WITH survival in Division 1A of the Very National Camogie League at stake, Clare and Dublin had plenty to play for when they clashed at Cusack Park in the final group game in this season’s league on Sunday afternoon.
Clare 1-10
Dublin 1-10
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Clare had a slight advantage in that a draw would be enough to see them retain their Division 1 status and that is how it turned out, a share of the spoils being the end result.
The draw means that the Banner outfit will compete in the top flight next season and now the focus switches to the upcoming Munster championship and Clare’s provincial semi-final clash with neighbours Limerick.
At the end of an evenly fought first half the visitors led by the minimum, 0-5 to 0-4, each side having scored four points from frees.
Both were guilty of a couple of missed opportunities in a half in which the Clare forwards struggled to break down a stubborn Dublin defence.
Clare had opened the scoring through Lorna McNamara but Dublin responded with three in a row. The home side finished the half strongly with McNamara hitting two in the four minutes of injury time at the end of the half to trail by the minimum at the halfway point.
For the second half Clare introduced Eimear Kelly, recently back from charity work in Ethiopia and Chloe Morey. Truagh/Clonlara woman Eimear struck for a crucial score, a goal, twelve minutes into the second half and this proved to be a crucial score for the home side.
The switch of Niamh O’Dea to centre forward played a big part in Clare earning a draw in this one as her powerful runs created a number of good scoring opportunities for the Banner side.
Dublin’s goal came after a loose clearance from the Clare defence was intercepted and the ball was quickly delivered to Aisling O’Neill who rounded her marker before shooting low past Doireann Murphy in the Clare goal.
Clare went on to open a four point lead with six minutes remaining but just when it looked like the home side were in control, Dublin struck for 1-1 in two minutes to level the tie.
Aisling Maher quickly levelled the tie and anxious moments followed for the Clare fans. Lorna McNamara, the team’s top scorer on the day, put the home side back into the lead with two minutes remaining but, within a minute, the teams were level for the fourth and final time.
While it was a Clare native that got the final score, it wasn’t a player wearing saffron and blue, instead it was Kilnaboy native Muireann Kelleher who hit the all-important equaliser, she has been based in the capital for ten years.
Try as the visitor’s did they failed to get ahead as a determined Clare held firm for a draw on a day when Claire Hehir, Niamh O’Dea and Lorna McNamara excelled. Aisling Maher and Aisling O’Neill stood out for the visitors and, between them, accounted for all but a point of their side’s total.
Scorers Clare; Lorna McNamara (0-7, all frees); Eimear Kelly (1-0), Claire Hehir (free), Caoimhe Carmody, Orlaith Duggan (0-1) each
Scorers Dublin; Aisling Maher (0-5, 4frees); Aisling O’Neill (1-4, 0-1 free); Muireann Kelleher (0-1))
Clare;
1: Doireann Murphy Clarecastle;
2: Susan Daly, Scariff-Ogonnelloe
3: Claire Hehir, Inagh-Kilnamona (Joint captain)
4: Ciara Grogan, Clooney
5: Alanah Ryan, Kilkishen/Bodyke
6: Niamh O’Dea, Kilmaley (Joint captain)
7: Laoise Ryan, Inagh-Kilnamona;
8: Caoimhe Carmody, Kilmaley
9: Orlaith Duggan, Clooney;
10: Caoimhe Kelly, Kilkishen/Bodyke
11: Lorna McNamara, Feakle-Killanena
12: Lynda Daly, Scariff-Ogonnelloe
13: Aine O’Loughlin, Truagh-clonlara
14: Rebecca Foley, Truagh-Clonlara
15: Muireann Scanlan, Sixmilebridge
Subs:
21: Eimear Kelly (Truagh-Clonlara) for C. Kelly
17: Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge) for L. Daly (both half time)
18: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena) for A.O’Loughlin (48)
19: Abby Walsh (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) fort Scanlan (61)
Dublin;
30: Ciara Tierney, Na Fianna;
2: Abbey Ryan, Crumlin
24: Zoe Couch, St.Oliver Plunkertt, eoghan Ruadh
4: Christina Shanahan, Naomh Olaf
5: Claire Gannon, St. Judes
6: Leah Butler St. Judes
7: Hannah O’Dea, Cuala
8: Gaby Couch, St. Oliver Plunkett, Eoghan Ruadh
9: Muireann Kelleher, St. Vincents
10: Kerri Finnegan, Faughs
11: Grace O’Shea, Ballinteer St. Johns
12: Elyse Jamieson Murphy, Na Fianna
13: Aisling O’Neill Castleknock,
14: Aisling Maher, St. Vincents
15: Niamh Comerford, Kilmacud Crokes;
Subs:
3: Eve O’Brien (Na Fianna) for L. Burler (HT)
23: Kate Kilcommins (Ballyhea, Cork) for N. Comerford (HT)
17: Aisling Gannon (St. Judes) for G. O’Shea(43)
28: Niamh Heffernan (St. Peregrines) for A. Ryan (60)
Referee: John Dermody, Westmeath
