SUSAN EARNER retired after a lengthy career with Galway but the former All-Star goalie and All-Ireland winner continues to make an impact at national level, adding her name to the M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada roll of honour.
Earner came out on top of a tight completion, in which the six-strong field was separated by just five pocs and just two pocs between the first four.
The 31-year-old Meelick-Eyrecourt star completed the course in 26 pocs and was chased home by Clare’s Áine O’Loughlin, on 27.
Defending champion, Cork goalie Aoife Murray also went around in 27 pocs but was 12m behind O’Loughlin.
Wexford legend Mags D’Arcy finished fourth on 28, with the field completed by Antrim’s Orlagh O’Hara (29) and Dublin’s Elaine Gallery (31).
Earner’s success cemented a senior double in the famous mountains for Galway as Tadhg Haran took the spoils in the men’s division.
The U16 Camogie garlands went to Cork however, as Molly Lynch just edged out another Galwegian, Maeve Muldoon. Both completed the track in 31 pocs but Lynch had 57m to spare.
Rósín McCormack from Antrim was third on 32 pocs, with Meath’s Abbey Donnelly fourth on 33.
There was a strong Poc Fada influence on proceedings at Semple Stadium, where the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Quarter-Finals were taking place, with Earner’s successor as Galway goalkeeper, Sarah Healy having won the U16 title in 2015 and 2016.
Meanwhile, Dublin netminder Faye McCarthy, who finished third to Murray last year, was scheduled to be in Cooley as Leinster champion but was a star performer in Thurles instead.
