Antrim retain NWP Recycling Minor crown with a dominant performance

Sunday 9 ^th  November 2014

NWP Recycling Ulster Minor Championship Final

Antrim 3-08 Down 1-07

Both Captains: Aoife Keown (Down) & Tara O’Neill (Antrim)

 

On a blustery and damp day in Fontenoy Park in Liatroim; Antrim retained the NWP Recycling Ulster Minor crown with a phenomenal team performance. From the throw in Antrim set the tone for the game ahead hitting two early points from Emily Faloon and Erin Elliot to go up 0-2 to 0-0 early on but there was no way Down weren’t going to put up a fight on home soil and the girls hit back with two scores thanks to Amy McAleenan and Niamh Rogers, Down could have had more if it wasn’t offer a strong Antrim defence who just seemed to soak up all the pressure.

This was as close as Down were going to get to Antrim in the first half as the saffron girls continued to push forward with attack after attack, the Antrim defence was letting nothing through with strong performances from Cushendall duo Tierna Carson and Tara O’Neill and St Johns player Eimear Costello in the half back line while Erin Elliot from Dunloy and Cushendall star Niamh O’Neill caused all sorts of problems for Down in front of goal. Antrim hit the back of the net first with a fine goal from Erin Elliott which was quickly followed by a point from Niamh Adams. Antrim went in at half time with a 1-07 to 0-04 advantage and I’m sure Down manager Paul Boyle was happy to hear the half -time whistle as Antrim were dominant all over the pitch.

At the start of the second half Down came out like a new team, they had hunger and desire to get back into the tie and from midfield Aiofe Keown and Clare Cleland were dominating with Amy McAleenan playing at her own home ground and Anna Rogan on the half forward line inspiring a Down fight back. Down hit back with two points, the first from Clonduff corner forward Elizabeth Wilson and then a free from Aoife Keown to leave the tie Antrim 1-07 Down 0-6 and for the first 10 minutes of the second half Down were pushing to get back to grips with the tie and a goal would get them within 1 point of Antrim.

 

But the Antrim defence were letting very little through, similar to the first half they started to soak up the pressure from Down, Antrim goalkeeper Una McKeown was letting nothing in and was keeping her full back line of Bronagh McCaughan, Chloe Higgins and Áine Mulholland on their toes. The Down girls started to get frustrated as with so much pressure at the start of the half they just couldn’t break the Antrim defence and the killer blow came shortly after when Sinead Convery from Antrim scored a goal to go 2-07 to 0-06 up midway through the half. The Down girls dropped their heads and soon after Antrim ended the tie with another goal, this time from Niamh O’Neill to have a 10 point advantage. 

To get back into this tie in the remaining 10 minutes Down needed nothing short of a small miracle, they hit back with a point which was soon cancelled out when Antrim replied with a point of their own to leave the game at Antrim 3-08 Down 0-07 with less than 5 minutes to go. In the dying minutes Down hit the back of the net for the first time with nothing but a consolation goal from midfielder Aoife Keown who battled to the very end. The game finished Antrim 3-08 Down 1-07. On the day Antrim were deserved winners with an inspirational team performance, nothing can be taken away from Down as they performed well but Antrim always seemed to have the upper hand.

 

Antrim Captains Niamh & Tara O’Neill with Aoife Woods from NWP Recycling

Many thanks must go out to the Liatroim Fontenoys club who provided the pitch and fantastic hospitality at short notice, thanks to the referee Julie O’Neill and Michael Costello for the photo’s and information on the scorers. Finally, last but by no means least many thanks to NWP Recycling for being a continuous supporter of Ulster Camogie and without your contribution each year many events just couldn’t go ahead. On the day Aoife Woods from NWP Recycling was able to attend the game and assist with the presentation at the end.