*Caoimhe Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Clare’s campaign in the Very National Camogie League started so well when they defeated Kilkenny but three defeats in a row have left them preparing for another relegation battle.
Tipperary 1-20
Clare 0-7
Venue: The Ragg
Fourteen points in the first period for the Premier County to Clare’s none really sums up this flat Clare display. Clare were beaten in every sector of the field and but for remarkable goalkeeping by Doireann Murphy this result would have been catastrophic altogether.
Tipperary under new management have certainly sharpened their skills as five points inside the opening five minutes highlighted their far superior first touch.
The Tipperary forwards were as scintillating as they were economical landing fourteen of eighteen first half efforts. Niamh Treacy’s point in additional time from under the stand out on the right touchline was only bettered by an incredible save from Clare keeper Murphy in the eighteenth minute.
Full forward Cait Devane who would finish with 0-9 was wreaking havoc every time the ball came into the scoring zone. The Premier County did have the benefit of a huge wind at their backs for that opening thirty minutes but irrelevant of the wind they simply tore a flat Clare team apart.
Any hopes of a second half comeback disappeared just before the interval when Ciara Grogan was dismissed for a second yellow. Grogan’s red card was harsh though as her first yellow was of the soft variety.
Lorna McNamara finally got Clare on the scoreboard in the thirty seventh minute and Clare did improve with the introduction of Orlaith Duggan. However it was Tipperary who got the only goal of the match in the forty second minute when Grace O’Brien found Caoimhe Maher with a delightful pass. Maher one on one with Murphy blasted home from close range.
The game petered out to it’s inevitable conclusion but patrons did witness a remarkable double save by Doireann Murphy three minutes from the end with the second save being well and truly out of this world.
On what was an overall poor day for Clare, they now face a potential relegation decider against Dublin next weekend.
Scorers for Tipperary: Cait Devane 0-9(3f, 1 45), Caoimhe Maher 1-2, Niamh Treacy 0-4, Eimear McGrath 0-3(2f, 1 45), Roisin Howard, Grace O’Brien 0-1 each
Scorers for Clare: Lorna McNamara, Orlaith Duggan 0-2 each, Chloe Morey (f), Clare Hehir, Lynda Daly 0-1 each
CLARE
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
2: Susan Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
3: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
4: Ciara Grogan (Clooney/Quin)
5: Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen)
6: Niamh O’Dea (Kilmaley)
7: Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Abby Walsh (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
10: Caoimhe Kelly (Kilkishen)
11: Rebecca Foley (Truagh-Clonlara)
12: Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge)
13: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena)
14: Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh/Clonlara)
15: Lorna McNamara (Feakle/Killanena)
Subs:
26: Orlaith Duggan (Clooney/Quin) for A Walsh (26)
17: Muireann Scanlon (Sixmilebridge) for Z Spillane (HT),
25: Laoise Ryan (Inagh/Kilnamona) for E Casey(HT),
Jennifer Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe) for C Morey (48)
TIPPERARY
1: Aine Slattery (Shannon Rovers)
2: Julieanne Bourke (Borris-lleigh)
3: Clodagh Quirke (Clonoulty Rossmore)
4: Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty Rossmore)
5: Mairead Eviston (Drom-Inch)
6: Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields)
7: Ciardha Maher (Burgess Duharra)
8: Teresa Ryan (Borris-lleigh)
9: Casey Hennessy (Clonoulty Rossmore)
10: Roisin Howard (Cahir)
11: Eimear McGrath (Drom-Inch)
12: Caoimhe Maher (Burgess Duharra)
13: Grace O’Brien (Nenagh Eire Og)
14: Cait Devane (Clonoulty Rossmore)
15: Niamh Treacy (Drom-Inch)
Subs:
19: Caoimhe McCarthy for C Maher (42),
23: Eimear Heffernan for G O’Brien (42)
22: Ereena Fryday for R Howard(42)
24: Grace Moloney for C Hennessy (46)
20: Claire Hogan for Ciardha Maher (52)
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Wexford)
