Cork stunned on home turf by Antrim in camogie league
Both sides feel the pressure in the Centra National League tie at MTU. Picture: Noel Sweeney
A shock result as Cork were beaten by Antrim in their second round game of the Centra Camogie League Division 1A at MTU on Saturday.
It was a game Cork would have been expected to win, but full credit to Antrim, they were deserving winners on the day.
Two second-half goals were the key scores as the visitors bounced back from their heavy loss to Tipperary last week to take the points.
It now leaves Cork pointless after two games and virtually rules them out from retaining their title. In fact, they will have to start worrying about relegation with tough away games to come.
With only three of the side that lost the All-Ireland final starting, it was never going to be a straight-forward task. Still, it was a game Cork were expected to win, and no doubt they will have to do a lot of soul-searching before their next outing in two weeks.
Antrim made all the early running, but that was no great surprise with the strong wind at their backs. They had the first few chances to score, with Nicole McAtamney missing two early frees.
Antrim took the lead after five minutes when Janey McIntosh scored, with Haley Ryan replying from a 45 for Cork. With nine minutes gone, Cork had their first goal chance with Ryan playing Orlaith Cremin in, but her effort was well saved by Caitriona Graham.
With 12 minutes gone, Cork had another chance to take the lead, but again the wind played its part as Millie Condon’s effort went just wide. McAtamney pointed for the visitors, and she added another from a free, to see Antrim lead by 0-4 to 0-1.
McIntosh increased their lead, and Eobha McAllister was also on target as Antrim were making the most of the wind to lead by 0-6 to 0-1 after 19 minutes.
Emma Murphy pulled a point back for Cork, with Cliona O’Callaghan having another shot on goal for the Rebels saved by Graham.
Murphy got her second from a free as Cork were now getting used to the wind. Cremin added another as they cut Antrim’s lead by two.
McAtamney was on target from another free, with Isobel Sheehan replying for Cork.
McAtamney got the last score of the half as Antrim led by 0-8 to 0-5, but Cork were now turning to play with the very strong wind in their favour.
Early scores from Murphy and Sheehan reduced the deficit to one before the former was on target again, to make it 0-8 each after 35 minutes.
Cremin put Cork in front for the first time, but their lead didn’t last long. Lucia McNaughton played in McAtamney to find the back of the net to put the visitors back in front.
Cork responded, with half-time substitute Orlaith Cahalane finding the back of the net, to make it 1-9 to 1-8 after 48 minutes in their favour.
Credit to Antrim they, never gave up and with 51 minutes gone hit their second goal, with Aimee Ferris on target.
McAtamney added a free to increase their lead, and when McAllister split the posts, they were 2-10 to 1-9 in front.
Cahalane put the goal between the sides, with Millie Condon also scoring to make it 2-10 to 1-11. But Cork ran out of time as Antrim hung on for a deserved win on the day for a result that will shock many.
Cork have a lot of work to do ahead of their clash with Kilkenny in two weeks.
O Cahalane 1-1, E Murphy 0-4 (0-1 45, 0-1f), O Cremin, I Sheehan 0-2, H Ryan (45), M Condon 0-1 each.
N McAtamney 1-5 (0-3 f), E McAllister 0-3 (0-1 f), J McIntosh 0-2, A Ferris 1-0.
E Hurley (St Finbarr’s); M Murphy (Ballinora), L Coppinger (St Colum’s), Aisling Egan (St Finbarr’s); A O’Neill (St Finbarr’s), A Thompson (Milford), R Harty (Ballyhea); M Condon (Ballinascarthy), A Fitzgerald (Sarsfields); E Murphy (Glen Rovers), I Sheehan (Éire Óg), O Cremin (Éire Óg); H Ryan (Blackrock), N McNabola (Cloughduv), C O’Callaghan (Blackrock).
O Cahalane (St Finbarr’s) for C O'Callaghan (ht), A McAuliffe (Castlemartyr) for I Sheehan, C Kingston (Newcestown) for A O’Neill (both 46), K McCarthy (St Finbarr’s) for N McNabola (50), A Cashman (Youghal) for H Ryan (56).
C Graham; C Patterson, S Heggarty, D Dobbin; C McKillop, K Molloy, N Cosgrove; A Boyle, E McAllister; M Kelly, L McNaughton, N McAtamney; A Ferris, C Griffin, J McIntosh.
C Conlon for N Cosgrove (ht).
Brian Kearney, Kildare.
App?
