Loughgiel continue to dominant in Antrim

Antrim  Camogie Gillan’s Chemist  Senior Championship  Final 2015

 Loughgiel   4-11  Ballycastle 0-03

Loughgiel  senior camógs went into this final at Armoy as League winners, Championship holders and massive favourites following a 100% haul of points in their twelve league outings this season. Ballycastle on the other hand have looked unconvincing at times during this campaign and despite comfortable wins over St.Johns in the quarter final by 11 points and Dunloy in the semi final by 10 points they lost four league games and in this ,their first senior championship final, looked quite a few key players short of a championship winning side as they succumbed to a twenty point defeat . It was however an exciting afternoon in Armoy in front of a good crowd with the added anticipation of Ballycastle’s Senior hurling final involvement the following day a topic of conversation throughout the afternoon. A stiff cross field breeze was in evidence as a piper led the teams around the pitch and the tension mounted.

The game started at a furious pace and the promise of a competitive physical encounter loomed large. The question as to whether or not the big Ballycastle defenders could cope with the pace of the speedy Shamrock corner forwards was crucial to the game throughout and on more than one occasion both Aisling McFadden and Caitrín Dobbin showed their markers a clean pair of heels. The first score fell to Dobbin who cracked home a goal following a mix-up in the Ballycastle defence and from then on Loughgiel heads were up. Full forward Racquel McCarry converted a point for the Shamrocks and within a short time McFadden drew the Ballycastle goalkeeper out of her square and cleverly hand-passed a second Loughgiel goal.

Things were looking ominously bad for Ballycastle as they surged forward but could make no impression on the scoreboard despite plenty of possession and a lot of effort. This season they have seemed  to rely too heavily at times on the subtle skills of former county star Samantha McKillen who was superbly marshalled in this final by Loughgiel  full back Laura Connolly who allowed McKillen no opportunity to influence the game. The only first half score managed by the black and amber was a nice point from Denise McShane but Loughgiel soon replied with a McCarry free, a point from Aisling McFadden and another goal from Caitrín Dobbin who’s dancing feet proved impossible for the Ballycastle girls to compete with. A controversial  talking point was a powerful shot from Racquel McCarry which Loughgiel insisted had gone into the net and rebounded  back into play off the net support bar ,however referee Paul O’Neill and the  umpires decided it had struck the upright and no goal was given. A half time score of 3-03 to 0-01 in favour of Loughgiel  left Ballycastle with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Loughgiel `went in for the kill`, as the second half began wanting to put any thoughts of a revival out of the Ballycastle camógs heads`. County stalwarts Charlene Campbell and Emma McMullan both pointed for the Shamrocks, the latter from a free, and despite  a few fleeting glimpses of promise, Ballycastle looked doomed to defeat. Caoimhe Wright made a couple of good runs down the right wing for them  and took a point and Niamh Donnelly converted a placed ball but it was a case of `too little too late`, as the ruthless Loughgiel machine returned to action with a goal and point from Caitrín Dobbin and an unanswered run of five more points including two more each for Emma McMullan and Charlene Campbell and the coup -de -grace delivered by Racquel McCarry with the last point of the day. Final Score Ballycastle 0-03 Loughgiel  4-11

After fighting hard throughout the game Ballycastle were able to walk off the Armoy pitch with their heads held high despite the substantial defeat. It was a frustrating day for Ballycastle supporters who witnessed their team putting in a big effort but failing to score more than three points. The greater quality and experience of Loughgiel made the  difference and it’s a case of better  luck next time to Ballycastle and good luck to Loughgiel representing Antrim in the  Ulster championship .  A special word of thanks must be extended to the clubs whose under 10’s and under 14’s  provided half time colour and entertainment with `Go-Games and `Camóg and Run` fun- Loch Mór dal gCáis, Ballycastle, Loughgiel and Rossa.

Loughgiel  Line-out:

McAuley, B.McGarry,  L.Connolly,  U.McNaughton(Capt.), C.Boyle  E.Connolly  S.McCloskey, M.Connolly  S. Devlin, L.McNaughton  C.Campbell  E.McMullan, C.Dobbin  R.McCarry  A.McFadden

Subs used : J.Campbell.

Ballycastle line-out:

D.McMichael, C.McShane  O.Donnelly  C.McAuley, M.Donnelly  K.Donnelly (Capt.)  M.Beattie, E.Laverty  N.Donnelly, N.O’Neill   L. Dornan  D.McShane, Donnelly S.McKillen C.Wright

Subs Used :  C. Scullion  C.McShane