*Clare’s Niamh Mulqueen in possession. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior camogie side are on course to qualify for the All-Ireland quarter-finals after they battled off with reigning champions Cork.
Cork 0-21
Clare 1-9
Venue: SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
By Therese O’Callaghan
Clare camogie manager John Carmody cut a satisfied figure after his side’s brave performance against three-in-a-row seeking All-Ireland champions Cork in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship at on Saturday.
Cork are currently the standard bearers and for his youthful side to come within nine points has to be put in context.
When these teams met in the Munster championship in Ennis on April 20 Clare lost 2-22 to 0-10 – that is an 18-point difference.
Factor in as well, two one-on-one goal opportunities in second-half stoppage time from Róisín Begley and Áine O’Loughlin that should have been put away but were bravely saved by Cork ‘keeper Amy Lee.
The Banner women headed home safe in the knowledge a championship knockout place awaits in Croke Park. Their game against Tipperary next weekend will determine whether they finish second or third.
Competition for places is also evident with management able to bring on regular starters in captain Áine O’Loughlin and Zi Yan Spillane in the second half.
Cork, meanwhile, look set to take the semi-final spot in Group 1 with winless Wexford awaiting in their final game.
It was evident from the outset Clare were well organized and up for the challenge, a youthful side and competitive.
They got a tonic start with a green flag inside the opening minute from Jennifer Daly who soloed through from out the field and applied the finishing touches after a mere 45 seconds. The only goal of the day was immediately followed by a Caoimhe Cahill point from play and they were up-and-running.
Orlaith Cahalane settled Cork with a fifth minute white flag and they would shoot the next three unanswered points from play. A goal opportunity too came their way but couldn’t be taken advantage of.
Impressive wing-forward Jennifer Daly raced through for Clare’s second point to leave just one between the sides approaching the quarter hour mark, 1-2 to 0-4. The industrious Saoirse McCarthy (free) Emma Murphy and Kate Wall stretched the lead.
Róisín Begley won a free close to the posts for Aisling Cooney to convert – it remained a single point match with 10 minutes to go to the interval.
Sorcha McCartan and Murphy points sent Cork to the dressing-room 0-9 to 1-3 ahead.
The defending All-Ireland champions were a different proposition in the second half and reeled off a trio of points from Murphy, McCartan and Amy O’Connor (free) to extend their advantage. Seven-in-a-row points followed while limiting Clare to a pair of converted frees from Cooney which arrived in a productive 20-minute spell.
Clare had given so much in the first 30 minutes having performed close to their potential, it was difficult to keep that momentum going.
Emerging with 10 different scorers, Cork pulled 0-20 to 1-5 clear by the 50th minute.
However, Clare will take heart from the manner they saw out the contest, outhitting Cork four-one in the final 10 minutes plus three minutes of stoppage. And had those two late goals been converted the deficit would have been less again.
Scorers for Cork: S McCarthy (0-5, 1f), E Murphy (0-3), O Cahalane (0-3), K Wall (0-2), A O’Connor (0-2 f), S McCartan (0-2), L Hayes (0-1), A Thompson (0-1), K Mackey (0-1), C Finn (0-1).
Scorers for Clare: J Daly (1-1), A Cooney (0-3 f), Z A Spillane (0-2 45), C Cahill (0-2), N Mulqueen (0-1).
Cork:
1: Amy Lee (Na Piarsaigh)
2: Méabh Cahalane (St Finbarr’s, Capt)
3. Libby Coppinger (St Colum’s)
4: Pamela Mackey (Douglas)
5: Rachel Harty (Ballyhea)
6: Laura Treacy (Killeagh)
7: Laura Hayes (St Catherine’s)
8: Kate Wall (St Finbarr’s)
9: Ashling Thompson (Milford)
17: Emma Murphy (Glen Rovers)
11: Saoirse McCarthy (Courcey Rovers)
12: Sorcha McCartAN (St Finbarr’s)
14: Clodagh Finn (Fr O’Neill’s)
10: Katrina Mackey (Douglas)
15: Orlaith Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
Subs:
13: Amy O’Connor (St Vincent’s) for C Finn,
18: Aoife O’Neill for R Harty (both half-time)
19: Ciara O’Sullivan for L Coppinger (43).
Clare:
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
2: Susan Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe)
3: Clare Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona)
4: Sinead O’Keeffe (Kilmaley)
5: Lynda Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe)
6: Abby Walsh (Scariff-Ogonnelloe)
7: Cliodhna Queally (Inagh-Kilnamona)
8: Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford)
9: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
10: Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley)
11: Grace Carmody (Kilmaley)
12: Jennifer Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe)
13: Róisín Begley (Truagh Clonlara)
14: Aisling Cooney (Parteen Meelick)
15: Aoife Anderson (Ruan)
Subs:
17: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena) for A Anderson (25),
Danielle Griffin (Inagh-Kilnamona) for C Queally (40),
Áine O’Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara, Capt) for A Cooney (46)
Ciara Grogan (Clooney Quin) for G Carmody (50)
Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus for C Carmody (53).
Referee: Liz Dempsey ( Kilkenny).
