Teamkit Antrim senior camogie championship: Cushendall 3-12 Loughgiel 2-15
IT might only be the first round of group games in the Teamkit Antrim senior camogie championship, but Cushendall’s draw with 11-in-a-row chasing Loughgiel on Sunday represents the first shock result for some time.
Indeed an even bigger shock looked on the cards when Ellen Leech fired over a super point from long range to put Cushendall ahead at the start of added time. But the ever reliable Roisín McCormick scored her ninth point to grab a share of the spoils at the end of an excellent championship tie.
Goals from Ruairí Óg minor Kady McNeill in the 14th and 17th minute put the seasiders into a healthy lead. But Katie McKillop immediately hit back with a goal for the Shamrocks and by half-time just three points separated the teams, 2-8 to 1-8.
Cushendall failed to score in the opening ten minutes of the second half and Róisín McCormick made them pay scoring 1-2 for the Shamrocks to take the lead for the first time. However 15 year old Eva McNeill got the ‘Dall moving again with a point from a free and soon after Orlaith McAlister picked off a third Cushendall goal.
However McCormick’s accuracy kept Loughgiel in touch and she was on hand to land the equaliser deep into added time.
Both teams featured players new to this level of competition and none of the newcomers looked out of place, particularly Kady and Eva McNeill for Cushendall and Marie Laverty for the Shamrocks.
In the other game played at the weekend Dunloy enjoyed a comfortable win over Brídíní Óga Glenravel with goals from Cassie McArthur, Eobha McAllister, Bronach Magill and Áine Magill, the latter top-scoring with 1-8.
The first of the second round games is tomorrow (WEDNESDAY) evening with Brídíní Óga in Ballycastle while Dunloy are at home to Cushendall on Saturday, less than 24 hours after the clubs meet in the Minor championship final.
Also on Wednesday there is a full round of Down championship ties, while Derry get their title-race up and running on Friday evening with four games and the third round of Cavan ties take place on Saturday.
Loughgiel: R McCormick (1-9, 0-6 frees), K McKillop (1-1), A McKillop (0-2), L McNaughton (0-1), A Boyle (0-1), C Laverty (0-1)
Cushendall: K McNeill (2-3), O McAlister (1-1), E McNeill (0-6, 0-5 frees), S McKillop (0-1), E Leech (0-1)