Three-in-row still on track for Truagh/Clonlara

*Eimear Kelly charges forward for Truagh/Clonlara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. 

TRUAGH/CLONLARA were convincing ten point winners over Feakle/Killanena to qualify for a fifth successive Clare senior camogie final.

Truagh/Clonlara 3-19
Feakle/Killanena 1-15
Venue: Tubber GAA

A one hundred percent winning record in this year’s Clare Credit Unions senior camogie championship is fully intact for Truagh/Clonlara after they deservedly saw off the challenge of Feakle/Killanena.

A historical three-in-a-row is on the cards now for the Clonlara club, with a week’s turnaround to face Inagh/Kilnamona is the decider.

Zi Yan Spillane kicked off proceedings with a placed ball, two minutes into the game but it was cancelled out by a Roisin Begley free two minutes later. Spillane gave her side the lead for what would be the last time with an effort play before Lauren Slater netted on six minutes to help Truagh/Clonlara get on top.

An additional Begley free and Lorna McNamara point from play was followed by a second goal in the opening ten minutes for Truagh, as Roisín Begley found her green flag in which powered them six clear.

The leaders would outscore the opponents 0-3 to 0-1 within the next ten minutes of play, with two frees from Áine O’Loughlin & Laura Foley in addition to a Begley point dismissing Robyn Conway’s only score of the evening.

It was on the nineteenth minute mark, where Lorna McNamara would provide three in a row for the underdogs, with a huge pointed free in her own half inspiring an additional two from play clawing back the deficit to five.

Roisín and Emer Kelly pushed Truagh’s lead back up by two until Zi Yan responded with her third white flag on ‘26 minutes.

It was a minute later when Truagh fired a third green flag, with Lauren Slater earning her second goal and providing momentum at the perfect stage at the end of the first-half. Three points in three minutes followed the third green flag, with Hannah Horgan & Roisín Begley (one from free and play) raising the white flags. Zi Yan Spillane would conclude the first-half proceedings with a placed ball ending the half on a scoreline of 3-11 to 0-9.

Once again Spillane had the first score of the half, tapping over a free which was cancelled out by a Michelle Caulfield white flag.

Feakle/Killanena were awarded a twenty metre free on ‘34 in which Lorna McNamara decided to shoot low rather than take her point and was denied by goalkeeper Sophie Cullen.

From the saved free, Truagh/Clonlara outscored their opponents five to one over twelve minutes, the Feakle/Killanena score was a deflected effort from McNamara which went to the back of the net.

Another goal effort for Feakle/Killanena five minutes later would scramble its way out for a ‘45 in which Zi Yan would nail. She would also add her sides final two scores of the fixture with pointed efforts from play.

The winners were exceptional on the being when it came to converting with only one wide ball produced on Saturday. Although Feakle/Killanena provided one more than Truagh in regard to wides in which is impressive, retaining their own puckouts was an area in which was key factor in their eventual ten point loss.

On the evening, Roisín Begley was best on the field of play, with Laura Foley, Áine O’Loughlin, Lauren Slater and Eimear Kelly following suit.

For Feakle/Killanena, Zi Yan Spillane and Lorna McNamara were exceptional scoring all but one point for their side. Ella McNamara and the two midfielders of Roisín McMahon and Bronagh Brady also fought very well for the losing outfit.

Scorers for Truagh/Clonlara: Roisín Begley (1-8, 3f’s), Lauren Slater (2-1) Eimear Kelly (0-4) Áine O’Loughlin (0-2, f) Michelle Caulfield, Laura Foley(f), Hannah Horgan, Holly Nihill (0-1 each)

Scorers for Feakle/Killanena: Zi Yan Spillane (0-9, 4f’s, ‘45), Lorna McNamara (1-5, f), Robyn Conway (0-1)

Truagh/Clonlara:
27: Sophie Cullen

28: Taylor Morris
20: Michelle Powell
25: Sínead Hogg

8: Ellen Horgan(JC)
13: Laura Foley(JC)
17: Louise Egan

6: Eimear Begley
12: Joanne Egan

1: Áine O’Loughlin
19: Michelle Caulfield
11: Hannah Horgan

22: Roisín Begley
7: Eimear Kelly
14: Lauren Slater

Subs:
4: Aoibhín Marren for H.Horgan (36)
2: Aishling Hannon for E.Begley (47)
26: Holly Nihill for Caulfield (52)
24: Sarah Meade for J.Egan (57)
21: Niamh Ryan for Morris (59)

Feakle/Killanena
1: Roisín Quilligan

12: Sophie Conway
3: Rachel McNamara
4: Áine Daly

5: Vera Loughnane
6: Ella McNamara
7: Claire McNamara

8: Roisín McMahon(C)
9: Bronagh Brady

19: Maria Moloney
11: Shauna Canny
10: Zi Yan Spillane

13: Sínead Canny
14: Robyn Conway
15: Lorna McNamara

Subs:
18: Aishling McMahon for R.McNamara (40)
17: Aoibheann Daly for R.Conway (42)

Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)