Clare start All-Ireland campaign with away draw to Tipperary

Clare’s senior camogie side began their All-Ireland championship bid with a draw away to Tipperary.

Clare 0-10

Tipperary 0-10

Venue: The Ragg

By Derek Dormer

The third meeting of this two teams in four weeks and the second draw. In a windswept Ragg, Clare trailed by two points with two minutes to go but late points by Muireann Scanlon and a Chloe Morey free earned what could be a valuable point.

Tipperary won the toss and chose to play with the elements pinning Clare back from the outset. With seventeen minutes played Tipperary led four points to one but should have been further ahead but for some poor shooting.

Two late Lorna McNamara scores either side of a Cait Devane free and Clare headed to the dressing room in a very strong position trailing by only two, five points to three with the massive wind to come.

On the resumption, a long Chloe Morey delivery found Zi Yan Spillane who was unceremoniously brought down for a Clare penalty. Up stepped sharpshooter Lorna McNamara but her low shot was superbly saved by Aine Slattery deflecting it out for a 45 which to her credit McNamara converted.

The sides traded scores but each time Clare levelled Tipperary responded. In fact Clare never led throughout the sixty minutes and a brace of Cait Devane points put Tipperary in a strong position with time almost up.

With three home games to come after last weekend’s trip to Cork, today’s point could prove vital in the quest to get to Croke Park.

Best for Clare were Clare Hehir, Chloe Morey and Lorna McNamara while Cait Devane was Tipperary’s chief threat.

Scorers Clare: Lorna McNamara 0-6 (2f 2 45s), Chloe Morey 0-1 (f), Eimear kelly Muireann Scanlon Zi Yan Spillane 0-1 each

Scorers Tipperary: Cait Devane 0-5 (4f),Eimear McGrath Ereena Fryday Grace O Brien Caoimhe Maher Roisin Howard 0-1 each

CLARE

1: Doireann Murphy

2: Ciara Grogan

3: Clare Hehir

4: Caoimhe Kelly

5: Aoife Keane

6: Chloe Morey

7: Susan Daly