Shamrocks park semi-final performance ahead of Clonduff rematch

By Michael McMullan

THERE is a serious bank of experience that comes with winning 12 successive championships.

Welcome to Lucia McNaughton’s camogie career as Antrim’s Loughgiel embark on Sunday’s Ulster Senior Championship final date with Down’s Clonduff.

She is part of a quartet with Caitrín Dobbin, Maria O’Hara (née Lynn) and Clare McKillop.

“Maria actually has 13 – she won one before we won in 2014,” McNaughton added.

While they have been the undisputed queens of Antrim, the Ulster landscape has been bumpier.

The Shamrocks played second fiddle to Sleacht Néill before becoming the team to beat in Ulster.

The Antrim champions were comprehensive winners when they met in the recent semi-final at Emmet Park.

Contentment and relief are the words of choice now. Within days, they were back on the grass and in the gym. The show goes on, rolling into the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

The performance against Sleacht Néill was built on a foundation of three quick-fire goals.

Another factor was being pushed to the pin of their collar by Dunloy in the Antrim final. McNaughton never felt though that the game was ever slipping away from their grasp.

“We weren’t allowed to play as well as we had in previous matches,” she said of their 4-11 to 1-17 win over Dunloy, coming back from five points in arrears early on.

“We didn’t get the performance that we would be looking for but to go from that to get a good performance against Sleacht Néill was great.

“I suppose we know what’s in there, but it’s just trying to get it out on the days that it matters.”

Coming through tight games always stands to the winners. There is always the comfort of knowing the battling qualities exist.

In Loughgiel’s case, it has been part of their DNA. They have the battles to get out of Antrim, going toe to toe with Sleacht Néill in many epic Ulster games.

There are the All-Ireland games with Sarsfields and Dicksboro, with often a bounce or two of a ball the difference between the sides.

“That’s probably something in us that we’ve improved on over the years,” McNaughton said of performing under pressure.

The other obvious factor is one of the c words, consistency. Mention club camogie in Ulster and Loughgiel is a name that always jumps off the page.

Another c word is complacency. In the Loughgiel camp, with young players trying to break in, there is always a freshness and another c word, competition.

“The young ones coming through have seen that success in,” McNaughton added.

“I think that probably drives us on, them coming onto the panel and pushing for places.

“Especially over the past, maybe, five years, the competition within our own group for a position has meant that there’s nearly two people for each place, and that keeps the standards high.

“It does take a lot to keep it going every year, so every year there’s different pressures on you too.

“It’s a relief to win a county final when you can, but every year it just means the same. It doesn’t mean any less, it probably means more every time you get through it.”

Johnny Campbell came in as manager this season with a formidable management team that includes Neil McGarry, Conor Gillan, Ronan and Ciaran McCloskey.

When the county players came back from their camogie with Antrim, the rest of the squad were tipping nicely from the league and into the Feis Cup, honing for the business end.

“It’s been a very enjoyable year and there has been really good camogie,” McNaughton said, now operating at wing-back.

“You just hope that every year you get as far as you possibly can. Whenever you actually enjoy it, at the same time, it’s class.”

It takes them back to an Ulster final with “a line drawn” under their victory over Sleacht Néill. There is another title to be defended and the Shamrocks are expecting a tough test against Clonduff on Sunday.

“They’ll bring a huge hunger to this match and a huge intensity too, with different challenges,” McNaughton said.

“It’s always a very physical match with them – they’re a big, strong team.”

Between challenge games and crossing paths with players at county level, there will be no secrets this week.

“We’ll just focus on ourselves and the things that we can get better at for the next match,” she added.

“They would probably know us just as well as we know them. We’re looking forward to it.

“It’s just another challenge and it’s going to be a huge battle and we’re being prepared for it.”