Second half goals send Inagh/Kilnamona into senior camogie final

Laoise Ryan brings the ball out of defence chased by Amy Barrett. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

FOUR-TIME Clare senior camogie champions Inagh/Kilnamona sealed their place in the county final after defeating Scariff/Ogonnelloe by four points.

Inagh/Kilnamona 2-10
Scariff/Ogonnelloe 1-9
Venue: Killanena GAA Grounds

Two goals in the space of five minutes before the end of the third quarter steered Inagh-Kilnamoa to victory over Scariff-Ogonnellloe in the Clare Credit Unions senior camogie championship semi-final played in ideal conditions at a superbly appointed Killanena GAA grounds on Saturday afternoon.

Those goals from Clare Hehir and substitute Kate Dowlling gave the Combo a grip on the tie which they held to the finish.

A Scariff-Ogonnelloe goal, a minute from the end of the opening half from Jennifer Daly gave the East Clare outfit a two point half time advantage ad six minutes into the second half they had stretched their advantage to three points.

Just when it looked like they were getting a grip on the exchanges, Inagh/Kilnamona moved Clare Hehir from full to centre forward and with Theresa and Andrea O’Keeffe in sparkling form at wing back and midfield, they started to dominate.

The sides were evenly matched throughout the first half when scores were level on five occasions.

Just before the break Inagh/Kilnamona goalkeeper Cara McInerney took a short puckout to her full back Shauna Queally whose attempted hand pass to a team mate was intercepted by Jennifer Daly who shot to the net to the delight of the East Clare side’s following.

The half time whistle sounded shortly after this and Scariff/Ogonnelloe went to the dressing room with a 1-5 to 0-6 lead.

An Aoibhin Ryan free closed the gap to the minimum shortly after play resumed. Scriff-Ogonnelloe responded with points from Abby Walsh and Aoife Power (free) to open a one goal lead.

Ten minutes into the half, Andrea O’Keeffe won possession in midfield and she raced through the middle before offloading to Clare Hehir who had been shown a yellow card a few minutes earlier and she found he net to put her side 1-8 to 1-7 in front.

A few minutes later the winners lost Aoibhin Ryan to injury but her replacement, Kate Dowling was only in the game a few minutes when she first timed a low effort to the net, putting the winners four clear with eleven minutes remaining.

With the game slipping from them, Scariff/Ogonnelloe responded with points from Lynda and Jennifer Daly but despite their best efforts they could not break down an Inagh-Kilnamona defence in which Teresa O’Keeffe excelled.

Two Clare Hehir points, one from a free, pushed the mid Clare side four clear and sealed their place in next Saturday’s final.

Goalkeeper Cara McInerney made a couple of important saves while Teresa O’Keeffe, Laoise Ryan, Danielle Griffin, Andrea O’Keeffe, Aoibhin Ryan until injured, Laura Rynne and Clare Hehir were others to play key roles in this victory.

For Scariff/Ogonnelloe, Alva Rodgers, Bonnie Wiley-Murphy, the Daly sisters, and Abby Waslsh were prominent

Scorers; Inagh/Kilnamona; Aoibhin Ryan (0-7, 5f); Clare Hehir (1-2, 0-1f); Kate Dowling (1-0); Daniellle Griffin (0-1)

Scorers Scariff/Ogonnelloe; Jemnifer Daly (1-1); Aoife Power (frees), Lynda Daly (0-3) each; Amy Barrett (feree) Abby Walsh (0-1) each

Inagh-Kilnamona;
16; Cara McInerney;

5; Tierna Hegarty
3; Shauna Queallly
4; Cathy Cullinan;

2: Jane Fitzgerald,
6: Laoise Ryan, captain
26: Teresa O’Keeffe;

8: Danielle Griffin
15: Andrea O’Keeffe;

12: Laura Rynne
11: Sinead Power
10: Aoife Keane;

18: Elisha Ryne
14: Clare Hehir
13: Aoibhin Ryan;

Subs:
20: Kate Dowling for S. Power (42)
9: Hannah Shannon for A. Ryan (inj. 44)
21: Mary McInerney for E. Rynne (58)

Scariff-Ogonnelloe;
1; Rachael Daly;

2: Aine Rodgers
3: Bonnie Wiley-Murphy
4: Robyn McKenna;