Raharney Make It Back To Back Leinster Junior Titles By Defeating Tullamore

Experience told as the game wore on.

Tullamore 1-6

Raharney 3-9

This clash of two midlands sides saw the reigning All Ireland Champions Raharney take on Tullamore in Edenderry on Sunday afternoon. After some very heavy rain the pitch was soft underfoot and a very stiff breeze blowing directly down the pitch meant for anything but ideal conditions for camogie. Raharney who were bidding for their 3rd Leinster title in a row, went into the match full of confidence having taken care of Mhuinebeag of Carlow comfortably in their semi final. Tullamore on the other hand will have relished the challenge of taking on the Champions having battled past Portlaoise in the previous round.

Prior to throw in the Offaly side were required to make some changes to the team listed in the programme with Kate Troy coming in for the injured Michelle Mann. This led to some positional changes with Orla Gorman moving to midfield and Chloe Fogarty and Troy starting on the half forward and full forward lines respectively.

Tullamore, playing into the wind opened the scoring when Lisa Gorman hit over a free but this was soon cancelled out when Amelia Shaw replied in kind for Raharney. A scoreless period of play followed with the teams cancelling each other out as they came to terms with the occasion and conditions. Raharney were next to strike and Tullamore will have been disappointed to concede a scrappy goal that was finished to the net by Hannah Core. Raharney continued to take advantage of the wind and the ever reliable Shaw hit over a brace of frees to leave her side leading by 5 points. A point from Becky Bryant reduced the margin and at this stage Tullamore will not have been unhappy with how the game was unfolding but with half time approaching they were dealt a blow when Hannah Core got her second goal of the game. Amelia Shaw added to this when she converted another free just before half time and suddenly the Westmeath side had a comfortable lead. Padraig Hannon and his team will have had mixed feelings as they went in for the break, aside from those two soft goals their team were still in the game and as he gave his team talk Tullamore knew they would have the advantage of the wind when play resumed.

Whatever Hannon said to his players had an impact as they had a real purple patch and the Offaly side were motoring when a Lisa Gorman free was cancelled out by a Raharney point but then game a shot in the arm for the challengers as Becky Bryant fired the ball past Anna Weir in the Raharney net giving her no chance to save it. Two points from Sarah Walsh and one from Bryant followed and suddenly the lead was reduced to just two points.

While some teams may have buckled under the Tullamore pressure, Raharney showed why they are All Ireland Champions as they responded with Amelia Shaw hitting over a fantastic point from a narrow angle. Maria Kelly hit over another for the Westmeath side before Hannah Core completed her hat of goals as she flashed the ball past Shannon Touhey and driving a dagger into the heart of the Tullamore challenge. While they battled bravely, Tullamore’s challenge seemed to run out of legs and Core added to her tally when she popped over a point. The final say came from Shaw just before the final whistle when she hit over from play.

Afterwards Shaw was awarded player of the match before Chairperson of Leinster Camogie, Linda Kenny presented the cup to Raharney Joint Captains, Aoife and Laura Doherty.

Teams:

Tullamore:

Shannon Touhey, Aideen Harte, Ayesha Brazil, Emily Conlon, Paula Kinnarney, Aisling Feeney, Laura Walsh, Sarah Kehoe, Orla Gorman, Lisa Gorman, Sarah Walsh, Chloe Fogarty, Becky Bryant, Rachel O’Brien, Kate Troy.

Subs:

Leah Gallagher, Michelle Mann, Robyn Leavy, Ciara Brady, Eimear Gallagher, Rachel Fogarty, Chloe Buggy, Aoibha Waters, Niamh McCormack, Clodagh Spollen, Niamh Spollen, Lauren Leavy, Emma Finlay, Hannah Heffernen, Marie Cantwell

Raharney:

Anna Weir, Katie Coleman, Jade McKeogh, Mary Geraghty, Aisling Keogh, Fiona Leavy, Andreanna Doyle, Laura Doherty, Aoife O’Malley, Maria Kelly, Amee Nea, Aoife Doherty, Eirn Core, Amelia Shaw, Hannah Core

Subs:

Cathy Doyle, Aisling Doyle, Aoife Boyle, Ellen Shaw, Elaine Finn, Meadbh Monaghan, Ciara Keogh, Meghan Carroll, Therese Murray, Sarah Hynes, Nicole Croash, Liz Raleigh, Caoimhe McAteer, Cailin Raleigh, Niamh Brady