Down blown away by a triumphant Antrim in Under 16 Championship Final

NWP Recycling Ulster Under 16 Championship Final 2015 

Antrim 8-22 Down 0-04

Antrim captain Catherine McShane hit the nail on the head in her trophy presentation speech when she astutely remarked that the final score didn’t truly reflect the game or how hard Down had tried without ever giving up. The game at windy Ahoghill was a fast, entertaining game with excellent  skill on display throughout the field. Down took an early lead as Ballycran’s Katie Gilmore converted a free and they  looked menacing in the opening minutes as Lauren Clarke and Orianna McGoey tried hard to launch attacks on the Antrim defence but to no avail. Antrim’s Victoria Edgar missed the home team’s first free of the day before play switched to the other end of the field and Down’s McGoey forced a good save from Antrim goalkeeper Catriona Graham on her home pitch.

Six minutes into the game however, with preliminary skirmishes concluded, Antrim clicked into gear like a well tuned engine and ran up a series of nine successive scores, eight of them from play including two well taken goals from Edgar and McCormick, to leave a rather young and inexperienced Down team reeling from the sustained pressure and clinical finishing of the saffron forwards. Down clawed their way back into the game and gave the Antrim defenders some food for thought, albeit fleetingly, as good approach work resulted in two frees put over well by Gilmore.

Antrim were far from finished,however, as Victoria Edgar added two points and a goal to Antrim’s tally in less than five minutes. Antrim were forced to withdraw talented half-forward Finvola McVeigh at this stage through injury and brought on Aine Devlin of  Tír na nÓg who proved a more than adequate replacement. As half time approached Aine Donnelly of Ballycastle went on an impressive solo run and passed to Edgar who released the sliotar to Meadhbh McCormick of Loughgiel to score a fine team goal. Down were left with a mountain to climb with a half time score of Antrim 4-09 Down 0-03

The second half saw no joy for Down as a rampant Antrim, determined to finish the contest, surged forward with confidence and showing great first touch and striking skills. Edgar took a quick goal for the Saffrons and a startling series of unanswered points  and two more goals left the game far beyond retrieval for a gallant Down team who ran themselves into the Ahoghill ground in an effort to be competitive, but to no avail. Antrim brought  on a full  quota of substitutes and Bronagh Devlin was the pick of the bunch with two long range points from midfield. A late consolation for Down saw Katie Gilmore convert her fourth free but the game finished with Antrim well ahead and deserved winners by a score of: Antrim 8-22 Down 0-04. These excellent  Antrim camogs, who functioned so well as a team this year, will mostly pass through into the minor ranks for next season while a substantial number of the Down players will have another year at u16. Congratulations to both squads of players on a worthy Ulster Final.

Antrim Scorers :Victoria Edgar 4-06  Meadhbh McCormick 3-01 Aine Donnelly 0-04  Emily Falloon 0-02(1f)  Kirsty Laverty 0-02 Bronagh Devlin 0-02 Genna Convery 0-01 Rebecca Hargan 0-01 Charley McCarry 1-01 Aine Devlin 0-01 C.Conlan 0-01

Down Scorers: Katie Gilmore 0-04 (4f)

Thanks to Michael Costello for the report and pictures.