Core goal the key as Raharney taste All-Ireland glory

Raharney are the All-Ireland club junior ‘A’ camogie champions after an early Hannah Core goal stood to them in a tough battle against holders Clanmaurice of Kerry at Templetuohy, Co. Tipperary this afternoon.

Player of the match Core struck in the fifth minute, picking up the sliotar after some great work from Laura Doherty. After her initial shot was blocked, the talented forward whipped the loose ball to the back of the net.

Amelia Shaw extended that lead with a free, but from there it was all Clanmaurice scorewise, with Jackie Horgan (2) and Patrice Diggin hitting consecutive scores before Shaw resumed scoring for Raharney in the 29th minute.

The Deelsiders led 1-2 to 0-4 at the short whistle, with Horgan adding her third score for the Kingdom girls just before the break. It could have been different for Raharney, had goalkeeper Anna Weir not kept Clanmaurice’s Diggin and Horgan at bay with two spectacular first half saves.

Horgan made it four shortly after the restart, and three minutes in, Jessica Fizelle put the reigning Munster and All-Ireland junior champions in front.

With a few minutes however, Padraig Connaughton’s charges had regained their lead with a brace from Hannah Core, as teak-tough defending from both sides kept scores at a minimum.

Raharney were unfortunate to lose veteran wing back Andreanna Doyle to injury midway through the second half, but this didn’t faze them and points from co-captain Aoife Doherty and midfielder Aoife O’Malley gave them a 1-6 to 0-6 cushion at a key point in the game.

In the 57th minute, Amelia Shaw hit her third point from a free to extend Raharney’s advantage, but two minutes later, a fifth score from Clanmaurice’s Jackie Horgan – the Kerry side’s first in 26 minutes – made for a nervy conclusion, as referee Philip McDonald signalled five minutes of stoppage time.

However, Raharney weathered the storm, and at full time, joint captains and sisters, Aoife and Laura Doherty lifted the junior ‘A’ cup.

Raharney: Anna Weir; Katie Coleman, Jade McKeogh, Mary Geraghty; Aisling Keogh, Fiona Leavy, Andreanna Doyle; Laura Doherty, Aoife O’Malley (0-1); Maria Kelly, Amée Nea, Aoife Doherty (0-1); Erin Core, Amelia Shaw (0-3f), Hannah Core (1-2). Subs used: Meghan Carroll for Keogh (h-t), Elaine Finn for Kelly (40), Keogh for Doyle (inj., 44), Aoife Boyle for Nea (60 + 1).