Liatroim and Ballycran go toe-to-toe in round three

Liatroim and Ballycran go toe-to-toe in round three

3 September 2025

THE third round of group games in the Canal Court Hotel & Spa Down Senior Camogie Championship took place in some of the worst playing conditions of the season so far on Saturday afternoon. 

The weather became as much of a challenge as each team’s opponents, but, by the close of play, the last three champions had more or less picked up the victories that should secure semi-final spots.

That did not look the case in Portaferry at half-time, with Ballygalget putting it up to their neighbours in the parish derby fixture.

The first quarter was fairly evenly contested, although Ballygalget took a 0-3 to 0-2 lead through two frees from Caoimhe Dorrian and one from Saoirlaith Savage. 

A goal from Deirbhile Savage put them four points up after 17 minutes, but Portaferry narrowed that to 1-5 to 0-6 at the break, mainly through the accuracy of Ciara Doran, who scored four of their six points.

Portaferry were a different team during the second half, and they held Ballygalget to just two points — one from Deirbhile Savage in the 38th minute and the second from free-taker Caoimhe Dorrian 20 minutes later.

At the other end, Doran doubled her first half tally of four points inside 10 minutes of the second period, edging Portaferry ahead by 0-10 to 1-6. 

With their defence now on top, six more points were added from play — one apiece from Caoileigh McConnell, Doran, Fionnuala Toner and Erin McGrattan and two from the busy midfielder, Saoirse Sands.

Even after Caoimhe Dorrian’s free in the 58th minute, there was still time for substitute Róisín Murray to round off a comfortable 0-17 to 1-7 victory with the final score.

Meanwhile, the third Ards team playing at this level, Ballycran, put it up to Liatroim in Fontenoy Park. 

Although the home side played with the aid of the strong breeze and diagonal rain, holding Ballycran to a single pointed free, there was only a gap of 1-5 to 0-1 at the break.

Liatroim’s two county forwards, Dearbhla Magee and Aimee McAleenan, have been their main scorers through each of the championship games to date, and Magee netted for the third game in a row, while McAleenan scored all five first half points.

Ballycran could not use the breeze in the second half to change the 

game and although Cori Smith forced home a goal for the Ards team, there was never a chance of an upset, with McAleenan adding four more points to her tally.

The earlier game, in Cherryvale, was a mismatch, with senior title-holders Clonduff putting 2024 Intermediate champions Bredagh to the slaughter. Fionnuala Carr and Paula O’Hagan each registered 2-7, while Zara Kelly also hit two goals.

This Saturday’s matches should go a long way to deciding the semi-final make up, especially with the two unbeaten teams, Clonduff and Liatroim, meeting in Hilltown. 

Clonduff are playing with an authority that suggests they will win that head-to-head. If that happens, and if Portaferry pick up the expected win over Bredagh, we will be looking at a dead rubber final game between the Fontenoys and Portaferry in round five, as the pair will meet each other in the semi-finals.

The Ards derby for this week, Ballygalget against Ballycran, will more than likely provide semi-final opponents for the table toppers.