Ulster Camogie

Corn Eimhear final: St Mary’s Magherafelt 0-9 Cross & Passion Ballycastle 1-3

St Mary’s Magherafelt collected Corn Eimhear for the 13th time in Quinn Park Ballymena on Saturday, coming from behind with six second-half points to overturn Ballycastle’s 3 points interval advantage.

They dominated the game in terms of possession, but Cross & Passion’s defence was outstanding and they broke with pace and accuracy to snatch first half scores that tested the Convent’s resolve.

However Róisín Cassidy, Kirsty McLeod, Eimear McGuigan and Aine Murphy pushed their team forward in the second half to force match-winning scores.

Erin Elliott and the Ballycastle defence were excellent throughout, with Niamh O’Neill working very hard around the middle.  However the Convent’s back line also stood strong and denied them openings to get anything out of a superb final.

Roisin Cassidy fired over two superb long-range frees in the opening 10 minutes, but Caitrin Dobbin’s delivery broke kindly for Tara O’Neill to thump home a goal a minute later.

Ballycastle grew in confidence with that score and added points from O’Neill, Dobbin and Johanna McKeown to lead by 1-3 to 0-3 at the turnover.

Two early frees from Roisin Cassidy closed the gap to a single point, but Ballycastle held firm.  Significantly however they couldn’t tag on scores from their breaks as they had done earlier.

Eventually sub Aine Conway grabbed the equaliser and almost immediately Aine Murphy put them in the lead.  Murphy and Eimear McGuigan then completed the scoring, making the game safe for Magherafelt

St Mary’s: Una McKeown, Eimear O’Kane, Meaghan Diamond capt., Hannah Doherty, Rebecca Bradley, Roisin Cassidy 0-5 frees, Aine Mulholland, Kirsty McLeod, Ciara McAuley, Una McCoy, Eimear McGuigan 0-1, Emma Robinson, Katie McQuillan, Shauna McCusker, Aine Murphy 0-2. Subs: Aine Conway 0-1 for E Robinson,  Faoiltiarna Burke for U McCoy.

Cross & Passion: Allysha McGarry, Bronagh Johnson, Bronagh McCaughan capt., Siobhan Donnelly, Erin Elliott, Sarah McCloskey, Erin McBride, Katai McKillop, Tara O’Neill 1-1, Johanna McKeown 0-1, Caitrin Dobbin 0-1, Niamh O’Neill, Eimear Donnelly, Brónagh Clarke, Annie Laverty. Subs: Clare McKillop for E Donnelly.

Referee: Colm Cunning (Dunloy)

This entry was posted on Monday, December 12th, 2011 at 10:00 am and is filed under Featured News, News.

Corn Uan Uladh final: St Patrick’s Maghera 1-8 St Mary’s Magherafelt 0-1

St Patrick’s Maghera collected their 14th Ulster Colleges’ Senior camogie title on Saturday, winning the south Derry derby in Ballymena with something to spare.

It was far from a classic game of open camogie, but the intensity of the exchanges, the tackling and the commitment of all the players were enjoyed by those who brave the elements to attend.

St Mary’s defence worked very hard with Bronagh McGillian and captain Rachel Mulholland outstanding particularly during the first half, but their attack didn’t have as much bite as their opponents with Mairead McNicholl, Shannon Kearney and Shauna Quinn forcing mistakes.

The winners’ defence was also excellent, restricting St Mary’s to a single score – and that from a 36th minute free.

St Mary’s looked the stronger team during the opening exchanges against the breeze, but gradually Maghera picked off scores – 3 points from Mairead McNicholl and a fine drive forward by Shauna O’Neill.

The key score though arrived 90 seconds before the break. Mairead McNicholl played Shannon Kearney in near the end line, but the full-forward under pressure from 3 defenders cut in, and her half-blocked shot made it past Aimee McGuckin for a 1-4 to 0-0 interval lead.

Shauna Quinn and Bronagh McGillian exchanged points on the re-start, but Maghera stood up to the pressure during the third quarter and tagged on extra scores during the fourth to complete their three-in-a-row of titles.

St Patrick’s: Claire Burns, Shaunine O’Kane, Maeve Quinn, Charlotte Burke, Aoife Shaw, Aoife Ní Chasaide, Rebecca Ferguson capt, Shauna O’Neill 0-1, Brónagh Ní Chasaide, Claire Graham, Shauna Quinn 0-2, Adrienne Gorman, Mairead McNicholl 0-4, 0-2 frees, Shannon Kearney 1-1, Eimhear McNicholl. Sub: Cáitlín Ní Cheallaigh for C Graham (55).

St Mary’s: Aimee McGuckin, Aine Mulholland, Rachel Mulholland capt., Roisin Cassidy, Mary McCuallagh, Bronagh McGillian 0-1 free, Niamh McGuigan, Sinéad Donnelly, Aine McAllister, Catherine McColgan, Ruby-Marie Rice, Fiona Maguire, Brid Corrigan, Nicole Clerkin, Sarah Reid. Subs: Kirsty McLeod for S Reid (41), Sinéad Comer for N Clerkin (52).

Referee: Colm Cunning (Dunloy)

Submitted by: Seamus McAleenan

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at 8:00 pm and is filed under News.