*Clare’s Roisin McMahon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
It’s not mathematically rubber-stamped just yet but Clare have virtually a foot and nine toes in a second successive All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Quarter-Final following a derby victory over Limerick.
Clare 1-13
Limerick 0-11
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosog
Having completed back-to-back wins over Leinster duo Dublin and Wexford, a historic third straight triumph puts the Banner level on top of the Group 2 table alongside Kilkenny with just two matches remaining. However, while the Kittens have a +33 point score difference, with just +12 the Banner can still be potentially overturned.
One more point will copperfasten a last six berth and it’s more than deserved as despite the devastating news of being without talismanic forward Lorna McNamara for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury suffered against Wexford last Saturday, this was a gritty, professional performance from the home side.
Despite leaking the opening three points and not scoring for the first 13 minutes, Clare quickly made up for lost ground as after Ziyan Spillane picked up the ball of a huddle to finally open their account, the hosts raided for the only goal of the game in the next passage of play.
It stemmed from a short puck-out that went astray for Limerick as Ellen Casey collected possession and immediately played in Roisin Begley to beat the last defender and finish to the left corner of the Limerick net at 1-2 to 0-3.
It was a lead that Clare would never relinquish thereafter as despite facing into a stiff wind, they only bolstered their advantage by the break.
Defending superbly as a Laura Southern shot was backed before what seemed a certain goal for Orlaith Kelleher was excellently tipped away by goalkeeper Doireann Murphy, those stops would be magnified when Roisin Begley (2) and the excellent Roisin McMahon combined for three of the last four points to go in 1-6 to 0-5 in front.
The omnipresent Andrea O’Keeffe was outstanding throughout but particularly effective in the second half when Limerick, craving victory to remain in the championship race, inevitably hit back.
In all, the Inagh-Kilnamona playmaker raided for three second half points, each one a timely blow to the Treaty. Indeed, in a real blow-for-blow slugfest, the introduction of Rebecca Delee made a difference for the visitors as did the unerring accuracy of Donna Kenny’s frees as Limerick eventually lessened the damage to just two entering the final quarter.
There would be no panic in the home trench through especially after a truly inspirational interception and point for Clare Hehir who alongside her fellow joint-captain Abby Walsh were immense once more in a miserly Clare rearguard along with Niamh Mulqueen.
Danielle Griffin’s 55th minute point made it a two score game before fittingly O’Keeffe capped off another superb display to maintain Clare’s flawless 2-26 home record and their perfect All-Ireland Championship start.
Scorers for Clare: Roisin Begley 1-4 (3f), Andrea O’Keeffe 0-3, Ziyan Spillane 0-1, Jennifer Daly 0-1, Roisin McMahon 0-1, Ellen Casey 0-1, Clare Hehir 0-1, Danielle Griffin 0-1
Scorers for Limerick: Donna Kenny 0-4 (4f), Sarah O’Brien 0-2, Laura Southern 0-2, Ciara Curtin 0-1, Orlaith Kelleher 0-1, Ailbhe Larkin 0-1
Clare
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
3: Sinead O’Keeffe (Kilmaley)
4: Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford)
2: Muireann Scanlon (Broadford)
5: Lynda Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
6: Abby Walsh (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
7: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
8: Roisin McMahon (Feakle/Killanena)
9: Danielle Griffin (Inagh/Kilnamona)
10: Jennifer Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
11: Andrea O’Keeffe (Inagh/Kilnamona)
13: Ziyan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena)
15: Roisin Begley (Truagh Clonlara)
20: Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
23: Maeve Millea (Parteen-Meelick)
Subs
24: Claire McNamara (Feakle-Killenana) for McMahon (14-17, BS)
12: Aoife Anderson (Ruan) for Millea (42)
17: Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh Clonlara) for Casey (54)
19: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley) for J. Daly (54)
24: McNamara for McMahon (54)
18: Aisling Cooney (Parteen-Meelick) for Spillane (60)
Limerick
1: Sarah Gillane (Patrickswell)
2: Teresa Dore (Patrickswell)
3: Ciara O’Riordan (Blackrock/Effin)
17: Cliodhna Ryan (Doon)
7: Eimear O’Donovan (Blackrock/Effin)
6: Stephanie Woulfe (Templeglantine)
5: Sophie O’Callaghan (Adare)
9: Orlaith Kelleher (Croagh/Kilfinny)
15: Shauna Cunningham (Killeedy)
8: Ailbhe Larkin (Mungret St. Paul’s)
11: Lizanna Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)
12: Ciara Curtin (Templeglantine)
10: Donna Kenny (Croagh/Kilfinny)
14: Laura Southern (Monaleen)
13: Sarah O’Brien (Templeglantine)
Subs
4: Ellie Woulfe (Newcastle West) for Ryan (HT)
19: Rebecca Delee (Newcastle West) for Curtin (42)
20: Mai McKenna (Granagh/Ballingarry) for Kenny (59)
Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork)
