Cork hold off spirited fight by Westmeath to claim crown

CORK managed to reverse their group defeat to Westmeath to win the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 2 title for the second year in a row.

It went down to the wire, however, as Pamela Greville’s 54th-minute goal from a 20m free gave the Lakesiders real hope having fallen five points behind.

The Raharney sharpshooter followed up with a pointed free from the next attack to reduce the gap to the minimum, but Westmeath could not find the equaliser, as Cork defended magnificently to the finish.

In a cagey affair, Westmeath only managed a point in the opening period, but trailed by just three at the break.

Their score came from a Greville free in the 10th minute, after Caroline Sugrue had opened the scoring for the Rebels.

Cork created more opportunities, with Katelyn Hickey, Keeva McCarthy and Rachel O’Shea (free) giving them that 0-4 to 0-1 interval lead.

McCarthy was very unlucky not to add a goal, but her effort struck the crossbar.

Sugrue and Greville exchanged scores, but when McCarthy (45) and substitute Kate Wall found the target, they were in a strong position. Although Greville found the target from another free, Hickey’s second point restored what was a healthy advantage.

Westmeath are a tenacious bunch, though, and they kept Cork scoreless for the remainder and almost reeled them in.

They will be buoyed by reaching the final and their performance in it, but the silverware is headed to Leeside for the second consecutive year.