Clare camogie boss Ger O’Connell has taken the reigns of Truagh/Clonlara as they begin to get their bid for a first ever county camogie championship back on track.
Camogie followers in the county were left shocked at the margin of the difference between Inagh/Kilnamona and Truagh/Clonlara following their first round meeting two weeks ago.
The 1-11 0-03 win was a very positive start for Inamona but was the catalyst for change in South-East Clare with players leading the call for change and it resulted in the departure of John Fennessy as manager.
Coach, Colm Fitzgerald resigned prior to Fennessy’s exit and has resisted calls to return to the set up.
County boss Ger O’Connell has now returned to his former post and they face Sixmilebridge in Cratloe on Saturday evening. Susan Fahy made her first appearance for The Bridge as they lost 2-21 1-06 against reigning champions Scariff/Ogonnelloe in round one. Both sides are in need of a win as defeat will rule out the possibility of either outfit progressing to the knockout stages. It also pits O’Connell against Conor Dolan who is training the Sixmilebridge side and is coach to the county team.
Saturday’s meeting of Scariff/Ogonnelloe and Inagh/Kilnamona is expected to be an exciting affair. With a win each under their belt, a successive victory would see them secure their place in the semi-finals. Shadow boxing may be on the cards as the two clubs would be fancied to potentially meet in the county final later this year.
In Group One, Kilmaley will be eyeing up their second win of the championship. They take on last year’s intermediate champions St Josephs Doora/Barefield in Fr McNamara Park. Having raided for three goals in their 3-11 0-14 win over Kilkishen/Bodyke, Kilmaley will be hoping for more of the same and will look to centre back Niamh O’Dea and centre forward Claire McMahon to steer them to success.
Kilkishen/Bodyke will be determined to keep their chances of appearing in the knockout stages alive and to do that they must overcome Newmarket-on-Fergus in Shannon. The Blues although they accounted for St Josephs Doora/Barefield 1-18 0-08 in round one are in need of further improvement and the East Clare side which includes Kate Lynch, Kate O’Gorman and Alannah Ryan will be eyeing up taking a potential scalp.
Action continues in the intermediate champions where the meeting of Clooney/Quin and Éire Óg will reveal which side is more likely to win promotion to the senior ranks. Feakle/Killanena will be looking to build on recent strong form when they meet neighbours Whitegate while the final clash pits Tulla against Clarecastle/Ballyea.
