Cork 1-9
Meath 1-9
Kevin O’Brien reports from Croke Park
CORK AVOIDED THE heartbreak of defeat in the All-Ireland intermediate camogie final for a second successive year this afternoon.
The sides will do battle on 1 October for the Jack McGrath Cup after a tight and cagey contest finished level at 1-9 apiece.
This time around, Cork let the victory slip, missing a number of chances to seal victory in a low-scoring second-half. They failed to put away the 2012 All-Ireland junior champions, with Keeva McCarrhy missing a couple of tricky frees in the final 10 minutes.
A Jane Dolan free in the 62nd minute – her fifth of the day – secured another day out for Meath as they made full advantage of Cork being reduced to 14 players. Katelyn Hickey was dismissed on a second yellow card a minute earlier and Meath found just enough space to engineer a free, which Dolan duly converted.
Cork were chasing their first title at this grade since 2006, having lost to Kilkenny by a point in last year’s decider.
Each member of Cork’s potent full-forward line were off the mark inside the opening 10 minutes, but three frees from Jane Dolan had Meath within a point entering first-half stoppage-time.
Then Hickey hit the net in the 31st minute to give Cork a four-point cushion at the break, 1-7 to 0-6.
Meath had a perfect response after the break. They hit 1-1 two minutes after the restart, including a fine goal from Kristina Troy. The quality of the game dropped in the final quarter as both sides made a number of unforced errors.
Cork edged back in front through Fionola Neville and Rachel O’Shea, but a brace of frees from Dolan saved the day for the Royals.
Scorers for Cork: Keeva McCarthy 0-3 (0-2f) and Rachel O’Shea 0-3 (0-1f), Fionola Neville, Linda Collins and Caroline Sugrue 0-1 each.
Scorers for Meath: Jane Dolan 0-5 (0-5f), Kiristina Troy 1-0, Sinead Hackett 0-2, Aoife Minogue 0-1 (0-1f), Amy Gaffney 0-1.
Cork
1. Amy Lee (Na Piarsaigh)
2. Leah Weste (Ballincollig)
3. Sarah Harrington (Fr O’Neills)
4. Niamh Ní Chaoimh (Killeagh)
5. Roisin Kileen (Ballyhea)
6. Sarah Buckley (Ballincollig)
7. Lauren Callanan (Glen Rovers)
8. Finola Neville (St Catherines)
9. Jennifer Barry (Bride Rovers)
10. Katelyn Hickey (Blackrock)
11. Keeva McCarthy (St Finbarr’s)
12. Maeve McCarthy (Sarsfields)
13. Rachel O’Shea (Carrigaline)
14. Linda Collins (Courcey Rovers)
15. Caroline Sugrue (Callinascarthy)
Subs
20. Michaella Buckley (Ballygarvan) for Maeve McCarthy (46)
17. Sarah Fahy (Douglas) for O’Shea (60)
Meath
1. Emily Mangan (Blackhall Gaels)
2. Emma Coffey (Na Fianna)
3. Claire Coffey (Na Fianna)
4. Ellen Burke (Dunboyne)
5. Aine Keogh (Kildalkey)
6. Aoife Maguire (Killyon)
7. Louise Donoghue (Kiltale)
8. Cheyenne O’Brien (Kiltale)
9. Megan Thynne (Kilmessan)
10. Amy Gaffney (Ratoath)
11. Kristina Troy (Blackhall Gaels)
12. Aoife Minogue (Dunderry)
13. Caroline Quinn (Boardsmill)
14. Jane Dolan (Blackhall Gaels)
15. Sinead Hackett (Dunboyne)
Subs
19. Aedin Slattery (Na Fianna) for Quinn (42)
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)
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