Antrim U16 championship round-up

U16 Championship Preliminary Round.

Loughgiel 6-6 Ballycastle 2-5

After a keenly contested Feis semi-final, this first round championship match was the one not to miss. Ballycastle, having already won the League, were keen to add the Championship cup to their achievements and break Loughgiel’s four year dominance in the championship at this level.

From the first whistle, this game lived up to the expectations of the large crowd that had gathered. Ballycastle opened the score with an early goal and, try though they may, Loughgiel found it difficult to break through the Ballycastle defence and raise a flag. Laura Connolly eventually broke through and sent a blistering shot to the back of the Ballycastle net.

Ballycastle replied with two points before Laura fired home Loughgiel’s second goal, shortly followed by a point from Nicole Dobbin.

Loughgiel were first out of the traps in the second half and, despite the best efforts of Michaela Beattie and Shannon Connor, the ball made its way to Rioghnach McNaughton whose quick ground stroke was rewarded with a goal. Super defending by Eimear McGarry, Laura Connolly and Niamh McGuckian kept the Ballycastle’s scores at bay whilst the endless work of Lucia McNaughton, Cathy McCarry and Nicole Dobbin resulted in well taken scores.

Loughgiel: S Carey, R Higgins, N McGuckian, C McCormick, E McGarry, L Connolly (2.0), A Boyle, M Lynn, S McCarry, J McKeown, R McNaughton (1.0), N Dobbin (0.3), C McIntyre (1.0), L McNaughton, S McCloskey, C McCarry (1.3), J Dixon (1.0), E McMillan, C McFadden, E McGuckian, S Devlin, N McCloskey, L Christie, C Higgins.

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