All-Ireland senior camogie final beckons for Loreto Kilkenny

The Loreto are back in the senior All-Ireland camogie final, but the Cats had to use a few of their nine lives in the process.

The Kilkenny school needed extra-time to get the better of a dogged St Patrick’s Maghera, but a strong finish saw them get the job done at a chilly Dunmore.

A repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final brought a clash where neither side was willing to yield an inch but the Loreto, the defending champions, went in 1-5 to 0-6 in front at half-time, thanks in the main to four Rachel Dowling points (two frees) and a goal from her Dicksboro clubmate Tara McGrath.

Maghera raised their game in the second half and, inspired by Carla Collins, fought their way back into the game. The captain chipped in with two points to leave the bare minimum between the teams with a quarter of the game to play (1-8 to 0-10), then pushed her side ahead when she hit the net from close range.

The Loreto were in trouble but refused to panic. Digging deep they hit back, Dowling converting a free and then a last-gasp 45 to send the tie to extra-time.

The Saints were full of fire on the resumption and, with Collins in full flow, took the lead. However the Loreto hung on in there, a Dowling free halving the deficit at half-time (1-12 to 1-11). While they were second best in the first period of extra-time there was no denying the Loreto were in the ascendancy after the restart, as they piled on the pressure. The Derry girls were resolute but couldn’t find the scores they craved; instead three more Dowling points, followed by a Ciara Dunne goal, saw the Loreto book their place in the final against the Ursuline Thurles on February 24.

SCORERS

Loreto Kilkenny - Rachel Dowling (0-10, 0-5 frees, 0-1 45); Tara McGrath (1-1); Ciara Dunne (1-0); Ambar Laherty, Aoife Shealy, Aisling Browne (0-1 each).

St Patrick’s Maghera - Carla Collins (1-5, 0-5 frees); Emma Quinn (0-3 frees); Caoimhe Chambers (0-2, 0-1 free); Grace Kelly, Katie McCloskey (0-1 each).