*Sinead O’Keeffe. Photograph: ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
ALTHOUGH they both had already qualified for next week’s division 1 B final in the Very camogie senior league final, Clare and Antrim played in the final group game at Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog on Saturday.
Antrim 5-12
Clare 1-10
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg, Ennis
Clare fielded an entirely new starting team for this one, deciding to rest all of the payers who had made up their starting line ups in the earlier games in the campaign, all of which the Banner outfit had won.
Antrim, on the other hand, fielded about two thirds of their first choice regular team and this was reflected in the result, the visitors coming out on top.
Corner forward Cassie McArthur was their star performer on the day, contributing 4-3 of her side’s impressive tally.
All but a goal of her tally came in the opening half and helped her side to lead 3-7 to 0-3 at the halfway point.
Full forward Roisin McCormack helped set up a number of those scores before leaving the game shortly before the half time whistle due to injury.
Both sides made changes for the second half, Clare introducing Cliodhna Queally, Aoife Anderson, Jennifer Daly, Michelle Powell and Aisling Cooney and their presence helped them deliver an improved performance.
Overall, however, Antrim dominated in the key areas and deserved the win and it remains to be seen what bearing, if any, this will have when the teams renew rivalry in next week’s league final at Abbotstown in Dublin.
Sinead O’Keeffe, Hannah Mai Neylon and Ella Cahill did well for the Clare side in this tie.
Antrim; Becky Ellis; Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Dearbhaiol Dobbin; Erin coulter (0-1), Sarah O’Neill, Sheenagh Hegarty; Janey McIntosh Nicole McAtamney; Maeve Kelly (1-2), Lucia McNaughton (0-1), Dervla Cosgrave (0-4); Cassie McArthur (4-3), Roisin McCormick, Caitrin Dobbin;
Subs; Sarah Fyfe (0-1) for R. McCormick; Karie Rose Bell for S. Hegarty; Caitriona Graham for B. Ellis; Orlaith McAllister for C.Dobbin; Eimear Johnston for J. McIntosh; Aisling O’Donnell for L. McNaughton;
Clare; Marie Burke (Kilmaley); Danielle Griffin (Inagh-Kilnamona), Grainne McMahon (Newmarket), Aine Longe (Inagh-Kilnamona); Aoife Murphy (Clarecastle), Sinead O’Keeffe (Kilmaley), Caoimhe Ryan (Banner); Hannah Mai Neylon (Ballyea) 0-1, Aoibhin Marren (Truagh-Clonlara); Maeve Millea (Parteen-Meelick), Danielle Beston (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Elisha Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona); Aoibhinn McNamara (Sixmilebridge) 0-1, Ella Cahill (Eire Og) 0-5, Evie Scanlan (Clarecasle (1-0);
Subs; Cliodhna Queally (Inagh-Kilnamona) for G. McMahon; Aoife Anderson (Ruan) for D. Beston; Michelle Powell (Truagh-Clonlara) 0-1 for A. Long; Jennifer Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) 0-1 for H. M Neylon; Aisling Cooney (Parteen-Meelick) 0-1 for M. Millea; Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford) for A. Anderson (inj)
Referee; Gavin Donegan, Dublin
