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Antrim Senior Championship Final
Loughgiel clinched the Antrim Senior Championship title with an impressive 1-10 to 0-06 victory over current senior All-Ireland club champions. The game was a hard fought affair despite the impressive scoreline.
Rossa took and early lead going 0-02 to 00-00 ahead; however, Loughgiel clawed their way back into the match with some well taken scores. The game remained close but a point from Joanne Campbell and a goal from Raquel Mc Carry really brought belief to the Loughgiel girls.
At half time the game was still anyone’s with a scoreline of 1-05 to 0-04.
Mc Carry weighed in with a personal tally of 1-07 and the second half she really showed her class with a superb performance. Emma McMullan and Louise Mc Keown were also impressive but it was a pointed sideline from Mc Carry that really lifted the shamrocks and after this they never looked back.
Speaking after the game Loughgiel mentor Aidan Mc Keown said “”it hasn’t really sunk in yet, we really respect Rossa but we were really up for the match. It’s a great feeling.””
The victory means that the æShamrocks’ will progress to an All-Ireland semi final were they will hope to emulate the heroics of Rossa last season. However Mc Keown refused to think this far ahead; stating, “”it will be a tough task but you never know what will happen, Mickey Mc Cullagh told us we were among their toughest opponents last year and that really set us up; we believed we could do it.””
æThis victory means a lot for the club; it gives us a clean sweep claiming everything from U12 up’ he added.
Indeed this victory is an important day for Loughgiel and the clubs history. It further adds to an already impressive season and set the æShamrocks’ off on an All-Ireland campaign.
Eoghan Rua, Coleraine claimed their first Senior Derry league title with victory over holders and current Ulster Senior æB’ and Derry Senior Championship winners Lavey.
The game proved to be a game of two halves; it was a tough encounter with neither defence willing to give an inch.
Despite some good defending from Jane Carey and Maria Mooney Mary O’Kane opened the scoring for Lavey with a well taken point. She soon raised the green flag, pulling on the ground to put the ball past ækeeper Amy Holmes. Further points from Edelle Henry and O’Kane left six between the sides. Despite enjoying a lot of possession the Coleraine side could not make it count on the score board. The Lavey defence held strong, some great play from Aiden McVeigh helping to keep Coleraine scoreless for the first-half.
Eoghan Rua came out more determined in the second-half, Grace McMullan opening their account with a well taken point. McMullan then raised the green flag after a fine pass from Grainne McGoldrick and she made no mistake sending Lavey ækeeper Ciara Boyle the wrong way. Grainne McGoldrick then added a free to leave one between the sides.
Lavey continued to press forward; Seanin Mc Cann and Clare Mc Cloy battled hard but resolute defending by Adelle Archibald and captain, Ashling Carey, kept them at bay. Denise McCann pointed, for Lavey’s only score in the second-half, to put two between the sides. A well taken point from Maureen Henegan brought the deficit back to one and Meabh McGoldrick drew the sides even with only injury time to go.
Nine minutes of injury time saw Coleraine go ahead by four; a goal from Eilis McNamee and a point from Meabh McGoldrick sealing a famous four point victory for EoghanRua.
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