Core and Shaw superb as Raharney defend Leinster title
AIB Leinster club junior ‘A’ camogie championship final 2021: Raharney 3-9, Tullamore 1-6
Raharney stayed on track in their bid to defend their All-Ireland junior crown, and thus qualify for intermediate grade club camogie in 2023, by beating Tullamore in the Leinster junior ‘A’ final in windswept Edenderry today.
The Deelsiders had much of the work done in the first half, leading 2-4 to 0-2 at the short whistle. After an uneventful first quarter, the Westmeath outfit sprang to life when a cross from Aoife Doherty was gathered and nudged over the line by the in-rushing Hannah Core.
Core nabbed her second goal in the 29th minute, with her shot deflected home by Tullamore netminder Shannon Tuohey after some superb individual play from the Raharney corner forward.
Tullamore bounced back early in the second half however, spurred on by a goal from Becky Bryant who stole in behind the Raharney defence to sweep the ball to the net.
On 43 minutes, Bryant pointed for the Offaly girls to leave them trailing by just two points (2-5 to 1-6), but this was the closest they ever got to Raharney, and their last score of the game.
Padraic Connaughton’s charges then upped the ante in the final ten minutes, the excellent Amelia Shaw setting them on their way with a superb free from a tight angle, before her long-range effort was deflected out by Tuohey, allowing Hannah Core to drive the rebound home from close range for her hat-trick.
Raharney closed out the game with scores from Maria Kelly, Core and Shaw (a free) to bag yet more silverware for the girls in blue.
Raharney: Anna Weir; Katie Coleman, Jade McKeogh, Mary Geraghty; Aisling Keogh, Fiona Leavy, Andreanna Doyle; Laura Doherty (joint capt.), Aoife O’Malley; Maria Kelly (0-1), Amée Nea, Aoife Doherty (joint capt., 0-1); Erin Core, Amelia Shaw (0-6f), Hannah Core (3-1). Rest of panel: Cathy Doyle, Aisling Doyle, Aoife Boyle, Ellen Shaw, Elaine Finn, Méadbh Monaghan, Ciara Keogh, Meghan Carroll, Therese Murray, Sarah Hynes, Nicole Croash, Liz Raleigh, Caoimhe McAteer, Cailín Raleigh, Niamh Brady.