*Ellen Casey tries to get a block in. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A strong second half showing from Kerry proved decisive as they accounted for Clare in this Munster intermediate camogie championship semi-final this Sunday afternoon.
Kerry 0-14
Clare 0-12
Venue: TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
While it was a win the ladies from the Kingdom deserved, Clare have reason to rue some missed opportunities.
With twelve of their starting team from the Clanmaurice club, their experience played a key part in this victory which sees them through to the Munster final against Cork.
Ahead by two points at the mid point, the winners stepped up a gear after the break when strong performances from Jackie Horgan and Patrice Diggin played a key role in their win. They contributed 0-5 each and picked off some impressive scores sin the second half.
Clare had the margin back to the minimum twice in the second half but, try as they did, they failed to get back on terms despite having a few opportunities.
Kerry had the aid of the breeze in the first half and they opened the scoring through a Patrice Diggin free in the second minute. Clare levelled in the fifth minute through Kate O’Gorman before points were exchanged again. Clare then hit two from Aisling Cooney to open a two point lead but they weren’t to score again for seventeen minutes during which time Kerry landed four points.
When the half time whistle sounded the gap between the teams was 0-2 with Kerry leading.
Scorers Kerry; Jackie Horgan (3 frees), Patrice Diggin (2 frees), 0-5 each; Amy O’Sullivan (0-2), Caoimhe Spillane (0-1);
Scorers Clare; Kate O’Gorman (2 frees), Aisling Cooney (3 frees) 0-3 each, Grace Carmody, Jennifer Daly (0-2 each) Kaci Toomey, Rachel Kelly (0-1) each.
Kerry
16: Kate Lych (Causeway)
2: Rachel McCarthy (Clanmaurice)
3: Sara Murphy (Clanmaurice)
4: Michelle Costello (Clanmaurice)
5: Aoife Beehan (Clanmaurice)
6: Niamh Leen (Clanmaurice)
7: Ellen O’Donoghue (Causeway)
8: Jackie Horgan (Clanmaurice)
9: Kate Lynch (Clanmaurice)
10: Clodagh Walsh (Cillard)
11: Patricia Diggin (Clanmaurice)
12: Caoimhe Spillane (Clanmaurice)
19: Ann Marie Leen (Clanmaurice)
14: Laura Collins (Clanmaurice)
15: Amy O’Sullivan (Clanmaurice)
Subs:
20: Norette Casey (Cillard) for A.M. Leen (49);
Clare;
1: Lauren Solon (Whitegate)
2: Rebecca Crowe (Ruan)
3: Caoimhe Lally (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
4: Sinead Hogg (Truagh/Clonlara)
5: Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
6: Laura McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
7: Sinead O’Keeffe (Kilmaley)
8: Grace Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford)
10: Labhaoise O’Donnell (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
11: Kate O’Gorman (Kilkishen)
12: Jennifer Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
13: Kaci Toomey (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
14: Olivia Phelan (Sixmilebridge)
15:Aisling Cooney (Parteen)
Subs:
18: Aoife Anderson (Ruan) for Toomey (38)
17: Lorraine Grady (Scariff/Ogonnelloe for Phelan (41)
19: Rachel Kelly (Sixmilebridge) for Hogg (47)
26: Hannah Mai Neylon (Ballyea) for Cooney (23)
Referee: Diarmuid Horgan (Cork)
