On Saturday their minors recovered from an opening round defeat in the All-Ireland Minor series to beat Galway 2-11 to 2-8 in a thrilling game in Athenry.
Then yesterday, their senior team reached the Tailored Financial Solutions Ulster Senior final with a 3-12 to 3-5 win over Down in Ballycran.
It was an excellent minor victory as the Saffrons had to travel without their midfield pairing of cousins Louise and Katie McAleese who are both out injured.
Sinead Laverty, Laura Connolly and Natalie McGuiness were superb at the back, while Shannon Graham had a stormer at midfield.
Up front Racquel McCarry was in excellent form shooting eight points.
All the goals came in the opening half – strikes from Emma McMullan and Cathy Carey giving the Saffrons an interval lead of 2-6 to 2-5.
Defence stood up to the challenge in the second half and Racquel McCarry from frees and open play did enough to edge Antrim home.
Antrim : Emma McMullan 1-1, Cathy Carey 1-0, Racquel McCarry 0-8, Shannon Graham 0-1, Una McNaughton 0-1.
In Ballycran, Down had first use of the wind, but the sides were still level at the break on 1-5 each leaving Antrim with all the advantages during the second half.
Sarah Louise Carr had a good first half scoring 1-3, but Grainne Connolly’s goal kept the Saffrons in contention.
Jane Adams and Michaela Convery were always a danger in the Antrim attack despite the best efforts of Lisa McCrickard and Karen McMullan in the Down defence.
Jane picked off nine points in total with Shannon Graham and Orla McCaul cancelling out goals from Cathy Mulholland and Naomi Morgan.
The other Tailored Financial Solutions Ulster Senior semi-final was a very one-sided affair in Coleraine with Derry steam-rolling Armagh 1-19 to 0-0.
The McGoldrick sisters caused a lot of damage with Meabh shooting 1-8 and sister Grainne 0-3 from her midfield slot.
Antrim : Shannon Graham 1-1, Grainne Connolly 1-0, Orla McCaul 1-0, Jane Adams 0-9, Michaela Convery 0-2.
Down : Sarah Louise Carr 1-3, Cathy Mulholland 1-2, Naomi Morgan 1-0.
Derry : Meabh McGoldrick 1-8, Aileen Laverty 0-6, Grainne McGoldrick 0-3, Attracta McPeake 0-1, Katrina O’Kane 0-1.
Ulster Premier League Camogie final: Loughiel 2-13 Liatroim Fontenoys 1-10
GOALS in the opening minute of each half provided the platform for Loughgiel to pick up their first Ulster Premier League title at the end of a high-quality final in Corrigan Park, Belfast last night.
The teenage strike duo of Racquel McCarry and Louise McKeown combined on both occasions. McCarry got the first within 10 seconds and McKeown grabbed her major at the start of the second half.
On both occasions those goals were massive blows to Liatroim Fontenoys who had to battle to stay in touch with their opponents.
The Down side did manage to pull back the deficit but in the last ten minutes Loughgiel showed the greater urgency and did enough to secure a six point winning margin at the end.
The North Antrim side were strong in defence with Joleen McCarry and Emma Connolly playing long clearances into the forward line. Charlene Hamill got through a lot of work at wing-forward and then later in midfield.
The sharpness of the inside forward line really occupied the Liatroim defence, and Emma McMullan’s four points were exceptional.
For the losers, veteran Mairin McAleenan, centre-back Lisa McCrickard and goalie Nuala Magee stood up to the challenge, while Kelly O’Higgins and Corrina Cunningham were also prominent.
McKeown found McCarry for the opening goal inside 60 seconds. A replica move from Liatroim three minutes later saw Caitriona McCrickard take a Kelly O’Higgins’ pass and fire into the net.
But Loughgiel went three points up inside the first quarter, only for MßirÝn McAleenan to push Liatroim ahead with two points by the 22nd minute.
However, Loughgiel finished the half stronger, as two Emma McMullan points helped them take a 1-6 to 1-5 lead at the interval
McKeown’s goal at the very start of the second half, quickly followed by a point from McCarry forced Liatroim to dig deep and by the 50th minute it was down to a one point game again, 2-7 to 1-9.
From then until the end, however, there was only one team in it as Loughgiel finished very strongly.
Match Stats
Loughgiel: S McAuley, D McBride, N McCloskey, J McCarry, B McKinley, E Connolly, S McCloskey (cpt), R Duffin (0-1), S McKeown, C Hamill, N Connolly (0-2), J Campbell, E McMullan (0-4), R McCarry (1-3, 0-2 frees), L McKeown (1-2).
Subs: A McFadden (0-1) for S McKeown (16), U McNaughton for D McBride (37)
Liatroim Fountenoys: N Magee, A Clarke, C Cunningham, B Morgan, E McCormack, L McCrickard, G O’Higgins (cpt), K McMullen (0-2), C McGovern, C Malone (0-1), K O’Higgins (0-2), D O’Prey, M McAleenan (0-4, 0-2 frees), C McCrickard (1-1, 0-1 free), G Kelly. Sub: L Grant for G Kelly (37)
Referee: M McToal (Derry)
Meanwhile in Ulster Colleges’ camogie Cross & Passion Ballycastle have beaten St Patrick’s Keady at the weekend to reach the Year 8 Ulster Colleges’ final.
Ballycastle won 5-1 to 3-1 with Bronagh McCaughan and Cliodhna McFadden scoring 2 goals each.
Camogie Results :
Corn Sighle Nic an Ultaigh
Galway 2-8 Antrim 2-11
Tailored Financial Solutions Ulster Senior semi finals
Down 3-5 Antrim 3-11
Derry 1-19 Armagh 0-0
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