*Roisin Begley hit Clare’s final score of the afternoon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior camogie side will be counting on scoring difference to seal their place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals after securing a draw with neighbours Limerick.
Clare 0-12
Limerick 1-9
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg, Ennis
The meeting of neighbours Clare and Limerick in the group stage of the All-Ireland senior camogie championship was seen by most followers of the sport as a game to determine which one would progress to the All-Ireland quarter finals.
In a tie in which a share of the spoils was the outcome, both will feel that they had chances to win the game.
With twelve wides, some from good positions, to Limerick’s three the Banner outfit will be particularly disappointed.
On the other hand when they reflect on this tie they will point to a strong second half performance against what was a testing wind.
Clare have two games remaining in the group, against competition favourites Cork next day out and then against Tipperary, both of which will be at away venues while Limerick have just one game to play which is against Tipperary.
Three teams qualify from the group for the knock out stages of the championship and Cork followed by Tipperary are the strong favourites to emerge from this group with the third spot between Limerick and Clare who both have accounted for Wexford. It may well come down to score difference to determine who will join the favourites.
Facing into the breeze Limerick made the better start with points from Caoimhe Costello (free) and Laura Southern in the opening two minutes.
The game was seven minutes old before Clare opened their account through Zi Yan Spillane who converted a 20m free.
It was 0-4 to 0-3 in Limerick’s favour when they struck for the game’s only goal, Laura Southern applying the finish in the twenty first minute. That goal drew a strong response from Clare who finished the half with four unanswered points, all from play, from Ellen Casey, Spillane, Áine O’Loughlin and Caoimhe Carmody leaving the sides deadlocked at the break at 0-7 to 1-4.
As in the opening half, Limerick had the first two points of the new half. Clare responded through O’Loughlin and Spillane to leave the sides deadlocked for just the second time with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Points were traded again before Clare hit the front for the first time, Jennifer Daly’s goal bound effort deflected over the bar by Limerick goalie Sarah Gillane.
A Caoimhe Costelloe free levelled for Limerick with three minutes remaining but Clare were back in front with a minute to goal thanks to a Roisin Begley point.
With the game in injury time Limerick were awarded a 45m free which Caoimhe Costelloe converted to tie up the scores for the fifth and final time.
Abby Walsh, Clare Hehir, Lynda Daly, Roisin Begley and Niamh Mulqueen were prominent for Clare while Sophie O’Callaghan Laura Southern, Caoimhe Coselloe and Muireann Cremer stood out for the visitors who were the physically stronger side.
In the curtain raiser, an under 23 championship clash between the same counties, Clare were victorious on a score line of 1-14 to 0-12.
Scorers Clare: Zi Yan Spillane (0-3, 2f); Aine O’Loughlin, Roisin Begley Caoimhe
Carmody (0-2) each; Caoimhe Cahill, Ellen Casey, Jennifer Daly (0-1) each
Scorers Limerick: Laura Southern (1-3); Caoimhe Costelloe (0-4, all frees); Dearbhla Egan, Lizanne Boylan (0-1) each
Clare;
1: Rachel Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
2: Susan Daly (Scariff/Ogonnellloe)
3: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
4: Sinead O’Keeffe (Inagh/Kilnamona)
5: Lynda Daly Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
6: Abby Walsh Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
7: Danielle Griffin (Inagh/Kilnamona)
8: Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford)
9: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
10: Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley)
11: Andrea O’Keeffe (Inagh/Kilnamona)
14; Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh/Clonlara) Captain
13: Roisi Begley (Truagh/Clonlara)
18; Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
15: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena)
Subs:
12; Jennifer Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe) for A. O’Keeffe (34)
22; Ashling Cooney (Parteen/Meelick) for E. Casey (52)
19: Cliodhna Queally (Inagh/Kilnamona) for A. O’Keeffe (52)
20; Grace Carmody (Kilmaley) for C. Carmody (59)
Limerick;
1: Sarah Gillane (Patrickswell)
2: Orlaith Kelleher (Croagh-Kilfinny)
3; Muireann Kelleher (Cappamore)
4: Emily O’Halloran (Monaleen)
5: Ciara O’Riordan (Blackrock/Effin)
6: Sophie O’Callaghan (Adare)
7: Shauna Cunnigham (Killeedy)
8: Ailbhe Larkin (Mungret St. Pauls)
9: Maiiread Ryan (Bruff)
10; Lizanna Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
11; Stephanie Woulfe (Templeglantine)
12; Ciara Neenan (Bruff)
13; Dearbhla Egan (Crecora),
14: Laura Southern (Monaleen)
15; Caoimhe Costelloe (Adare)
Subs;
20; Aine O’Tiarnaigh (Na Piarsaigh) for C. Neenan (45)
18: Lisa English (Galbally) for S. Woulfe (55)
Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)
