*Cork’s Fiona Keating and Niamh O’Dea of Clare. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Jim Coughlan
Clare’s dream of reaching the knock out stage of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship was well and truly dashed at Cusack Park on Saturday afternoon when they suffered a twenty point defeat from Cork.
Cork 3-19
Clare 0-8
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
A physically stronger and much more experienced Cork side dominated from the outset and were fully deserving of their easy victory which has put them into the All-Ireland championship quarter finals.
The result has brought Clare’s season to an end and its back to the drawing board ahead of next season’s league.
Clare weren’t helped by the loss of two key forwards to injury but that said, they simply were not able to match their opponents who dominated in most positions.
The game had only reached the fourth minute when Eimear Kelly suffered a leg injury which ended her involvement in the game which was held up for five minutes as the Truagh/Clonlara player received attention before being carried from the pitch.
The second half was just over a minute old when the team’s top scorer Lorna McNamara suffered a leg injury which ended her involvement in the game
The home side played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half but found themselves two goals in arrears at the halfway point having managed just one point from play.
Cork gave an early indication of their determination to succeed but Clare goalkeeper Doireann Murphy made an excellent save from Sorcha McCartain, the Down native who joined Cork last season had an excellent game.
Clare were under a lot of pressure in the early stages and Cork opened the scoring in the twelfth minute when McCartan found the net. From the puckout Clare attacked and Orlaith Duggan opened their account with their first score from play.
Three points in two minutes from captain Amy O’Connor saw the visitors open a five point gap and while Clare fought back to within a goal, the winners struck for a Fiona Keating goal on the thirty minute mark and this helped them to lead 2-6 to 0-6 at the break.
Clare had a goal chance just after the mid point of the half but Amy Lee saved at the expense of a ‘45 from Aine O’Loughlin.
With wind advantage in the second half, Cork dominated, hitting 1-10 without reply and confining Clare to 0-2.
Doireann Murphy, Clare Hehir and Niamh O’Dea worked hard for Clare but it was Cork’s day as they dominated the exchanges as the final scoreline shows. Libby Coppinger, Izzy O’Regan, Saoirse McCarthy Amy O’Connor and Sorcha McCartan were to the fore throughout.
Before the game the teams warmed up in training tops which said “United for Equality”. The players joined together in a line for the playing of the national anthem before returning to their dressing rooms to put on their jerseys. This delayed the start of the game to 3.04
Scorers; Cork: Amy O’Connor (1-9, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘45); Sorcha McCartan (1-3); Fiona Keating (1-0); Katrina Mackey, Clodagh Finn (0-2) each; Chloe Sigerson, Emma Murphy, Orla Cronin (0-1) each;
Scorers Clare: Lorna McNamara (0-5, 4 frees, 1 ‘45); Orlaith Duggan (0-2), Aoife |Keane (0-1);
Cork:
1: Amy Lee (Na Piarsaigh)
2: Maebh Murphy (Ballincora)
3: Libby Coppinger (St. Colums)
4: Maebh Cahalane (St. Finbarrs)
5: Aoife Healy (Aghada)
6: Laura Treacy (Killeagh)
7: Izzy O’Regan (Ballygarvan)
10: Chloe Sigerson (Killeagh)
9: Pamela Mackey (Douglas)
8: Saoirse McCarthy (Courcey Rovers)
11: Fiona Keating (Courcey Rovers)
12: Cliona Healy (Aghabullogue)
13: Amy O’Connor (St. Vincent’s), Captain
14: Katrina Mackey (Douglas)
15: Sorcha McCartan (St.Finbarr’s)
Subs:
17: Emma Murphy (Glen Rovers) for C. Healy (42)
19: Clodagh Finn (Fr. O’Neill’s) for Mackey (49)
18: Hayley Ryan (Blackrock) for Cahalane (51)
24: Orla Cronin (Enniskeane) for McCartan (58)
22: Ali Smith (Aghada) for O’Connor (61);
Clare:
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
2: Ciara Grogan (Clooney/Quin)
3: Susan Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
4: Caoimhe Kelly (Kilkishen)
5: Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge)
6: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
7: Abby Walsh (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Lynda Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
10: Orlaith Duggan (Clooney/Quin)
11: Niamh O’Dea (Kilmaley) joint captain
12: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena)
13: Eimear Kelly (Truagh/Clonlara)
14: Áine O’Loughlin (Truagh/Clonlara)
15: Lorna McNamara (Feakle/Killenana)
Subs:
18: Muireann Scanlan (Sixmilebridge) for Kelly (inj 3)
21: Aoife Keane (Inagh/Kilnamona) for L. Daly (half time)
19: Amy Keating (Inagh/Kilnamona) for McNamara (inj. 32)
20: Laoise Ryan (Inagh/Kilnamona) for S. Daly (42)
17: Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen) for Morey (45);
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)
