Raharney edge out O'Loughlin Gaels in gritty battle
Raharney 0-6 O'Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) 0-4
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Hannah Core, Raharney, is under pressure from Aibhe Galway of O’Loughlin Gaels in Sunday’s Leinster senior camogie tie at Raharney. Pics: Maureen Ahearn.Image 2 of 6
Laura Doherty of Raharney in action.Image 3 of 6
Siofra O’Leary of O’Loughlin Gaels tries to close down Erin Core. Ellen Shaw, Raharney, about to be challenged by Neasa Galway.Image 4 of 6
Abigael Egan, O’Loughlin Gaels, is tackled by Meadbh Monaghan, Raharney.Image 5 of 6
Maria Kelly, Raharney, gets away from Aisling Butler, O’Loughlin Gaels.Image 6 of 6
Hannah Core, Raharney, challenged by Danielle Quigley.Raharney prevailed over Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels in a gritty, low-scoring battle in wet, windy conditions at Joristown Park last Sunday morning, securing a place in the Leinster Intermediate Camogie Club Championship semi-finals. Although they will regret their 13 wides overall, the Gaels never let up, and they pushed the Westmeath side to the wire before bowing out with pride.
At half-time just a point separated the sides, Raharney in front, and two second half points were enough to get them over the line. They showed resilience against a strong side from Kilkenny and now go on to meet Naas in the Leinster semi-final next Sunday in Joristown Park at 2pm.
Laura Murphy opened the scoring for O’Loughlin Gaels in the second minute, and Raharney’s Hannah Core quickly levelled a minute later. Scores were difficult to come by, due to both the challenging weather and the tough, physical exchanges between the two sides. Raharney’s Aoife O’Malley had a goal attempt nine minutes in, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Kate Furlong. O’Malley pointed the resulting ’65 and added another shortly after, putting Raharney ahead by two. In the 14th minute, Aoife Shealy (O’Loughlin Gaels) and O’Malley traded points, before Murphy’s tight-angled free left Raharney narrowly leading at the break, 0-4 to 0-3.
Raharney hold on
Two minutes into the second half, Aoife Doherty extended Raharney’s lead to three points, scoring first from a free and then from distance on the run. The gap could have widened further when Doherty’s shot hit the crossbar and rebounded away from goal. Raharney had another chance to pull away in the 43rd minute, but Meadbh Monaghan’s effort from a dropping ball went astray. It wasn’t until the 55th minute that O’Loughlin Gaels managed to respond, when Murphy cut the gap to two points from a free, and set up a nervy finish. The Kilkenny side had opportunities to claim victory, but Danielle Quigley’s last-gasp attempt four minutes into injury time narrowly missed the target. Raharney held on for a hard-fought win, progressing to the next stage of the Leinster Championship with momentum on their side.
Scorers - Raharney: Aoife O’Malley 0-3 (0-1 ‘65), Aoife Doherty 0-2 (0-1 free), Hannah Core 0-1.
O’Loughlin Gaels: Laura Murphy 0-3 (0-2 frees), Aoife Shealy 0-1.
Raharney: Anna Weir; Katie Coleman, Jade McKeogh, Mary Geraghty; Maria Kelly, Fiona Leavy, Therese Murray; Aoife O’Malley, Laura Doherty; Ellen Shaw, Elaine Finn, Aoife Doherty; Meadbh Monaghan, Hannah Core, Erin Core.
Substitutes: Aisling Doyle for Ellen Shaw (46), Emma Hynes for Meadbh Monaghan (59).
O’Loughlin Gaels: Kate Furlong; Aibhe Galway, Neasa Galway, Jen Holohan; Hannah Quinn, Danielle Quigley, Abigail Egan; Aoife Shealy, Jen O’Keeffe; Aisling Butler, Laura Murphy, Emma Poyntz; Kate Lawless, Ruth Crowley, Ena Lawlor.
Substitutes: Eva Collins for Kate Lawless (35), Siofra O’Leary for Aisling Butler (41), Iveta Vasiliauskaite for Hannah Quinn (45), Aoife Dillon for Jen O’Keeffe (58).
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin).