Raharney camogs make it four-in-a-row

April 30, 2011
In what was another busy year on the local camogie scene, Raharney maintained their grip on the senior championship, Clonkill won a first ever junior championship, while Lough Lene Gaels captured the intermediate league as well as picking up numerous titles at underage level. 

Just like their male counterparts, the Raharney women ruled the roost in 2010 when they claimed a fourth successive senior camogie championship.
These are heady times for the Deelsiders who had lived in the shadow of St. Munna's for many years before regaining the senior title after a 22-year lapse in 2007. Since then, they have reigned supreme and, inspired by a player of the match display from Pamela Greville, they held too much firepower for a Lough Lene Gaels team who will surely have their day soon. The Gaels had a hugely successful year at underage level and also retained the intermediate league title in emphatic fashion.
The Gaels actually defeated Raharney by 0-8 to 0-7 in the early stages of the championship, but when the teams renewed their rivalry in the final at Lakepoint Park on September 3, the champions showed sufficient improvement to run out comfortable 1-14 to 2-3 winners.
Semi-final winners over St. Munna's, Raharney opened with a brace of points from Pamela Greville before Joanne Walsh got the challengers off the mark. But with Jenna McKeogh and Elaine Finn gaining the upper hand at midfield, Raharney reeled off the next four points per Pamela Greville, Jenna McKeogh, Amee Dunne and Lisa Burke to take a grip on proceedings.
The Gaels, however, were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Ciara Cosgrave set up Catriona Murtagh for the opening goal which left just two points, 0-7 to 1-2, between the sides at half-time.
The momentum quickly swung back in Raharney's favour after the restart when they added five more points without reply to open up a 0-12 to 1-2 lead by the end of the third quarter. Jenna McKeogh registered the opening score of the second half and that was followed by points from Pamela Greville (three) and Amee Dunne.
Substitute Niamh Lynch gave the Collinstown girls a glimmer of hope when she netted in the 49th minute, but Raharney immediately hit back with a similar score from the outstanding Greville. Fiona Leavy and Orla Doolin traded points before Greville brought her tally for the evening to 1-8, 1-6 of which came from play, with the last score of a final that was attended by National Camogie Association president Joan O'Flynn.
Raharney had high hopes of making their mark in the Leinster junior club championship, but suffered a controversial 1-14 to 2-14 first round defeat to Kildare champions Celbridge after extra-time.
Clonkill will join the senior ranks this year following their maiden junior championship success. Runners-up to Drumraney in 2009, the Loughegar girls atoned for that disappointment with a comprehensive 1-5 to 0-1 victory over Castletown-Geoghegan in the final at Robinstown.
Caroline Kelly opened the scoring and three frees from their captain Dinah Loughlin helped Clonkill to a 0-4 to 0-1 interval lead. In a low-scoring second half, Amy Kenny extended Clonkill's lead before Loughlin wrapped up the win when her sideline puck deceived the Castletown defence and ended up in the net.
Lough Lene Gaels completed a hat-trick of successes in the 13-a-side intermediate league when they powered to a 5-16 to 0-6 victory over Drumraney at Loughegar. The Gaels, who accounted for Castletown-Geoghegan, Cullion, St. Munna's and Raharney en route the final, were in a different class and never looked back after Caitriona Murtagh scored the opening goal inside the first minute. Martin Williams' charges dominated the remainder of the half with Murtagh's second major propelling them to a commanding 2-9 to 0-2 interval lead.
In the second half, Murtagh blasted three more goals to bring her tally to a whopping 5-2. Drumraney managed late points from Margaret Nugent and Aoife McCormack, but were no match for a rampant Gaels side on the day.
The Gaels were crowned minor champions for a fourth year in succession when they outscored Castletown-Geoghegan by 3-16 to 1-2 in the decider at Robinstown. The Collinstown club also claimed the under 16 title for the fifth year on the trot following an emphatic 10-7 to 0-2 win over Crookedwood in the final at Loughegar. In another clinical display, Caitriona Murtagh bettered her intermediate league final tally with a massive 5-4 haul. Nicola Fagan, Aoife Cooney, Anne-Marie Kennedy and Kelly Dobson were also among the goals as the purple and golds became the first team to complete a five-in-a-row sequence at under 16 level, surpassing Raharney's four-in-a-row from 1985-88. The Gaels also became the inaugural winners of the under 16 league thanks to a 7-11 to 2-5 victory over Crookedwood in the decider.
The under 14 'A' and Feile na nGael titles were also claimed by Lough Lene Gaels. Shauna Coughlan and Caoimhe McCrossan bagged 4-6 between them as the Gaels coasted to a 4-9 to 0-1 triumph over Crookedwood in the championship final at Cusack Park. They also defeated the 'Wood by 7-4 to 2-0 in the Feile na nGael final at Robinstown. The under 14 'B' title went to Drumraney who accounted for Brownstown by 4-3 to 0-1 in the decider.
Castletown-Geoghegan needed a replay to get the better of Raharney in the under 12 'A' final. The black and ambers prevailed in the replay on a 1-5 to 1-0 scoreline after the sides drew 4-2 each in the original fixture.
The under 12 'B' final saw Delvin defeat Cullion, Clonkill were 3-0 to 1-1 winners over St. Munna's in the 'C' final, Lough Lene Gaels collected another title when they overcame Crookedwood by 6-3 to 1-2 in the 'D' decider, Brownstown saw off St. Oliver Plunkett's by 3-1 to 2-0 in the 'E' final, while the 'F' final was contested by Drumraney and Ringtown.
Meanwhile, Pamela Greville and Gemma Egan brought great honour to Raharney and Lough Lene Gaels respectively when they were selected to play for Ireland in the camogie-shinty international which took place in Ratoath, Co. Meath on October 30 last. 

The Raharney team which completed a four-in-a-row of senior camogie victories was: Louise Flynn; Helen Weir, Sandra Greville, Nicola Morley; Andreanna Doyle, Liz Shaw, Katrina Lynch; Elaine Finn, Jenna McKeogh; Pamela Greville, Amee Dunne, Fiona Leavy; Lisa Burke, Carol Finch, Jean Flanagan. Subs used: Gemma Briody, Sinead Lynam and Shauna Duignan. 
Clonkill's junior championship winning team was: Marie Nea; Gillian Nea, Clodagh Cleary, Grace Kelly; Rita Broderick, Dinah Loughlin (captain), Vivienne Kearney; Sheila Kelly, Therese Russell; Yvonne Fitzsimons, Catherine Sheerin, Deirdre Keogh; Amy Kenny, Caroline Kelly, Miriam Kearney.  
The Lough Lene Gaels team which retained their 13-a-side intermediate league crown was: Celeste Dermody; Veronica Gavigan, Sinead Lynch; Sinead Sheridan, Aoife Higgins, Elizabeth Hannon; Orla Doolin, Ciara Cosgrave; Niamh Lynch, Nadina Grace, Ashley Hill; Caitriona Murtagh, Joanne Williams. Subs used: Michelle Murtagh, Sharon McManus, Shauna Briody, Aoife Flynn, Aoife Cooney and Dawn Buckley.

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