Antrim unlucky after strong performance!!

Irish Daily Star Camogie National League

Division Two 

Antrim 1-08 Wexford 2-07 at QUB playing fields Belfast

Antrim can count themselves very unlucky to get nothing from this very closely contested game played on a bright, sunny day with a firm cross field breeze .

Antrim had taken the opening score via the very consistent Michaela Convery, but a well struck goal from Louise Stafford soon  got The visitors back into the game. The remainder of the first half featured a series of no less than five Antrim points ,including three frees and a 45 converted by Nicole O’Neill which were interspersed with regular Wexford scores  , including two long distance frees from Rachel Collier. A very even first half finished Antrim 0-6  Wexford 1-4.

Wexford scored first in the second half via Victoria Burke and pushed hard to take control of the game but the Antrim defence stood strong and frustrated the daring  wing raids of the visitors time and time again. Following a long up-field puck from Chloe Drain Antrim closed in on the Wexford square and Noreen Graham of Ahoghill scrambled the ball over the line to put Antrim a point ahead. Fortune favoured the visitors ,however, when an `up and under` point attempt by Wexford’s Ellen Kelly  fell out of the sun over the Antrim goalie, blinded momentarily by the glare, and into the net. A further exchange of points between Lucia McNaughton, who converted two beauties from play and Wexford’s  Collier and Fitzhenry, left the game on tenterhooks,  but time ran out for a gallant Saffrons as the game finished with a final score of Antrim 1-08 Wexford 2-07.

Antrim Manager Paul Boyle was a little disappointed following the loss to Wexford,” I’m not going to  offer excuses by  drawing  attention to the key players who weren’t available today. I’d rather focus on those who were here for they tried very hard. I was delighted with the defenders in particular and I know this squad of camógs will come good given time and more big game experience.”

Antrim team: N.Cosgrove, E.Costello C.Drain T.Scullion, S.Laverty L.Connolly A.McCall, S.Graham B.Orchin, L.McNaughton M.Convery  N.O’Neill, O.McCall  S.Cosgrove  N.Graham

Subs:  S.McNicholl  C.Patterson

Wexford: G.Curtis, N.Dunphy  F.Byrne A.O’Connor, D.Kavanagh  N.Wickham  M.McGuckin, A.Higgins  L.Stafford, U.Sinnott  R.Collier  O.Lambert, E.Roche  M.Cummins  E.Fitzhenry

Subs: E.Kelly