Hannah Core to the fore as Raharney see off Crookedwood

Raharney 4-10, Crookedwood 0-1

Hannah Core fired 3-3 as Raharney blitzed their way past Crookedwood into the final of the Senior Camogie Championship last Saturday in cold conditions in Kinnegad.

In the first of the county final-four deciders at Senior A level, Stephen Quinn saw his side continue their ruthless streak as their unbeaten run in the championship goes back to 2014. Crookedwood did their utmost to put up a good fight but it was a case of trying to hold back the torrent of runners coming at them for large chunks of the game.

Raharney had three points on the board in the opening six minutes, all against the wind too, through Amelia Shaw, Hannah Core, and Ellen Shaw. In the eighth minute, Core was in for her first goal when corner-back Katie Coleman came forward to win the Wood puckout and tee-up her teammate to fire past Dearbhail McLoughlin.

A brief stoppage in play to treat Laura Doherty was followed by Muireann Scally having the first effort for Crookedwood but it was taken wide by the wind. Aoife Doherty hit her first of two from play as the Joristown team continued their onslaught. It was 1-5 when Doherty pointed again with twenty gone and but for a fine save from McLoughlin after Erin Core’s shot it could have been worse. Scally and Phoebe Bate were working hard in the middle but it was the opposite number eight, Aoife O’Malley, who added the next score when she showed her pace.

Despite losing Elaine Finn to injury just before the break, Raharney added another through Hannah Core, leaving it 1-7 to no score at the whistle.

The first and sole Wood score came from Meadhbh McLoughlin’s free which opened the second-half scoring. Raharney, not to be outdone, fired back with 1-1 in a matter of minutes through Amelia Shaw’s free and Hannah Core’s second goal as she used her blistering pace to leave defenders in her wake.

Maria Kelly and co in the half-back line were clearing at will and winning dirty ball wherever needed. The game went through a long patch without any score as missed frees at both ends, several ground battles, and end-to-end scoreless possession, killed the tempo as Raharney looked to see things out.

Muireann Scally launched a free into the square but Anna Weir came out from her goal to bat clear and keep her goal intact. Core completed her treble with six remaining. Even with Claire Loughrey, Katie Penrose, and others working hard in defence, they could not match the nimble forward for speed. Once Core picked up the sliotar, there was only one outcome as she blitzed before finishing. The scoreline of 3-9 became 4-10 in injury-time as substitute Meadbh Monaghan pointed before hitting the net moments later, assisted by Aoife Doherty and Hannah Core respectively.

The final whistle cemented the result which had been assured from early on. Both teams gave it their all but one side's experience told in the end.

Scorers – Raharney: H Core 3-3, M Monaghan 1-1, A Shaw 0-2 (1f), A Doherty 0-2, E Shaw 0-1, A O’Malley 0-1.

Crookedwood: M McLoughlin 0-1(free).

Raharney: Anna Weir; Katie Coleman, Jade McKeogh, Mary Geraghty; Fiona Leavy, Maria Kelly, Therese Murray; Aoife O’Malley, Laura Doherty; Ellen Shaw, Amelia Shaw, Aoife Doherty; Elaine Finn, Hannah Core, Erin Core. Subs used: Meadbh Monaghan for Finn (inj, 30), Aisling Doyle for Geraghty (h-t), Caoimhe McAteer for E Shaw (55).

Crookedwood: Dearbhail McLoughlin; Claire Loughrey, Katie Penrose, Rachel Shaw; Sarah Downes, Róisín Scally, Donna Weir; Muireann Scally, Phoebe Bate; Áine Moore, Ava Maleady, Grace Downes; Melissa Butler, Meadhbh McLoughlin, Anya Boyle. Subs used: Fiona Greene for Moore (h-t), Éabha O’Mahony for Maleady (41).

Referee: Barry Nea (Turin).