Antrim Camogs claim All-Ireland

Gala All-Ireland Junior Camogie Championship Final:
Antrim 2-10 Waterford 0-12

Goals from right-half forward Michaela Convery and second-half substitute Laura Connolly saw Antrim clinch the Gala All-Ireland Junior Camogie title as they defeated Waterford 2-10 to 0-12 in Sunday’s thrilling final replay at Ashbourne Co. Meath.

Trailing by six points at half-time (0-9 to 0-3) after facing a stiff breeze Antrim produced a brilliant second-half display to edge out their highly talented opponents in a tough and bruising encounter.
With wind advantage in the opening half Waterford had the better of the exchanges and with their brilliant right-half forward Aine Lyng in fine form they pulled six clear by the interval, the Antrim scores coming from Jane Adams (2) and Michaela Convery.

Waterford came close to increasing their lead in the early stages of the second-half before a well taken point by player of the match Rhona Torney settled the Antrim nerves.  Aine Lyng found an immediate reply for the Munster girls to open the gap to six again, but five minutes later things really began to happen of the Saffron girls when Michaela Convery caught a great cross-field pass from Racquel McCarry before firing in a brilliant angled drive high into the Waterford net.

Suddenly Antrim were now in the ascendency and two pointed frees inside a minute by Racquel McCarry, followed by one from play by midfielder Kerry O’Neill had them level by the forty-fifth minute.  Loughgiel’s McCarry struck a beauty from play to put Antrim ahead for the first time since the opening minute, and a minute later she added another from a free after the Waterford full-back had been harshly penalised for over-carrying.

As the tension built in the final minutes Waterford hit back with an Aine Lyng point from a ‘fifty’ to leave just one between the sides, but Antrim substitute Laura Connolly eased the pressure when she dribbled the ball ‘hockey style’ across the Waterford ‘square’ before firing it to the net.
Lyng cut the gap to a goal with another pointed free but as the Deise girls searched for an equalising goal Antrim’s Shannon Graham closed the door on their chances with a brilliantly taken point from midfield to seal a fantastic win.

In a  great all round display by Antrim goalkeeper Mairead Graham, corner-back Aisling Jackson, centre-back Emma Connolly, midfielders Kerrie O’Neill and Rhona Torney and forwards Michaela Convery, Natalie McGuinness, Shannon Graham, Racquel McCarry and team captain Jane Adams were the stars.

Scorers – Michaela Convery 1-1; Racquel McCarry 0-3; Jane Adams 0-3; Laura Connolly 1-0; Shannon Graham 0-1; Rhona Torney 0-1; Kerrie O’Neill 0-1.

ANTRIM –  Mairead Graham (Portglenone), Ashling McCall (Rossa), Aisling Jackson (St John’s), Mairin Quinn (Rossa), Coleen Doherty (Rossa), Emma Connolly (Loughgiel), Bronagh Orchin (Rossa), Kerrie O’Neill (Rossa), Rhona Torney (St John’s), Michaela Convery (Randalstown), Natalie McGuiness (Rossa), Shannon Graham (Portglenone), Katie McAleese (Portglenone), Jane Adams (Rossa), Racquel McCarry (Loughgiel).
Subs :   Charlene Hamill (Loughgiel) for K McAleese, Laura Connolly (Loughgiel) for A McCall, Bernie McKinley (Loughgiel) for C Doherty.

WATERFORD – Ashing O’Brien, Emma Hannon, Shona Curran, Kate Marie Hearne, Pauline Cunningham, Patricia Jackman, Jenny Simpson, Charlotte Raher, Mairaed Murphy, Aine Lyng, Grainne Kenneally, Jenny McCarthy, Niamh Rockett, Karen Kelly, Nicola Morrissey.

REFEREE –  Killian Looney (Cork).

Report: antrim.gaa.ie