Home » Cargin take the title as Katie McAnenly goal blitz defeats Longstone

Cargin take the title as Katie McAnenly goal blitz defeats Longstone

NWP Recycling Bridie McMenamin Shield Final

Cargin 6-08 Longstone 0-11

Referee: Phil McDonald

Longstone

Cargin were an unknown force when they reformed their senior team in early 2015 but what a momentous year it has turned out to be for them. It would be harsh to say the game was over after 5 minutes but Cargin made it very difficult for manager Marty McNeill’s Longstone team from the throw-in, with less than 5 minutes on the clock it was Cargin 2-02 Longstone 0-00. Cargin forward Katie McAnenly looked in menacing form and was almost unstoppable. Cargin added another point before Longstone hit back to get their first point on the scoreboard, Cargin 2-03 Longstone 0-01.

Katie McAnenly for Cargin

Fair play to Longstone, after a stunning start from Cargin, the young Down girls didn’t drop their heads with midfielders Kora Cunningham and Captain Erin McDowell working hard to get their team back into the game as they hit back with another point. But just as it looked as if Longstone were sneaking back into the game Katie McAnenly struck again to put Cargin 3-03 to 0-02 up but again this didn’t take any heart from the mourne girls as again Longstone hit back with a point as forwards Courtney McComb, Danielle Harrison and Amy Rogers all pushed hard to try and get a goal before half-time unfortunately Cargin captain and Full-Back Maura Creelman was thinking differently and they let very little worry goalkeeper Eleanor Mallon in the Cargin goal. As half-time approached both teams exchanged points to leave it Cargin 3-04 Longstone 0-04 at the break.

Longstone started the second half with a bit of momentum and quickly had the first score of the half, Cargin 3-04 Longstone 0-05, but again as soon as there seemed to be any sort of revival, bang, Cargin scored a goal with Katie McAnenly again hitting the net to make it Cargin 4-04 Longstone 0-5, they quickly added another point and as the time ticked by it looked like a near miracle was required by Longstone to get back into the game.

Cargin were now in control and every ball seemed to be going their way, before we knew it there was another two goals in the Longstone net as the scoreboard read Cargin 6-05 Longstone 0-05. At this stage any team would be willing the referee to blow the final whistle but Longstone continued to fight and for such a young team showed fantastic temperament, Longstone hit back with three pints in a row but couldn’t get near the Cargin goal. As the game got into the final 10 minutes the teams exchanged points but there was no way Cargin were going to give anything away.

Both teams had a number of excellent performances with Anthea Trainor and Caoimhe Poland doing well for Longstone with the unenviable task of marking Cargin’s main strike force while at the other end Sinead Laverty showed fantastic maturity for Cargin but the Player of the Match could be none other than Katie McAnenly who was in fantastic form throughout the whole game. Ulster Camogie must thank Ballymacnab GAC for providing the facilities on the day and Cargin Manager Thomas Cassidy was first to comment on the great condition of the pitch.