Antrim camogs maintain 100 per cent record in Very Camogie League

Very Camogie League Division 1B, round three

Antrim 1-9 Westmeath 0-9

Down 0-11 Clare 1-10

Wexford 2-11 Limerick 0-10

ANTRIM and Clare both made it three wins from three starts in Division 1B on Saturday.

The Saffrons showed a number of changes to their team from the trip to Limerick and consequently struggled for periods during their battle with Westmeath in Ballycastle.

At half-time it was 0-4 each, despite the home side opening strongly with a point from Caitrín Dobbin inside 30 seconds. Fionnula Kelly pointed twice, but three frees from Caoimhe McCrossan left it all to play for in the second half.

Again Antrim started the second half well with four points from Eaanne Martin, Dobbin (two) and Kelly before McCrossan moved the scoreboard for the visitors.

Fionnuala Kelly then supplied the perfect pass for half-time substitute Dervla Cosgrove to get inside the Westmeath cover and hit the net.

That left it 1-8 to 0-5 and, although Westmeath scored four of the last five points, they couldn’t break down the Saffrons’ defence for a goal.

A goal midway through the first half in Hilltown proved the difference between a rejuvenated Down and high-flying Clare. That goal was scored by Ellen Casey and edged the visitors ahead by 1-3 to 0-5 after Down had made the better start to the game.

Former Antrim player Erin Elliott scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and there was a point each from Aimee McAleenan, Sophie McGrath and free-taker Paula O’Hagan.

O’Hagan scored two more before the break, but ZiYan Spillane converted four frees to add to her opening two points and Clare led by 1-7 to 0-7 at half-time.

Down closed the gap to two points early in the second half with points from O’Hagan and McAleenan. Both teams went without a score then for more than 15 minutes before Spillane tagged on two points that were enough to get Clare a third successive victory.

Tara Monan made a huge impression at full-back, while Beth Fitzpatrick and Aoife McDowell also did well in defence, McDowell making a goal-saving block in the first half.

In Enniscorthy, Jessie Morrissey and Joanne Dillon found the net for Wexford against Limerick inside the first four minutes. Those goals gave the home team a 2-1 to 0-6 half-time lead after playing into a diagonal breeze, and by the end they extended that margin out to seven points, 2-11 to 0-10.

The teams in this division don’t play again until March 15, when there are provincial derbies aplenty. The Ulster one is at an Antrim venue, the Munster in Clare and Westmeath will host Wexford.