*Caoimhe Cahill claims the sliotar. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
CLARE REMAIN UNBEATEN after defeating Offaly in the closing round of the Division 1B Camogie National League.
Clare 2-17
Offaly 2-11
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
By Gearóid Howley
Clare had already qualified for the Division 1B final ahead of Saturday’s clash with Offaly, a game they controlled from the outset.
Áine O’Loughlin scored Clare’s opening 1-1 of the day, with the threatening full-forward raising her first green flag in the eighth minute.
Zi Yan Spillane added the next score of the game before Rachel Brennan pulled on a shot that was blocked and fell back into her path, which she coolly slotted home. The full-forward then pointed a minute later following Offaly’s next score.
Roisin Begley ensured Clare remained in the ascendancy with a brilliant point from play and a placed ball, before Caoimhe Carmody followed up with an excellent effort from distance.
As the opening half drew to a close, O’Loughlin plucked a ball from the clouds, only to see her effort on goal strike the post. Her second green flag followed shortly after via a free that dropped short and was scrambled over the line.
Begley, who finished as top scorer, slotted over the final three points of the first half, with Clare leading 2-9 to 1-3 at the break.
After the interval, the Banner struggled to shrug off an Offaly fightback, failing to score from open play until the 59th minute.
Early in the half, Abby Walsh caught a puckout and went on a solo run before laying the ball off to Begley, who was through on goal, but her effort was saved by Offaly shot-stopper Emer Reynolds.
Orlagh Phelan landed a monster score from distance shortly after, with Clodagh Leahy and Fianáit Dooley also chipping in to reduce the gap to eight points heading into the final quarter.
The most eye catching moment of the game came in the 51st minute when Clare goalkeeper Doireann Murphy somehow managed to tip a Mairéad Teehan effort, destined for the top corner, over the bar.
Substitute Gráinne McMahon slotted over Clare’s first score from play of the second half just a minute before the end of normal time. Offaly’s Teehan responded almost instantly, rifling the ball to the back of the net. With three minutes of additional time to play, Clare’s lead was reduced to five points.
The ever-reliable Begley fittingly scored the final point of the game, bringing her tally to 0-13 for the day.
All photographs by Ruth Griffin
Standout performers for the victors included Roisin Begley, Lynda Daly, Abby Walsh, Jennifer Daly, Danielle Griffin and Áine O’Loughlin.
Scorers Clare: R Begley (0-13, 9f, 1 ‘45), Á O’Loughlin (2-1), C Carmody (0-1), Z Spillane (0-1), G McMahon (0-1)
Scorers Offaly: C Leahy (0-6, 4f, 1 ‘45), M Teehan (1-2), R Brennan (1-1), O Phelan (0-1), F Dooley (0-1)
Clare:
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
4: Susan Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe)
2: Muireann Scanlon (Broadford)
23: Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford)
17: Danielle Griffin (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6: Abby Walsh (Scariff Ogonnelloe)
5: Lynda Daly (Scariff-Ogonelloe)
8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Róisín McMahon (Feakle-Killanena)
11: Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley)
13: Ziyan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena)
12: Jennifer Daly (Scariff-Ogonelloe)
15: Maeve Millea (Parteen-Meelick)
22: Áine O’Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara)
20: Roisin Begley (Truagh-Clonlara)
Subs:
18: Michelle Powell (Truagh-Clonlara) for M Scanlon (40)
27: Ellen Casey (Newmarket on Fergus) for C Cahill (40)
21: Aisling Cooney (Parteen-Meelick) for Z Spillane (40)
30: Clíodhna Queally (Inagh-Kilnamona) for D Griffin (40)
24: Ciara Grogan (Clooney-Quin) for R McMahon (49)
19: Grainne McMahon (Newmarket on Fergus) for J Daly (49)
25: Aoibhin McNamara (Sixmilebridge) for M Millea (49)
26: Caoimhe Lally (Newmarket on Fergus) for N Mulqueen (49)
Offaly:
1: Emer Reynolds (Shinrone)
2: Nicola Cleary (Shinrone)
6: Una Kilmartin (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
4: Aoife Liffey (Shinrone)
5: Ellen Regan (Birr)
3: Amy Byrne (Shinrone)
7: Orlagh Phelan (Naomh Bríd)
8: Allie Butler (St Rynagh’s)
9: Aisling Brennan (St Cillian’s)
25: Ciara Maher (Moneygall)
11: Katie O’Connell (St Rynagh’s)
12: Mairéad Teehan (Moneygall)
13: Clodagh Leahy (Drumcullen)
14: Rachel Brennan (St Cillian’s)
15: Fianáit Dooley (Drumcullen)
Subs:
22: Megan King (St Cillian’s) for N Cleary (HT)
23: Áine O’Connor (Naomh Bríd) for C Maher (45)
19: Emma Buggy (Ballinamere) for A Liffey (50)
24: Orla Kilmartin (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for K O’Connell (54)
20: Karla Mannion (Drumcullen) for A Butler (60)
