Ulster Camogie Final

There was heart-break for Derry in the Ulster Camogie Final on Sunday, the Oak Leafers were piped by rivals Antrim by a single point on a score-line of

2-07 to 2-06.

A Jane Adams goal right at the death rescued the game for Antrim ensuring that the Saffrons were taking home the title of newly crowned Ulster Champions.

Derry were in the driving seat with five minutes to go but Jane Adams held her nerve, floating her forty yard free into the Derry net.

“”I knew I had to go for goal, even if it was a loopy one. I was just hoping that someone might knock it in,”” said Adams after the game.

Antrim hit three unanswered points inside the opening ten minutes Katie McAleese and Jane Adams getting on the score- sheet for the Saffrons. Katie McAuley responded for Derry and her goal sparked Derry into action as they got back into contention. Derry now had gained control of the game but Antrim hung on to a one point lead at half-time, 0-05 to 1-01.

Derry struck immediately after the restart, Sinead Cassidy finding the back of the net with a left-footed goal, further points from Karen Kielt and Katie McAuley soon had Derry in the driving seat. Shannon Graham did reduce the deficit with two well taken points. Antrim had reduced Derry’s lead to five but with ten minutes left on the clock it seemed that they had left the comeback too late. Shannon Graham switched into a midfield role and soon had Antrim back in the game when her long range pass found Raquel McCarry free on the edge of the Derry square and she made no mistake coolly slotting past ‘keeper Claire O’Kane.

Antrim continued to push forward to get a winner and their efforts were soon rewarded when Adams found the back of the net in the final minute to claim victory by the narrowest of margins.Antrim manager Mickey McCullagh was pleased with the character that his side showed to fight back and claim victory.

“”We took a lot of knocks after the round-robin but no medals were handed out that day. There were medals here today and the girls proved that they wanted them. Before the game we spoke of the difference between playing time and winning time, Shannon Graham was able to step up in that vital period but Raquel (McCarry) and Jane (Adams) were able to take the scores when we needed them too. We said wanted two trophies at the start of the year, we’ve got one and we’ll get back into training and start working towards getting the other one,”” said McCullagh.

Despite being on the losing team Derry manager Barney McGrellis was pleased with his sides performance, saying: “”That’s sport for you, these things happen. The girls played a good enough game but fair play to Antrim they took their scores when it mattered and won the game. We play Limerick next in the Intermediate Championship so we’ll get back into training and regroup, when you suffer defeat you have to lift yourself up and carry on the season is not finished, there’s an All-Ireland to play for””

“