The U14 Camogiers created an historic double for the parish when they beat Ballycastle in the County Féile Final last Saturday. The previous week the hurlers added the County Féile title to their North Antrim crown and it is the first time Loughgiel has won both County titles in the same year.
The girls entered the game as defending Champions and were as well-prepared as any team could be. They have an unblemished record this season, being unbeaten in the league, and having won the Mid Ulster A & B blitzes, and the Ulster Féile Division 1 Title.
Although playing against a slight breeze, Loughgiel got off to a great start when Ciara Laverty fired over a point within 20 seconds. This was followed by a goal from Annie Lynn and a well-pointed free from Róisín McCormick. Ciara was quickly proving the town’s chief tormentor scoring with every opportunity that came in her direction. She was quite simply unmarkable, giving the Ballycastle defence the run around. She struck over 3 quick points, the third after a great pass from Mary McKillen, to leave Loughgiel leading 1-05 to 0-00 with barely 5 minutes played. This lead would have floored many a senior team, but Ballycastle rallied and stepped up their game, scoring a goal and 2 points in the next 3 minutes to close the gap to 3. Points were then exchanged over the latter part of the first half with some stout defending required during this period. The defence was well marshalled by Aoife O`Mullan, Caitlin McCloskey and Erin McMullan. In the last 10 minutes of the half Róisín(1 point) and Ciara (2 points) scored for Loughgiel, and 2 points from Ballycastle left it 1-08 to 1-04 at half-time.
With the breeze behind them, Loughgiel started the second half pretty much as the first; Ciara pointing after 1 minute. Annie added a point 4 minutes later to leave Loughgiel leading by 6. After some pressure from Ballycastle, Loughgiel conceded a free, which Maeve Kelly converted. Loughgiel replied immediately with Róisín scoring after a great run up the field and almost from the resulting puck-out Fionnuala Laverty sent the ball back over the bar. There followed a period of stalemate with neither team able to breach the others defence. This was finally broken following some good work by Orlagh Laverty to stop the McQuillan’s clearing and Shauna McKillop pointed the resulting loose ball. This was to be the final score of the game. Final result:Loughgiel 1-13, Ballycastle 1-05. Interesting statistic for the game was that Loughgiel scored 1-12 from play (they were only awarded 1 free all day).
It was a game that had everything with superb scoring, intense tackling, hooking, blocking, high catching and strong direct running. The girls on both teams are a credit to their families, their communities and indeed to Antrim Camogie.
Congratulations to the Loughgiel players and mentors on their well deserved win. The girls successfully defended their crown from last year, meaning it is now the second time we have won back to back Féile titles and brings our tally of Antrim Camogie Féile wins to 8.
Loughgiel Scorers: Ciara Laverty 0-07, Annie Lynn 1-01, Róisín McCormick 0-03 (1 free), Fionnuala Laverty 0-01, Shauna McKillop 0-01. SUBS: Chloe Magill for Shauna McKillop, Orlagh Watson for Fionnuala Laverty.
Loughgiel: Erin McMullan, Caitriona Laverty, Caitlin McCloskey, Maeve Henry, Aine McErlean, Aoife O'Mullan, Megan McGarry, Mary McKillen, Róisín McCormick, Shauna McKillop, Carla McGarry, Annie Lynn, Ciara Laverty, Fionnuala Laverty, Orlagh Laverty. Subs: Chloe Magill, Caitlin McKee, Maria McKendry, Eirinn Kearney,Caitlin Hargan, Orlagh Watson, Kaitlin McAllister, Bernadine Hegarty, Kathryn Kelly.
MENTORS: Karen McCormick & Carl McCormick; first-aider: Siobhan McCloskey