Antrim v Dublin Challenge match in Belfast
26th January 2025
Antrim v Down Challenge Match Saturday 25th January 2025
Antrim 1-16 Dublin 2-21
Perched atop west Belfast, St. Mary’s pitch was an Éowyn survivor; dry underfoot and free from the debris scattered around the road leading up the hill. Dublin bravely travelled the road, keen for sliotar action and they got plenty. Antrim were missing several of the regulars but that gave managers McCormick and Coulter an opportunity to run out a squad from depth and plenty of opportunities came for game time across the bench.
Antrim fared well in the first half and after a goal from Orlaith McAllister, it looked like both squads would be level at 1-09 apiece going into the break, but a tricky daisy cutter from Dublin, that could’ve been the result of a mishit, left Antrim’s keeper, Becky Ellis, rooted to the ground as the sliotar shook the back of the net for their second goal.
The second half started with a period of play where Antrim held their own point for point, but fifteen minutes in, Dublin started to win their fair share of the puck outs and converted many of those into points. Orlaith McAllister would be back in the square, firing a short low shot to goal but an outstretched hurl deflected the sliotar wide for a 45. Antrim’s Nicole McAtamney, Katie Molloy and Annie Lynn continued to threaten, but Dublin had enough on the board to enjoy the full-time whistle, with a margin of eight points.
Antrim’s management will be heartened by today’s game, where Erin Coulter, Maeve Kelly and Amy Boyle kept the inertia going around the midfield and fed clever sliotar’s in for scoring opportunities. Antrim’s Cassie McArthur was pivotal in being a physical presence and Janey McIntosh was a persistent concern for Dublin’s full back line, being omnipresent across a large portion of the field. For a winter Saturday friendly, you could argue, everyone walked off a winner.
Photos from today’s game can be found by following the link below...
https://myalbum.com/album/iQqdGEs9ghrGNL/?invite=beff6372-ea42-449e-8bb2-f0183f5bfb13
Follow Michael G. Corcoran on Twitter/X @keep_clickin for Antrim camogie match GIFS when available.