Back to back senior titles for Scariff/Ogonnelloe

*Jennifer Daly on the attack for Scariff/Ogonnelloe.

SCARIFF/OGONNELLOE have won the Clare senior camogie championship for the third time, defeating Truagh/Clonlara in the decider for the second year in a row.

Scariff/Ogonnelloe 0-14
Truagh/Clonlara 2-05
Venue: Cusack Park

Easier than expected, Scariff/Ogonnelloe marched to a second successive senior title recording a three point win, the margin of the victory seeming more than the scoreline actually reflected.

Last year’s final meeting between the same sides required a replay but there was little doubt from the off that the outcome would be settled within the space of sixty minutes on this occasion.

While the winners only added a single point in the second half, the damage was done in the opening period as the reigning county and provincial champions had built up an eight point advantage which left their opponents reeling.

Having set the campaign alight with commanding performances en route to the final, Truagh/Clonlara failed to replicate this form which including high-scoring tallies. The stronger test of a semi-final win over Inagh/Kilnamona which made Scariff/Ogonnelloe sweat till the better end stood to them for the final.

Early scores from Jennifer Daly and Mairead Scanlan saw the East Clare side build up a 0-03 0-00 advantage. Truagh/Clonlara got a lifeline when Roisin Begley’s effort dropped under the crossbar and into the top right hand corner of Rachel Daly’s net to level matters on five minutes. Lorraine Grady and Scanlan pointed again but on each occasion, Laura Foley responded for Bob Caulfield’s side.

Susan Daly clears her lines. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Jennifer Daly on the attack. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Lynda Daly, Alva Rodgers, Rachel Daly, Mairead Scanlan, Susan Daly and Aoife Power. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Rachel Minogue, Aisling Corry and Alison McGee. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Crucially Scariff/Ogonnelloe closed out the half with eight points in succession. This put them in a very healthy position at the interval with the score reading 0-13 1-02. Such was the manner of the opening half finish that it left the Truagh/Clonlara management reeling, it was almost five minutes after the half-time whistle sounded that they entered their dressing room.

An improvement followed from the challengers as they limited the winners to a single point in the entirety of the second half, the opening score, a free from Scanlan. The tally of 1-03 for the remainder of the contest from Truagh/Clonlara was insufficient to see them bridge the deficit. The goal coming from Ellen Horgan on forty one minutes brought a lift to their vocal support but they failed to build on this momentum.

When it came to it, Scariff/Ogonnelloe ruled supreme in the underrated aspects of tackling, hooking and blocking, a sequence in the third quarter saw Amy Barrett make two exceptional blocks but the move would end with Eimear Kelly pointing on thirty nine minutes.

Roisin Begley was lively over the hour for the side coached by John Conlon. She didn’t receive enough assistance in the forward line. Michelle Caulfield was their best player over the hour with her use of the ball very effective from centre back.

For the winners, Lynda Daly, Aoife Power, Ciara Doyle, Amy Barrett and Bonnie Wiley Murphy were to the fore. Alphie Rodgers’ side will now look forward to competing in the provincial championship as they bid to retain their Munster title.

After the game, Amy Barrett was presented with the McMahon Cup by Clare Camogie Chair, Joe O’Donnell. She applauded manager Alphie Rodgers for stepping into the role at the beginning of the year and his professionalism. She also labelled Truagh/Clonlara as consistently their toughest opponents in Clare.

Scorers Scariff/Ogonnelloe: M Scanlan (0-06 5f), A Power (0-03), J Daly (0-02), L Grady (0-01), L Daly (0-01), L O’Donnell (0-01), A Walsh (0-01)

Scorers Truagh/Clonlara: L Foley (0-03 3f), R Begley (1-00), E Horgan (1-00), E Kelly (0-02),

Scariff/Ogonnelloe:
1: Rachel Daly

2: Bonnie Wiley Murphy
3: Susan Daly
4: Alison McGee

6: Rachel Minogue
5: Ciara Doyle
7: Amy Barrett

8: Abby Walsh
9: Lynda Daly

10: Jennifer Daly
11: Mairead Scanlan
12: Labhaoise O’Donnell

14: Aoife Power
13: Alva Rodgers
15: Lorraine Grady

Subs:
19: Aisling Corbett for Scanlan (53)
18: Aisling Corry for Rodgers (57)

Truagh/Clonlara:
1: Liza Moloney

2: Aoife Dillon
6: Michelle Powell
4: Sinead Hogg

5: Roisin Powell
8: Michelle Caulfield
7: Louise Egan