the ball into full forward Grace McMullan, Grace was instantly fouled and Grainne stepped up to the placed ball.

With time running out and with six defenders and a goal keeper between her and the goal many would of took the easy option and went for a point.  But with nothing to lose and losing by eight points Grainne went for the jugular and struck the ball low to the ground and her effort was rewarded by the umpire raising the green flag.

This proved to be the last puc of the game because as soon as Ciara Johnson pocked out the ball the referee blew the final whistle to see Loughgiel claim their third NWP Recycling Ulster Premier League title in a row in a score line of 3-11 to 2-9.

Many thanks to Brona McIntyre for the report

Loughgiel Team

Ciara Johnson Aine Connolly Ciara Boyle Nuala McAuley Eimear McGarry Emma Connolly Siobhan McCloskey Maeve Connolly Charlene Hamill 0-1 Aisling McFadden 1-0 Lucia McNaughton 0-2 Shauna Devlin Emma McMullan 0-4 Racquel McCarry 2-4 and Joanne Campbell

Subs; Julie Dickson for Shauna Devlin 55mins

Eoghan Roe Team

Aileen Moore Aisling Carey Maria Mooney Orlagh Mullan Eilis McNamee Meabh McGoldrick Shannon McWilliams Megan Kerr Maureen Heneghan Helen Carey Grainne McGoldrick 1-5 Katie Mullan Rosanna McAleese  0-2 Grace McMullan 1-1 and Clare Tracey

Subs; Niamh Tosh for Orlagh Mullan 47mins