CLARE’S senior camogie side have lost the Munster final for the second year in a row.
Tipperary 1-26
Clare 1-09
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Tipperary
Tipperary bridged a thirteen year gap when capturing the Munster senior camogie title at the expense of Clare and they fully deserved the win, dominating the exchanges throughout.
Ten points behind at half time, Clare clearly needed a big second half and they started the new period brightly with Aine O’Loughlin finding the net after just a minute.
The Truagh-Clonlara player superbly fielded a delivery from a Lorna McNamara free and fired to the net. When Aoife Keane followed with a point closing the gap to six points, Clare fans had hopes of a rally but they were quickly killed off as the home side fired over five unanswered scores and from here to the finish they dictated matters.
It was 1-19 to 1-8 at the three quarter stage and in the remaining time Clare could only manage a point as Tipperary dominated in most positions.
Indeed the premier outfit’s winning margin would have been greater but for the fact that Clare goalkeeper Doirean Murphy produced a couple of outstanding saves near the end of the tie.
Tipperary had the upperhand from the throw in and they had raced into a four point lead before Clare opened their account when Lorna McNamara pointed a 50m free in the ninth minute.
Clare struggled to get the ball into their forward line and while Niamh O’Dea tried everything she knew to get past the Tipperary defence, she lacked support.
Tipperary, operating with a sweeper, closed down most avenues and Aine O’Loughlin and Lorna McNamara in the inside forward line were starved of possession.
Tipperary led 0-8 to 0-4 after twenty minutes but a mis placed pass a few minutes later was punished by the home side who drove forward and Eimear Heffernan found the net.
From here to the break they added 0-4 while Clare could only manage 0-2 and when the half time whistle sounded Tipperary held a comfortable lead with the score at 1-13 to 0-6, all but a point of Clare’s tally coming from frees from Lorna McNamara.
Clare were forced into a late change with Laoise Ryan from Inagh/Kilnamona ruled out due to injury and she was replaced by Abby Walsh from Scariff/Ogonnelloe.
On the day Clare’s best were Doirean Murphy, Claire Hehir, Susan Daly, Niamh O’Dea and Lorna McNamara. xq
Scorers Tipperary: Eimear McGrath (0-7); Eimear Heffernan (1-3); Cait Devanne (0-5), Grace O’Brien (0-4) Caoimhe Maher (0-2) Roisin Howard, Teresa Ryan, Karin Blair, Ereena Fryday, Niamh Treacy (0-1) each.
Scorers Clare: Lorna McNamara (0-6), all frees; Aine O’Loughlin (1-0) Orlaith Duggan, Zi Yan Spillane, Aoife Keane (0-1) each
Tipperary:
1: Caoimhe Bourke, Drom & Inch
2: Julienne Bourke, Borris-Illeigh
3: Clodagh Quirke, Clonoulty-Rossmore, Joint Captain
4: Eimear Loughman, Clonoulty-Loughmore
5: Karin Blair, Cashel King Cormacks
6: Karen Kennedy, Thurles Sarsfields, Joint captain
7: Aoife McGrath, Drom & Inch
8: Teresa Ryan, Borris-Illeigh
9: Casey Hennessy, Clonoulty-Rossmore
10: Roisin Howard, Cahir
11: Caoimhe Maher, Burgess/Duharra
12: Eimear McGrath, Drom & Inch
13: Grace O’Brien, Nanagh Eire Og
14: Cait Devanne, Clonoulty-Rossmore
15: Eimear Heffrnan, Knockavill/Donasleigh Kickhams
Subs:
17: Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla/Donasleigh Kickams) for E. McGrath (49)
26: Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch) for C. Hennessy (51)
25: Mairead Eviston (Drom & Inch) for E. Loughman (52)
24: Mary Ryan (Moneygall) for A. McGrath (54)
Ereena Fryday(Knockavilla/Donasleigh Kickhams) for G. O’Brien (54)
Clare;
1: Doireann Murphy, Clarecastle
2: Ciara Grogan, Clooney-Quin
3: Susan Daly, Scariff-Ogonnelloe
4: Caoimhe Kelly, Kilkishen
5: Alannah Ryan, Kilkishen
6: Clare Hehir, Inagh-Kilnamona, Joint captain
19: Abby Walsh, Scariff-Oginnelloe
8: Caoimhe Carmody, Kilmaley
9: Orlaith Duggan, Clooney-Quin
10: Muireann Scanlan, Sixmilebridge
11: Niamh O’Dea, Kilmalety, Joint captain
12: Aoife Keane, Inagjh-Kilnamona
13: Eimear Kelly, Truagh-Clonlara
14: Aine O’Loughlin, #truagh-Clonlara
15: Lorna McNamara, Feakle-Killanena
Subs:
18: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena) for A. Ryan (half time)
17: Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge for Scanlan (41)
25: Ellen Casey (Newmarket) for C. Grogan (44)
23: Lynda Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) for C. Carmody (45)
21: Jennifer Daly (scariff-Oginnelloe) for E. Kelly (52)
Referee; Andy Larkin, Cork
