By Niall Gartland

ONLY for the shot-stopping exploits of Caitriona Graham, reigning champions Antrim wouldn’t even be in this year’s Ulster Senior Camogie Championship final, which takes place this Sunday against Derry.

Deep into injury time of their two-point semi-final win over Down, Graham was called into action when Beth Fitzpatrick latched onto a hopeful long delivery, and it looked like her subsequent shot was destined for the corner of the net.

Graham, who plays outfield for her club Ahoghill, had other ideas, and her spectacular save ensured Antrim’s safe passage through to another provincial showdown.

Confidence will be high in the camp after such a productive season to date, having gone unbeaten through Division 1B, culminating in their league final victory over Clare.

Graham said: “Last year we’d a change in management just before the league and it was a bit of a struggle through the league and although we won the Ulster Championship, we were relegated in the All-Ireland series.

“We just seemed to be on the back-foot from the word go, whereas this year we got the boost of a victory over Wexford on our first day out, and we took a lot of confidence from that, and knew there’d be a good chance of reaching the league final.

“That’s what happened, it went well against Clare, we got ahead playing against the wind and then pushed on in the second-half. There’s a lot of youth coming through as well, our minors had a great win the other week so there’s a real sense of positivity at the moment.”

Graham has played for Antrim in a goalkeeping role for eight years but at club level she stars outfield for Ahoghill, who had a brilliant 2024 season, reaching the Ulster Junior final. Having that experience stands to her when she dons the Saffron jersey, she believes.

“I’ve played outfield for my club since I was no age, and I only started giving it a go in nets when I was fifth year at St Louis Ballymena. I played nets for Antrim minors and it just went from there.

“When you’re in goals you see things differently than outfield players. I think playing both gives me a real appreciation of what goalies see. It’s nice not to be stuck in nets all the time as well!”

Standing in their way of back-to-back titles is a Derry side that also had a productive league campaign, albeit at Division 2A level. They reached the final, where they fell short against a really strong Offaly side, and will have revenge on their minds having lost last year’s Ulster final against the Saffrons.

The Oakleafers needed extra-time to overcome big outsiders Armagh in their provincial semi-final but Graham isn’t reading too much into that particular result.

“I watched a bit of their league final, it was a big open pitch at Thurles and it didn’t go their way but they’re definitely doing well.

“They’re missing a lot of players from their All-Ireland Intermediate winning team of two years ago but they’ve a lot of talented young girls coming through the ranks, there’s girls who have won a lot with St Pat’s Maghera pushing on to the panel.

“They’ll have no fear of coming to play us and that game against Armagh maybe looked a bit closer than it actually was. Armagh got two goals near the end and Derry ran away with it in extra-time.

“We know it’s going to be a tough challenge against them and hopefully we can put in a good performance and get over the line again.”

Her club Ahoghill will mix it with the big dogs like Loughgiel and Dunloy this year, and Graham says there’s a good blend of clubs on the county set-up.

“Until recently, the county team was made up of Loughgiel, Dunloy, Ballycastle, Cushendall and maybe a few from Glenravel.

“This year two more girls from Ahoghill have joined the panel, there’s a girl from Cargin, a girl from Creggan, so there’s more of a widespread representation.

“We’ve a girl from St Paul’s as well. It’s better that way I think – the Antrim Intermediate Championship is probably the most competitive championship in the county.

“Cushendall and Dunloy are pushing Loughgiel as well so it’ll be interesting to see how that goes in the next few years.”