Antrim take national League crown

April 28, 2008
National Camogie League Division 3 final replay : Antrim 6-11 Offaly 3-10 Antrim's ability to find the net has landed them the Division 3 National League title - but it seems strange that the Saffrons should hit the net on six occasions and that Jane Adams is not a goal-scorer. That statistic will be of comfort to the Antrim management as they review their achievement on Saturday at Cooley in north Louth - but they will also be concerned that they dominated the first half, and then allowed Offaly to within two points at the break. Yes Antrim scored five of their goals in the opening half, ripping the Offaly defence apart on a number of occasions. Orlagh McCaul set Shannon Graham up for the first major after just seen minutes and Grainne Connolly added two more before the end of the first quarter, by which stage the Saffrons led by 3-2 to 0-4. That lead stretched with a Clare Laverty goal after 22 minutes and when Jane Adams set clubmate Orlagh McCaul up for Antrim's fifth in the 25th minute, it looked like they would romp home. Offaly though clawed their way back into the game with the help of two fortunate goals near the break from Elaine Dermody and Aoife Kelly and were only 5-3 to 3-7 in arrears at the turnover. The third quarter was low-scoring and there was still only a two point margin between the sides with 10 minutes to go. However a late unanswered 1-5 from the Antrim forward-line secured the title for them. Antrim's young squad will be boosted by the result with Sinead Laverty and Emma Connolly impressive at the back. Midfield however struggled forcing Jane Adams to forage deeper than normally. Luckily the rest of the forward line stepped up to the mark and each of them posed a serious scoring threat. Antrim : Christine Doherty, K Maybin, S Laverty, O Donnelly, Colleen Doherty, M Graham, E Connolly, C Hamill, R Torney capt, M Convery 0-1, J Adams 0-6 (0-3 frees), C Laverty 2-1, S Graham 1-2, G Connolly 2-1, O McCaul 1-0. Subs : K McAleese for M Graham, A McCaul for C Hamill. Offaly : E Carey, A Dignam, E Dermody 1-0 free, K Brady, L Sullivan, S Sullivan, M Crean, A Kelly 1-1, T Hannon, C Nevin, M Davies 1-4, M Markham 0-2 frees, A Watkins 0-3, 0-2 frees, G McRedmond, F Stevens. Subs : K Nugent for C Nevin.

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