AN RIOCHT DREAM ENDED
Ulster Junior Camogie Championship

An Riocht (Down) 1-04 Dunloy (Antrim) 3-03 (12)

An Riocht finally ran out of time in this second replay of the Ulster Junior Camogie championship at St Pauls Shaws Road Belfast

The horrible weather conditions certainly dampened the spirits of the players and the large crowd of spectators who attended the match expecting to see a repeat of the previous two glorious games.
The difference in short between the two teams was a Dunloy win at all costs attitude which could not be matched by a naive and relatively in experienced An Riocht team who battled to the end with great gusto and courage which belied their age but who were unable to match the tactics of the Dunloy players who called on a number of their experienced senior team panel to grind out a result. The game quite clearly demonstrated the benefits to Dunloy of having a call on a senior team panel while An Riocht was very much restricted by team numbers and options.

The sudden torrential rain interrupted the Kingdoms warm – up and this contributed to their slow start to the match with Dunloy sharper out of the blocks and scoring a goal after only three minutes. This shocked An Riocht into action and they took control with a goal by Nicole Kelly followed by consecutive points from Sophie Colgan, Niamh Mulhern and Lisa Hughes to leave An Riocht leaders at half time by 1-03 to 1-00

The wind was a considerable advantage and this very much benefitted Dunloy in the second half when they registered two quick points followed by a goal from McNeill. An Riocht replied with a free well taken by Sophie Colgan. This was to be the only An Riocht score of the second half and Dunloy upped the pace and a deflection saw the ball hit the An Riocht net to end the game as a contest. A further Dunloy point left the final score at An Riocht 1-04 to Dunloy 3-03. Dunloy now face St Johns Down in the next round.

The season has now ended for An Riocht, a season in which much has been achieved. They are Down Junior Champions and Division 3 League winners, trophies they won with style and determination. It is quite remarkable that a small panel of division 3 players (many of them mere children) has rocked the very foundation of the Kingpins of Ulster Hurling and Camogie (Dunloy) forcing them to call on every last ounce of their guile, experience and playing panels and forcing them into quite unorthodox and questionable tactics. In short a real David and Goliath story which will live a lot longer in the An Riocht history book than anywhere else.

Manager Sean Caughey summed up matters afterwards. “Dunloy with their massive strength in depth, their tradition and their tactics undoubtedly intimidated our girls. We have learned an awful lot about what it takes to play at this level and that experience will be of great benefit to us in the following years. Dunloy will certainly remember the name An Riocht and will certainly treat us with respect in the future when we will undoubtedly meet again. That is more than enough reward for both management and players and while the season has now finished it has been full of memories for everyone at An Riocht.” He went on “The average age of this team is quite remarkably young and this is borne out by the fact that many of them have quickly to turn their attentions to the Down Minor championship final and Minor League play off. Maybe the season isn’t over just yet” he concluded.

Team: Joanna Sloan, Ciara Trainor, Louise Rodgers, Aine O Reilly, Marie Trainor, Ashling Clarke, Ella Colgan, Ciara Cunningham (Capt) Clara Killen, Nicole Kelly (1-00), Lisa Hughes (0-01), Laura Brennan, Coleen Fearon, Sophie Colgan (0-02), Niamh Mulhern (0-01). Subs Emily Keenan, Sarah Jane Harper, Orla Cunningham, Christina Trainor.