Raharney: 6-9
Lough Lene Gaels: 2-8
By Paul O’Donovan
It was the Raharney girls who were singing in the rain last Saturday after they retained their Westmeath senior camogie title with a comprehensive win over rivals Lough Lene Gaels in Kinnegad GAA grounds.
Four first-half goals set the foundations for Raharney to clinch another title and the Deelsiders have now won eight of the last ten county senior titles. This is a magnificent record and there is no sign of the ‘girls in blue’ surrendering their title any time soon judging by last Saturday’s emphatic victory.
Raharney dominated the first half and led at half time by 4-5 to 0-3. Despite the best efforts of the Collinstown girls, which included a good strong second half rally, there was no stopping the Raharney ladies and two more goals in the second half saw them run out comfortable 13-point winners.
Played in extremely wet and windy conditions, in front of a very good crowd, it was the Gaels that opened the scoring when Nicola Fagan turned sharply in the second minute to point. Two minutes later though, Raharney were level with Aoife O’Malley converting a 35-metre free.
A few minutes later Raharney grabbed their first goal when Elaine Finn found the net from close range. This was the first goal of an impressive hat-trick for Finn.
Nicola Fagan almost got in for a Gaels goal, her shot flying across the face of the goals, but the Gaels had to settle for a point two minutes later from a Kelly Dobson converted ’45.
It was at this stage Raharney grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and scored 1-3 without reply. The hard working Aoife Doherty sent in a dangerous ball and Elaine Finn pulled on the dropping ball, sending the sliotar to the net for her second goal.
UNERRING GREVILLE
Pamela Greville then took centre stage, scoring three unanswered points from two 45’s and a fine effort from play. Only a great tackle by Veronica Kiernan had denied Raharney a certain goal in this period of play.
The Gaels responded and scored two points in quick succession, with Aoife Higgins converting a free, after Nicola Fagan was fouled, and then Orla Lynch pointed from play, after good work by Katie Egan and Avril Fagan.
But it wasn’t enough, as Raharney struck back with 2-1 before the break. Firstly, Aoife Doherty collected possession 25 metres out and slipped inside her opponent before firing into the roof of the net for a great goal, and then Doherty added on a point after good work by Amée Dunne.
Then young Hannah Core emerged from a crowd of players and sent her shot goalwards, with the sliotar deceiving the goalkeeper before ending up in the net. So at half time a largely dominant Raharney side led by 4-5 to 0-4.
NO LET UP FROM RAHARNEY
Raharney started the second half as they ended the first, bagging their fifth goal three minutes after the restart. This time Elaine Finn used her speed to get to a loose ball ahead of Gaels goalkeeper Celeste Dermody and flick the sliotar to the net, to complete a hat-trick of goals.
To their credit The Gales didn’t lie down and responded with a point from play from Caoimhe McCrossan and one from a free by Aoife Higgins. However, overall the Raharney defence were very resilient with Meghan Carroll, Teresa Lynch, Aoife O’Malley and Nicola Brady solid throughout.
Pamela Greville was an inspiration to her side throughout though, and once again scored a delightful point following a strong solo run down the right wing. Hannah Core then scored another point to increase the Raharney lead to 5-7 to 0-6.
GAELS RALLY
The Gaels kept plugging away and rallied well to score 2-2 inside an 11-minute period. Firstly Jane Nangle fired in a shot that ended up in the Raharney net, and then points followed from Nicola Fagan and Shaunagh Maher.
When Aoife Higgins fired a shot through a crowd of players it ended up in the back of the net and suddenly The Gaels had reduced the margin back to eight points. However the Collinstown girls had left themselves far too much to do and eventually ran out of steam, with Raharney finishing the stronger.
Pamela Greville converted another free, before good work by Elaine Finn and Jade McKeogh created the opening for Laura Doherty to fire in Raharney’s sixth goal.
Pamela Greville rounded off a fine individual performance by tapping over another free to give Raharney a 13-point win and a fully deserved victory.
Scorers-Raharney: Elaine Finn 3-0, Pamela Greville 0-6 (0-2 from 45s, 0-2 from frees), Aoife Doherty 1-1, Hannah Core 1-1, Laura Doherty 1-0, Aoife O’Malley 0-1 from a free.
Lough Lene Gaels: Aoife Higgins 1-2 (0-1 from a free), Jane Nangle 1-0, Nicola Fagan 0-2, Kelly Dobson 0-1 from a 45, Orla Lynch 0-1, Caoimhe McCrossan 0-1, Shaunagh Maher 0-1.
Raharney: Nicola Brady; Meghan Carroll, Liz Raleigh, Teresa Lynch; Aoife O’Malley, Pamela Greville, Aoife Boyle; Andreanna Doyle (capt), Aoife Doherty; Ciara O’Looney, Fiona Leavy, Amée Dunne; Hannah Core, Jade McKeogh, Elaine Finn. Subs used: Laura Doherty for Liz Raleigh (half time), Laura Patton for Aoife Boyle (58 minutes). Rest of panel: Jean Flanagan, Faye Dunne, Claire Coyne, Leanne Darby, Marie Kelly, Helen Weir, Anna Weir, Aine Brady, Emma Patton, Amy Goonery, Sarah Kiernan, Tracey Nea, Katie Coleman, Jena McKeogh.
Lough Lene Gaels: Celeste Dermody; Veronica Kiernan, Kelly Dobson, Joanne Williams; Sinead Lynch, Katie Egan, Aoife Flynn; Aoife Higgins, Avril Fagan; Caoimhe McCrossan, Michelle Murtagh (capt), Jane Nangle; Nicola Fagan, Nadina Grace, Orla Lynch. Subs used: Aisling Conaty for Nadina Grace (half time), Shaunagh Maher for Veronica Kiernan (42 minutes). Rest of panel: Sheila Devine, Elizabeth Hannon, Helen Ginnell, Janette McCormack, Shauna Coughlan, Ashleigh Mortimer, Aoife Fitzsimons, Yvonne Malone, Mary Doyle, Ann Marie Kennedy, Aideen Dermody, Karen Murtagh, Niamh Dermody, Clodagh Williams and Joanne Walsh.
Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare).
