Irish Daily Star Camogie League Division 2 Final – Cork 1-12 Down 2-6

Cork defeated Down by 1-12 to 2-6 in the Irish Daily Star Camogie League Division 2 final on Sunday May 4th at Clane.

Cork late show too much for Down in Camogie League Division 2 final

Cork 1-12 Down 2-6

Report provided by the Camogie Association

CORK PRODUCED A storming last quarter to deny Down in a pulsating Camogie League Division 2 final in Clane. Former All-Ireland senior winning captain, Amanda O’Regan shot a goal and seven points for the Leesiders, while Caroline Sugrue was awarded player of the match. Catherine McGourty and Fionnuala Carr fought hard for Down but they could not deny their rampaging opponents in the closing stages.
Down got off to a dream start with a sixth minute goal from Nicola Braniff and with McGourty amongst the points, they lead by one at half time, 1-4 to 0-6.

Brid McGourty and O’Regan exchanged scores early in the second half before Jessica Kavanagh saved Catherine McGourty’s penalty in one of the game’s defining moments. McGourty made up for that with a goal to put Michael McCullough’s side clear but they failed to score again. O’Regan brought the teams level with a goal from a 25th minute free that dropped just under the crossbar and late points from O’Regan, Laura Treacy and Sugrue sealed the verdict.

SCORERS FOR CORK: A O’Regan 1-7(1-6fs); C Sugrue 0-3, L Treacy, S O’Neill 0-1 each

SCORERS FOR DOWN: C McGourty 1-3; N Braniff 1-0; N Mallon 0-2, B McGourty 0-1

CORK: J Kavanagh, S Buckley, L O’Sullivan, N O’Keeffe, S Harrington, C Foley, S Hayes, L Treacy, H O’Regan, C Sugrue, C Desmond, S O’Neill, J Hennigan, A O’Regan, M Cahalane

DOWN: M McNally, J Fowler, C McGovern, K Tinnelly, C Rocks, F Carr, E McCormick, A Keown, L McPolin, C McGourty, P Gribben, K McMullan, N Mallon, N Branniff, B McGourty

REFEREE: R Kelly (Kildare)

Irish Daily Star Camogie League Division 2 final

Cork v Down, Clane, 2.30pm

The impressive aspect of Down’s 100% success rate in Group 1 of the second tier was that they came out on the right side of a couple of fiercely-fought tussles against Antrim and Laois early on. That set them up nicely and they were comfortable from there. Again though, they showed their character by digging out a two-point win over Meath to clear the penultimate hurdle.

Source: Official Camogie

Cork were held to a draw by Kildare in their opener on February 23 but did what they needed to from then to top a very tight group by beating Meath and Waterford. With Tipperary withdrawing from Group 2, the Rebels have had the benefit of only four games, including their 2-6 to 0-8 semi-final win over Laois, while Down have had six.

The Mourne women have a battle-hardened outfit that took a little time to bounce back from losing consecutive All-Ireland premier junior finals in 2011 and 2012 but they seem to have regained their mojo and in Fionnuala Carr, Catherine McGourty and Niamh Mallon, possess some of the finest purveyors of camogie skills around.

Cork made reaching this final a target at the start of the year and can call on the talents of former All-Ireland senior winning captain Amanda O’Regan, while Jess Hennigan will threaten the Down defence.

Cork: S.Ryan; S.Buckley; L.O’Sullivan; N.O’Keefe; S.Harrington; C.Foley; S.Hayes; L.Tracey; H.O’Regan; C.O’Neill; C.Desmond; S.O’Neill; J.Hennigan; A.O’Regan; M.Cahalane

Down: M.McNally; J.Fowler; C.McGovern; K.Tinnelly; C.Rocks; F.Carr; G.O’Higgins; A.Keown; L.McPolin; C.McGourty; P.Gribben; K.O’Higgins; N.Mallon; N.Branniff; B.McGourty