Raharney are top of the pile once again

Raharney 2-11, Clonkill 0-14

It was an all-too familiar scene in TEG Cusack Park last Saturday afternoon as Nick Weir and his Raharney side were crowned Westmeath senior camogie champions for the ninth year in succession following a three-point win over Clonkill in an enthralling encounter which was never fully decided until the final minutes.

Although scoring was not an issue for either side, Clonkill will bemoan the fact that all-bar-one of their scores (the final puck from sub Niamh Keogh) came courtesy of Megan Dowdall, showing the tough nature of the Raharney defensive solidity.

Raharney had the luxury of the breeze in the opening period and despite looking like running away with the tie inside the opening twenty minutes or so, they came up against a rejuvenated Clonkill who refused to be blown away by the ferocity of the blue battling. Dowdall got matters going with her opening point – a lovely flick by Roz Daly drawing the foul. Hannah Core and Aoife O’Malley both responded with their own scores from play as O’Malley fought for dirty ball to get her chance. Nerves and indecision mired the opening periods but once the sides got to grips, the game flowed better.

Claire Gaffney was putting herself on the line at times to block Raharney but Shaw continued to rack up the scores, adding two frees and a fine score from outside the 21 (assisted by Core). Clonkill needed to get on the ball more and find their targets but with Doyle, Keogh, and Doherty steadfast in the half-backs, that was much easier said than done. The Clonkill response did come before the twenty-minute mark as Dowdall hammered over two more frees from 30 and 50 yards centrally before adding two from play as the pace jumped considerably. Shaw scored twice in succession but only after seeing her penalty saved by Rebecca Dunne – the experienced keeper pulling out an expert low-save. At the break it was 0-9 to 0-7 in favour of the Deelsiders.

Two hammer-blows to Clonkill came early after the restart. The opening attack was cut out by Clonkill but a turnover in possession saw Core fire first as her blocked effort was rebounded home by Ellen Shaw. No sooner had they found one goal than the second came, this time it was the other Shaw, Amelia, who was surprised to see her near-50-yard strike sail into the net past all in sight. Clonkill did respond but with such reliance on Dowdall it was becoming too easy for Raharney to deal with the threats. Maria Kelly and Amelia Shaw drifted back to fill the defensive roles and both were outstanding for the final quarter. Dowdall and Clonkill continued to be squeezed out and frees became their only outlet as Dowdall added five more before the end, with only Core’s point sandwiched in between.

The final minutes saw Lucy Power, Niamh Keogh, and Caoimhe Coogan all try and force a means to a green flag, which sadly for them, never arrived. Shaw pointed as the clocked ticked into stoppage time to leave it at 2-11 to 0-13 before Keogh added her first score (and her side’s only one not from Dowdall). The final whistle brought scenes of great joy for Weir’s side while Clonkill, once again, reminisce on what might have been.

Scorers - Raharney: A Shaw 1-8 (4 from frees, 1 from 45), E Shaw 1-0, H Core 0-2, A O’Malley 0-1.

Clonkill: M Dowdall 0-13 (11 from frees), N Keogh 0-1.

Raharney: Anna Weir; Katie Coleman, Jade McKeogh, Mary Geraghty; Aisling Doyle, Aisling Keogh, Laura Doherty; Aoife O’Malley, Maria Kelly; Ellen Shaw, Amelia Shaw, Aoife Doherty; Hannah Core, Elaine Finn, Meadbh Monaghan. Subs Used: Therese Murray for Keogh (55), Sian Weir-Hall for Monaghan (55), Emma Hynes for E Shaw (58).

Clonkill: Rebecca Dunne; Ann Marie Reilly, Meadbh Scally, Ellen Flanagan; Chloe Galligan, Claire Gaffney, Áine Doyle; Lucy Power, Alanna Coogan; Aisling Egerton, Caoimhe Coogan, Megan Dowdall; Holly Dowdall, Rosaleen Daly, Kristabella Tamosiunaite. Subs Used: Rebecca Croash for Daly (48), Niamh Keogh for Tamosiunaite (48).

Referee: Bernard Heaney (Clann na Gael, Meath).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Player of the Match

Amelia Shaw (Raharney). In a word – fantastic: attacking scores, finding space, assisting, and even putting in a shift in defence in the final minutes to ensure the Matrix Cup was returning to Deelside.

Score of the match

Dowdall’s free on 18 minutes was a beauty. She made it look routine as she took aim into the breeze standing on the sideline on the stand side from an awkward angle.

What it means

Raharney now head into Leinster once again. This time, they will welcome Myshall (Carlow) to the midlands in the hope of returning to the glory days outside the county boundaries.