Derry 3-17 Antrim 0-08
DERRY worked the sliotar in both halves to build up an impressive lead that left Antrim always on the back foot throughout the 60 minutes of play.
After winning the toss and choosing to play with the wind in the first half, Derry were already menacing in Antrim’s half with two successive shots placed wide within the first minute of play.
But it would be Antrim who struck first after Anna Smyth was fouled on the 20m line and Cliodhna Thompson dispatched the sliotar into the heart of Derry’s catch net. Thompson would return again to place another free over the bar and Antrim now had two points on the scoreboard with 10 minutes gone.
But the Oak Leaf county wouldn’t be too far behind, as Derry’s Éadhaoin Bradley took possession of a diagonal ball and the half forward wasted no time in drilling that over Antrim’s bar.
As the pressure mounted on Antrim, the full backs were forced to spill the sliotar over the line for back-to-back 45s, and Derry’s Eva Forbes converted both of those into points.
With three points on the board, Derry were about to find another gear and raised a green flag from a loose ball in the back line that was easily pulled by an unmarked Éadhaoin Bradley and a clutch of five points, three from Forbes, Clodagh McIlvar and Brianna Donaghy, left Antrim unanswered at the short whistle and the half time scoreboard registering Derry 1-08 Antrim 0-02.
Antrim would have been hopeful going into the second half of establishing a turnaround due to playing with the strong breeze, but Derry mastered the element and Ríonach McNally got their second half underway within the first minute with a fine point.
Although Antrim replied quickly with a point from Caoimhe McErlain after winning a loose ball near the Derry box, Derry incremented their score with four consecutive points before Antrim’s Eimear Ward cruised a free over the Derry bar around 11 minutes in.
Derry’s Éadhaoin Bradley pointed from an intelligent pass from Eva Forbes as the midfielder scanned the pitch for an unmarked Derry jersey before offloading the accurate pass.
Antrim, however, would hit a streak of three points closing the score to Derry 1-14 Antrim 0-07 but, after Clodagh McIlvar pointed at the 20-minute mark, Derry claimed a goal as Ellen Cullen followed in to pick up the loose ball. Derry’s Brianna Donaghy would make the 16th point just before Ríonach McNally would raise the third green flag and put the game beyond Antrim, now late in the game.
An Antrim point from Eimear Ward from a 45, heartened supporters before Derry’s Feina Kerr claimed the last point in the game, bringing scores at the long whistle to Derry 3-17 Antrim 0-08.
Player of the Match Eva Forbes accepts her award
Ulster chairperson Karen McCormick presents the cup to Derry captain Aoibheann O’Loughlin
Derry panel and scorers: Karen Birt, Rionach Conlan, Gracie Mae Bradley, Aoibheann O’Loughlin, Aoibh Shivers, Aine Young, Gracie Diamond, Eva Forbes 0-05 (3f 2×45), Feina Kerr 0-02, Niamh McGuigan, Brianna Donaghy 0-03 (1f), Éadhaoin Bradley 2-02, Ríonach McNally 1-01, Ellen Cullen 0-02, Clodagh McIlvar 0-04 (2f), Grainne Oliver, Orla Mckenna, Annie Bradley, Emma McGarvey, Eva Diamond, Rose McKenna, Mya McAllister, Ava McIntyre, Aoife Gaile, Cassie Diamond, Orla Gunning, Rionach kearney, Cliodhna Moore, Ailise Musgrave, Kassie Maynes, Faye McGuickian
Antrim panel and scorers: Maeve Scullion, Kiera McLaughlin, Laoise McCollam, Isabelle Martin, Fiadh Sands, Eimear Ward 0-03 (2f 1×45), Amy Gault, Orla Munce, Anna Smyth, Tamara Black, Caoimhe McErlain 0-02, JoJo Darragh 0-01, Tegan Cassidy, Aedin Vallely, Cliodhna Thompson 0-02 (2f), Mia Carlin, Hannah Mead, Adria McAllister, Bronagh Doherty, Caela Casey, Sorchá Carey, Caragh McKinley, Molly McToal, Caoimhe McGarry, Ceolín McKeown, Maisie Monaghan, Mia McKeegan, Ciara McMullan
Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran
Antrim line-up
