*Photograph: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
A third defeat brought an end to Clare’s 2019 National Camogie League campaign on Sunday.
Dublin 1-07
Clare 0-07
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
In what was already a dead rubber contest, Dublin overcame Clare by three points in what was a disappointing affair. Although there was nothing to play for, a better display was expected from the hosts who could only muster a single score from play.
Talk of an Ennis town bus service by 2040 has been mooted at local authority level within the county this month and the old adage of waiting for one bus and two arriving at once was applicable in the opening half of this contest. Clare’s first score arrived on the eighteenth minute via a Chloe Morey free with a brace of three points (one for Clare two for Dublin) coming in the space of the next four minutes. Morey slotted two more frees before the break while Dublin added points from Aoibhe Dillon and Orla Beagan to lead by the minimum at half-time.
Those hoping for a more exciting game in the second half were left underwhelmed as the Dubs continued to do enough to stay on top. Within four minutes they struck for goal as Aisling Maher received a Siobhan Kehoe handpass and was left one on one with Lauran Solon where she made no mistake.
Three Morey frees was all Clare could manage to put on the scoreboard while Frank Browe’s Dublin had two efforts, one each from Beagan and Dillon.
Although members of the Clare panel have sought to have their games played in Cusack Park over the years, it is abundantly clear that the home of GAA does not suit the Banner girls. Teams like Limerick, Cork and Dublin have all come to Cusack Park in recent years and bossed Clare from start to finish. A tighter pitch would be a better option for the current panel.
Once again their inability to create scoring chances from play was evident. They won 22 frees in comparison to Dublin’s 9, when they meet a disciplined side one would have to be concerned on whether they would score in sixty minutes. Fortunately for Ger O’Connell and his management, there is a long way to go until championship because they have a hell of a lot of work yet to do. The return of Aimee McInerney and Alannah Ryan to the half-back line was a positive while Orlaith Duggan when she gets more training under her belt will be a significant addition to any line of the field.
Scorers Dublin: Aisling Maher (1-01 1f), Sinead Wylde (0-02), Orla Beagan (0-02), Aoibhe Dillon (0-02 1f)
Scorers Clare: Chloe Morey (0-06 5f 1’45), Eimear Kelly (0-01)
Dublin:
1: Faye McCarthy (Naomh Jude)
2: Orla Gray (Na Fianna)
3: Eve O’Brien (Na Fianna)
4: Emma O’Byrne (Good Counsel)
23: Laura Twomey (Naomh Mearnog)
7: Grainne Quinn (St Vincents)
6: Aisling Carolan (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh)
9: Aoibhe Dillon (Naomh Mearnog)
8: Roisin Baker (Na Fianna)
11: Ali Twomey (Lucan Sarsfields)
26: Orla Beagan (Lucan Sarsfields)
20: Ellen McGovern (St Vincents)
13: Emma Gray (Na Fianna)
14: Aisling Maher (St Vincents)
28: Sinead Wylde (Cuala)
Subs;
15: Siobhan Kehoe (Fionnbarra) for Gray (30)
Clare:
1: Lauran Solon (Whitegate)
2: Niamh Powell (Truagh/Clonlara)
3: Laura McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
4: Ciara Doyle (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
5: Aimee McInerney (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
6: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
7: Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen)
8: Roisin Begley (Truagh/Clonlara)
9: Amy Barrett (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
10: Eimear Kelly (Truagh/Clonlara)
11: Aoife Keane (Inagh/Kilnamona)
12: Orlaith Lynch (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
13: Fiona Lafferty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
14: Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge)
15: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork
