Abby Walsh. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
SECOND HALF goals from team captain Aine O’Loughlin and Zi Yan Spillane steered Clare to a one point win over Wexford in round two of the Very Camogie Division 1B national senior league.
Clare 2-9
Wexford 0-14
Venue: St Patrick’s Grounds, Enniscorthy
Behind by four points, 0-5 to 0-9 at the interval, the Banner ladies had the better of the second half exchanges on their way to a rare victory over the Slaneysiders at a Wexford venue.
Clare last beat Wexford in a league fixture in Wexford back in 2013 when, incidentally, a point was also the winning margin.
It took Clare a while to settle and the home side had, marginally, the better of the first half exchanges.
Three pointed frees by Zi Yan Spillane together with two from play from Jennifer Daly and Caoimhe Cahill made up Clare’s first half total.
The visitors struck for their first goal seven minutes into the second half and this score gave the side a huge boost.
Full back Clare Hehir started a move which ended with team captain Aine O’Loughlin finding the net and from here on the visitors grew in confidence.
Ten minutes from time Zi Yan Spillane scored Clare’s second goal, and Jennifer Daly point levelled matters.
Points from Aine O’Loughin and substitute Maeve Millea edged Clare two points clear.
Wexford threw everything at the visitors in the closing minutes but the visitor’s defence held firm and the home side managed just a point which wasn’t enough to stop the visitors from recording their second win in a row.
Abby Walsh until injured, Clare Hehir, Muireann Scanlon, Ellen Casey and Zi Yan Spillane were to the fore for Clare who travel north next Saturday to face Down, winners over Westmeath on Saturday in round 3
Scorers Clare: Z Spillane (1-4 4f), A O’Loughlin (1-1), J Daly (0-2), C Cahill (0-1), M Millea (0-1)
Clare
1: Rachel Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
2: Susan Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
3: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
4: Muireann Scanlon (Cratloe)
5: Lynda Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
6: Abby Walsh (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
7: Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford)
8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Grace Carmody (Kilmaley)
10: Jennifer Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe)
11: Aoife Anderson (Ruan
12: Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh/Clonlara)
13: Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley) 0-1
14: Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
15: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena)
Subs:
19: Michelle Powell (Truagh/Clonlara) for A. Walsh (inj. half time)
20: Hannah Mai Neylon (Ballyea) for A. Anderson (44)
17: Cliodhna Queally (Inagh/Kilnamona) for N. Mulqueen (48)
21: Maeve Millea (Parteen/Meelick for C.Carmody (48)
18: Mary Hanrahan (Crusheen) for E. Casey (58)
23: Aisling Cooney (Parteen/Meelick) for Spillane (62);
Wexford;
1: Laura Brennan (Rathnure)
27: Karen Tomkins (Kilrush)
2: Mirie O’Dowd (Oulart the Ballagh)
4: Roisin Cooney (Glynn Barntown)
5: Muireann Fitzptrick (Castle Liam Mellows)
3: Sarah O’Connor (St. Martins)
23: Grace Roche (Glynn Barntown)
7: Amy Cahill (Rathnure)
9: Chloe Cashe (Glynn Barntown)
10: Sadhbh Buttle (Kilrush)
8: Anais Curran (Oulart the Ballagh)
12: Caoimhe Byrne (Rathnure)
11: Joanne Dillon (Rathgarogue Cushentown)
14: Jessie Morrissey (Glynn Barntown)
24: Emma Tomkins (Kilrush)
Subs:
20: Ciara O’Connor (St. Martins) for J. Dillon (14)
17: Orla Sinnott (Ferns St. Annes) for A. Cahill (18)
Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath)
