Antrim Camogs beaten by Clare in Division 3B
1st April 2023
A late rally by Antrim came up short in Friday’s Very National Camogie League game against Clare at Portglenone. The Saffrons played second fiddle for most of the game but they rallied in the last few minutes and closed to within four points which in truth was not very reflection of the game as the girls from the Banner County held the upper hand for most of the game. The young Saffrons started promisingly and played well in the first 10 minutes when points from a Dervla Cosgrove free and two from play by Ellen McIntosh and Yvonne Martin gave them an 0-3 to 0-1 advantage. However once the visitors got their first goal through Kate Gorman in the 18th minutes the balance of play swung in Clare’s favour and saw the visitors gain the upper hand. Clare pushed on and when Aisling Cooney grabbed a second one the young Antrim team were playing second fiddle and went on to trail by 2-4 to 0-5 and half time.
Clare goalkeeper Lauren Solan pulled off an outstanding save at the beginning of the second half to deny Antrim the chance of getting back into the game and from then on the visitors were in control.
Points from Olivia Phelan (2), and Kate O’ Gorman stretched the lead out to six and it was extended to eight not long afterwards at the Munster side picked off some impressive scores
Clare started to their bench some game time, but as a game moved towards full-time Maria Bakewell took advantage of a slip by the Clare goalkeeper tp stab the ball over the line, and soon afterward Anna McNeill sent over a point and the gap was back to just four. There was still time for Antrim but though they came close Clare were never really pushed and they deservedly held on for the win.
Clare: A Cooney (1-3, 0-3 frees), K O’Gorman (1-1), O Phelan (0-2), L McDonnell (0-1), G Carmody (0-1), C Twomey (0-1), S Loughnane (0-1 free)
Antrim: M Bakewell (1-0), D Cosgrove (0-2 frees), A McNeill (0-2), E McIntosh (0-2), F McIntosh (0-1), E Martin (0-1), C O’Boyle (0-1).
Referee: C Groome (Offaly)
Antrim: Á Graham, C Kearney, S Cosgrove, E Traynor, C McNaughton, E McMullan, C Crawford, A McNeill, F McIntosh, E Martin, S Fyfe, O Laverty, E McIntosh, N Neeson, D Cosgrove.
Subs: Bríd Magill for S Fyfe (HT), M Bakewell for E Martin (41), C O’Boyle for O Laverty (41), C Heggarty for D Cosgrove (56).
Clare: L Solan, R Crowe, C Kelly, S Hogg, L McMahon, M Powell, S O’Keefe, G Carmody, N Mulqueen, L McDonnell, K O’Gorman, C Twoomey, É Hickey, O Phelan, A Cooney.
Subs: L Grady for É Hickey (HT), A Anderson for O Phelan (50), S Loughnane for A Cooney (50), A McInerney for G Carmody (57), M Stankard for S Hogg (57).
Eleven yearas ago Mark ‘Duck’ McFadden was part of the Loughgiel team who beat Offaly champions Coolderry in the All Ireland Club hurling final in Croke Park. Forutnes were a little different today as he saw his Antrim team come up short against Clare. However the hunger and love for the game is still there as he passes on his wealth of knowledge to this young Antrim team
