*Lorna McNamara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A LATE Lorna McNamara strike secured Clare a share of the spoils as they kicked off their National Camogie League campaign for 2026.
Clare 1-13
Dublin 0-16
Venue: National Games Development Centre, Abbotstown
By Scariff Bay Community Radio
It was a chilly but dry GAA pitch in Abbotstown which hosted the Centra National League Division 1B camogie game between Clare and Dublin on Saturday afternoon.
Dublin started well going on the attack from the off and playing with the wind led by two points after six minutes with scores from Aisling Gannon and Niamh Comerford.
Two frees from Lorna McNamara and a point from Zyan Spillane put Clare in front. It was nip and tuck all through the first half with the lead changing hands on a few occasions. With Clare two points in the lead, four unanswered points from the hosts seemed to suggest the tide was beginning to turn. Lorna McNamara came to the rescue again to leave the half time score 0-08 to 0-06 in favour of Dublin.
Two early second half points from Dublin as well as the drop in the breeze which was to favour the Banner did not bode well. Then there was a stroke of luck for the Clare ladies when a dropping ball from Lorna McNamara was misjudged by the Dublin netminder Ciara Jones ended in the back of the net to give Clare a lifeline.
Clare subsequently went into a three point lead but were pegged back by the Dubs who led by a point well into injury time. However a foul on Clare substitute Aisling Cooney led to a free for Clare which McNamara pointed to force a draw and a share of the points.
It was a fair result as Clare under pressure from a physically stronger Dublin outfit showed their resilience, skill and workrate. It ensures Clare don’t leave the capital empty handed in Eugene Foudy’s first game as manager.
Scorers for Clare: Lorna McNamara (1-08 0-06 f), Zi Yan Spillane (0-02), Jennifer Daly (0-01), Aoife Anderson (0-01), Roisin Begley (0-01)
Scorers for Dublin: Aisling Gannon (0-06), Niamh Comerford (0-06 0-03 f), Kerrie Finnegan (0-02), Emma Moran (0-01), Grace O’Shea (0-01)
Clare:
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
2: Muireann Scanlon (Sixmilebridge)
3: Sinead O’Keeffe (Kilmaley)
4: Susan Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
5: Linda Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
6: Abby Walsh (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
7: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Roisin McMahon (Feakle/Killanena)
10: Andrea O’Keeffe (Inagh/Kilnamona)
11: Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley)
12: Jennifer Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
13: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena)
14: Lorna McNamara (Feakle/Killanena)
15: Maeve Milliea (Parteen/Meelick)
Subs:
17: Danielle Griffin (Inagh/Kilnamona) for S Daly (inj) (22)
21: Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh/Clonlara) for Millea (38)
20: Aoife Anderson (Ruan) for McMahon (50)
23: Roisin Begley (Truagh/Clonlara) for L Daly (54)
21: Aisling Cooney (Parteen/Meelick) for C Cahill (54)
Dublin:
1: Ciara Jones (Kilmacud Crokes)
2: Emily Adderly (Ballinteer St John’s)
3: Eve O’Brien (Na Fianna)
4: Emma O’Byrne (St Vincent’s)
5: Abby Ryan (Crumlin)
6: Niamh Gannon (St Jude’s)
7: Claire Gannon (St Jude’s)
8: Jody Couch (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh)
9: Gaby Couch (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh)
10: Sarah Power (Fingallions)
11: Kerrie Finnegan (Faughs Celtic)
12: Grace O’Shea (Ballinteer St John’s)
13: Niamh Comerford (Kilmacud Crokes)
14: Aisling Gannon (St Jude’s)
15: Sinead Wylde (Cuala)
