Adams hat-trick seals Saffrons' final place

Antrim 3-10 Down 3-09

THREE second-half goals from Jane Adams saw Antrim gain a narrow victory over neighbours Down in Saturday’s Gala All Ireland Junior Camogie semi-final at Casement Park.

The Saffrons went into the game as hot favourites but they were pushed all the way by the Down girls and once again Adams was to prove her side’s saviour with a second-half hat-trick that got her team home by the narrowest of margins.

Antrim were in charge in the early stages and went two points clear, but when Fionnuala Carr’s long hopeful ball went all the way to the Saffrons net the pattern of the game changed dramatically. Down were now the confident side and further boosted by an excellent Niamh Mallon goal they went on to lead by 2-5 to 0-7 at half-time.

Antrim needed an early boost after the break and it came when Jane Adams latched onto a long ball by Racquel McCarry and fired it home, and a few minutes later she added a second when she again outpaced the Down defence and fired home.

Down kept in touch but when Adams completed her hat-trick to put Antrim five clear they appeared to be home and dry. However the game was to take another turn when the home side conceded another soft goal and suddenly the game was back in the melting pot.

Down pulled back to within a point and Sara-Louise Carr looked set to seal the win when she was put clear in front of goal, but keeper McCarry made up for her earlier slips and made a great save to turn it around for a ‘50’. Naimh Mallon converted the ‘50’ to bring the sides level and the match looked like ending in draw, but a late free gave Adams the chance to seal the win and the Rossa star duly obliged to book her team an All Ireland final place against Waterford on September 12th in Croke Park.

Cathy McCarry, Rona Torney, Ashlene Jackson, Ashlene McCall, Aileen Martin, Natalie McGuinness, , Bronagh Orchin, Kerry O’Neill, Emma Connolly, Michaele Convery, Charlene Hamill, Shanon Graham, Racquel McCarry, Jane Adams, Katie McAleese.

Subs – Noelle Connolly for Charlene Hamill