Antrim denied as Waterford grab late equaliser

Antrim 1-9 Waterford 1-9

ANTRIM and Waterford will have to meet again to decide the outcome of the Gala All Ireland Camogie title after the teams ended deadlocked on 1-9 apiece at Croke Park.

The Saffrons appeared to have snatched victory when team captain Jane Adams put them ahead in the final minute but thirty seconds later Karen Kelly brought the Deise girls back on terms and so the sides will have to meet again on October 3rd.

Antrim had the better of a low scoring first half and led by 4 points to 3 at the short whistle, and they appeared to be heading for victory when Racquel McCarry fired in a goal shortly after the restart.

Kelly responded with a point for Waterford but a Jane Adams point from a free and an excellent effort from McCarry from play gave the Antrim girls a commanding five point advantage.

However they lost their way a little during the following fifteen minutes and Waterford hit back with four unanswered points from Lyng (2), McCarthy and Kelly to leave just a point between the sides by the forty-seventh minute.

Natalie McGuinness eased the pressure with a well taken point for the Saffron girls but Waterford hit the front for the first time in the game when Grainne Kennealey kicked the ball the net in the fifty-second minute.

Antrim were now in danger of letting their All Ireland chance slip from their grasp but to their great credit they showed tremendous character and levelled the game again through substitute Katie McAleese with seven minutes left for play. The sides were still deadlocked when Adams won possession close to goal in the fifty-eighth minute and shook off her marker to send over a point to edge her team ahead.

The celebrations among the Antrim fans were about to begin as timed edged away, but Waterford spoiled the party when Karen Kelly swung over the equaliser to end a thrilling contest.

ANTRIM : M Graham; R Torney, A Martin, A Jackson; C Doherty, E Connolly, B Orchin; K O’Neill, N Connolly; M Convery (0-1), N McGuinness (0-1) , S Graham, R McCarry (1-2), J Adams (0-4, three frees) , L Connolly. Subs : A McCall for Martin (7 mins), C Hamill for N Connolly (28 mins), K McAleese (0-1) for L Connolly (36 mins); M Connolly for Orchin (48 mins)

Referee: D Leahy (Tipperary)