.jpg&w=800)
Cushendall moved to the top of the Division 1 table when they beat their nearest rivals Loughgiel in Monday evening’s opening game of Phase 2 of the Under 16 Camogie League at Pairc Mhuir.
Despite getting away to a dream start, which saw them dominate the opening quarter, Cushendall were made to work hard to keep their noses in front at half time. When Loughgiel took the lead early in the second half they appeared to be in a good position but Cushendall steadied the ship again and dominated the rest of the game to win convincingly in the end.
Ellie Joe Butler and Orlaith McAlister opened the scoring for Cushendall before Meadhbh Graham grabbed her team’s opening goal in on five minutes. When McAlister got her second point of the game the home team were six clear, but Ciara Connolly got Loughgiel up and running with a goal in the 22nd minute. Connolly added a point to cut the gap to just two, though Meadhbh Graham pulled one back for the home team to put them three clear. Corner forward Eimear McKinley brought Loughgiel level with a goal five minutes from half time, though Ellie Joe Butler popped over a point just before the break to give Cushendall a one point lead at the interval.
The second half saw Loughgiel hit the front inside four minute, and after Anna McKillop drew them level the excellent Ciara Connolly got her team’s third goal to pull them three head. The Shamrocks appeared to be in a strong position at this stage, but they would only score one more point in the final 27 minutes of the game as Cushendall hit back with a vengeance.
Four points in a row from Niamh McNeill, Orlaith McAlister, Ellie Joe Butler and McAlister again put them back in front, and thought Anna McKillop pointed for Loughgiel to level up the scores Cushendall pushed for home, hitting the last seven scores of the game, two of them goals from Orlaith McAlister and Orla Kane to run out convincing winners.
CUSHENDALL
Louise Mulholland, Caoimhe Morgan, Eimhear McMullan, Orla Kane, Laura Black, Abi McNeill, Cliodhna O’Hara, Cara O’Boyle, Orlaith McAlister, Kady McNeill, Eva McNeill, Ellie Joe Butler, Orlaith McCurry, Niamh McNeill, Rhianna Black.
Subs – Meadhbh Graham,
LOUGHGIEL
Eimear McGivern, Anya Connolly, Anna McKillop, Aoife McMullan, Erin Connolly, Zoe Cassley, Sarah Flavin, Alana McKendry, Shauna Deery, Ciara Connolly, Aiobhann Gillan, Maire Laverty, Eimear McKinley, Anna McKillop, Erin McGrathReferee – Owen Elliott (All Saints)