Liatroim camogs clinch Down title

Liatroim camogs clinch Down title

23 October 2024

LIATROIM came from behind to beat Ballycran in the county U-14 Division 1 final at a windy Carryduff on Sunday.

The teams had qualified for the decider a week earlier with the Fontenoys hitting 4-14 to Bredagh’s 0-2 while Ballycran won the Ards derby with Portaferry by 8-5 to 4-4.

While the conditions were much worse later in the day, they were still difficult for both teams.

Ballycran had first use of the strong breeze and led by 1-3 to 0-2 at the break with all their scores coming from the excellent Dearbhla Gilmore, while Liatroim captain Gráinne McAleenan responded with both their points.

Given the strength of the breeze, Liatroim were well in contention and made a great start to the second half when McAleenan drove through the Ballycran defence to find the net.

Liatroim stayed on the offensive and took the lead through a goal from Clodagh O’Donnell. McAleenan added two more points followed by two goals to establish a 4-4 to 1-3 lead with Ballycran still to add to their half-time total.

Ballycran began to rally and their opponents could only watch as Dearbhla Gilmore bagged two goals before an Aisling Gilmore point put the game back in the melting pot.

McAleenan and Lauren Cluskey fired over insurance points in the final few minutes to complete the scoring in what was an excellent advertisement for under-age camogie in the county.

There were star performances from players on both teams. Liatroim won due to the efforts of Saorlaith McAleenan in goals, Estelle Austin, Mollie Clarke and Síodhna Doran in defence while Gráinne McAleenan played a captain’s role supported by Clodagh O’Donnell up front.

Aisling Gilmore was the star of the Ballycran defence with Nina Gordon putting in a good shift in midfield and Dearbhla Gilmore proving very difficult for Liatroim to handle up front alongside Kora Ritchie.

The win made it two out of two for the Fontenoys against Ballycran over the weekend as several from both teams featured in the U-16 Division 1 semi-final in Fontenoy Park on Friday evening with the home side coming away as 2-16 to 0-5 victors.

The U-16 final is pencilled in for this Saturday at the Hilltown venue and Liatroim will have to overcome a Clonduff side who won their semi-final against Bredagh by 4-11 to 2-11.

Liatroim: S McAleenan, E Quinn, M Clarke, S Doran, E Brannigan, E Austin, A Deegan, G McAleenan (capt, 3-5), L Cluskey (0-1), N O’Donnell, C O’Donnell (1-0), M O’Higgins, L Owens, C Doyle, E McAlearney.

Subs: K McAleenan for E McAlearney, A Doyle for C Doyle, M O’Hagan for L Cluskey.

Ballycran: Z Young, U Byers, C McGrath, C Boyle, O Corcoran, A Gilmore (0-1), L McCallion, N Gordon, L Bell, K Ritchie, M Masterson, F Robinson, K Savage, D Gilmore (3-3), N Caughey.