The camogie Championship started back with a bang yesterday evening, with Ahane and Newcastle West taking to the field to play each other in the first round of the championship. It took both teams awhile to settle into the pace of the game but Newcastle West were the first ones to score in the 6th minute. They scored again in the 8th minute to put them 2 points to nothing up. Aine Reynolds opened Ahane’s scoring with a point from out the field. The game was nip and tuck but Ahane kept the score board ticking over with frees coming from Niamh Mulcahy. 13 minutes in, it was Ahane 0-3 NCW 0-2. A movement started out the field by Aoife Quinn and Roisin O’Mara resulted in a lovely ball into Niamh Mulcahy who went for goal but was denied by the NCW goalkeeper who saved it only for Margaret Meskell to put the rebound into the back of the net, putting Ahane 1-3 to 0-2 ahead.

Newcastle West came back and scored a point straight after Margaret’s goal but again Niamh Mulcahy struck some top class frees and Ahane remained in the lead. 

Players put their bodies on the line and neither side were giving an inch. The Ahane back line stood their ground and dealt with the Newcastle West pressure well, Rose Collins lead from full back and cleared an amount of ball. Ahane held their own and went in 1-7 to 0-6 up at half time. 

 
Both sides came back out for the second half and it looked like there would be no let up in intensity and work rate. Ahane scored the first point of the second half from a free from Niamh Mulcahy. Ann Kennedy, Roisin O’Mara, and Noreen Flanagan covered an amount of ground in the middle of the field, they put their bodies on the line, they hooked, hassled, and harried the whole way through the game. 

 
Newcastle West began to claw back the scores and the teams went level for the first time in the 13th minute of the second half on a score line of Ahane 1-08 NCW 0-11. NCW took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes with a point but the Ahane girls held tough and bought it back to level with a point from Niamh Mulcahy. Niamh then scored three more to put is back to being the goal ahead. Tensions rose and referee Philip Dee had to hand out three yellow cards. Like Ahane, NCW were not going to go down without a fight and they brought it back level again. Three minutes into injury time NCW scored a goal putting them 1-13 to 1-12 up. From the puck out Ahane were awarded a free, Niamh stepped up to take it and once again she floated it over the bar. From the puck out the referee blew the game up meaning it ended 1-13 a piece. A fair result for both teams on the night as both teams put in a monumental effort! 

Well done to our girls who showed huge heart, determination, immense work rate, and they never let their heads drop! 

Ahane are out again on Wednesday 22nd August. They are playing Cappamore. Keep an eye out for the details on our Facebook and Twitter pages! 

Ahane Abú! 💚💛