*Lynda Daly in action for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior camogie side began their 2023 National Camogie League campaign on a high by overcoming All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny.
Clare 2-07
Kilkenny 0-11
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Overall the better team on Sunday afternoon, anything other than a Clare win would have been a disappointing outcome.
Impressively, they responded well to Kilkenny’s fightback at the beginning of the second half, despite conceding five points without reply they managed to withhold the pressure and forced their way back into proceedings.
Largely a positive half, Clare deservedly held a four point advantage at the interval. A fortuitous goal from Caoimhe Carmody on six minutes helped to put some distance between the sides early on, her long range shot somehow deceived Aoife Norris in the Kilkenny goal for the first goal of the contest.
Chloe Morey had pointed prior to this and they managed to maintain the lead until the thirty fifth minutes.
Carmody followed up her goal by converting a point with nine minutes on the clock, excellent work by Zi Yan Spillane allowing her to get a shot away.
Spillane herself put her name on the scoresheet moments later with Miriam Walsh and Denise Gaule splitting the posts for the visitors.
Excellent scores from Clare Hehir and Lorna McNamara saw Clare build up the half-time advantage as Gaule and Michaela Kenneally hit the target for Kilkenny.
On the restart, scores from Aoife Prendergast plus two each from Denise Gaule and Miriam Walsh saw Brian Dowling’s Kilkenny take the lead for the first time.
By the final quarter, Clare were beginning to initiate a response. A long range free from Hehir was finished to the net by Áine O’Loughlin but she was adjudged to have been in the square.
O’Loughlin set the record straight with forty six minutes played when she raised a green flag, putting the sliotar past Aoife Norris after Orlaith Duggan made the assist.
Midfielder Caoimhe Kelly had a valuable point to settle Clare prior to this and the two green flags would prove crucial for John Carmody’s side to begin with a win.
Contests between Clare and Kilkenny have always been close in the National Camogie League. Famously in 2020, Clare recorded a one point win in Nowlan Park while draws and one point defeats have also been common.
Frustratingly to camogie supporters in the county, Clare have never been able to replicate their tight league showings with the Cats when it comes to championship, fixing this will see the Banner come close to reaching their potential in championship.
Use of the short-game worked well on this occasion for Clare with the industrious displays of Clare Hehir, Caoimhe Carmody, Laoise Ryan and Caoimhe Kelly allowing this to happen.
For Kilkenny, Denise Gaule, Niamh Deely and Michaela Kenneally impressed.
Scorers Clare: Á O’Loughlin (1-01), C Carmody (1-01), C Kelly (0-01), C Morey (0-01 1f), Z Spillane (0-01), L McNamara (0-01), C Hehir (0-01), C Kelly (0-01).
Scorers Kilkenny: D Gaule (0-04 3f), M Walsh (0-03), M Kenneally (0-01), A Prendergast (0-01), K Power (0-01), S Barcoe (0-01).
Clare:
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
4: Ciara Grogan (Clooney/Quin)
3: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
2: Susan Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
5: Laoise Ryan (Inagh/Kilnamona)
6: Niamh O’Dea (Kilmaley)
7: Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen)
18: Rebecca Foley (Truagh/Clonlara)
9: Caoimhe Kelly (Kilkishen)
13: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle Killanena)
15: Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge)
12: Muireann Scanlon (Sixmilebridge)
8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
14: Áine O’Loughlin (Truagh/Clonlara)
11: Lorna McNamara (Feakle Killanena)
Subs:
Kilkenny:
1: Aoife Norris (Piltown)
2: Michelle Teehan (James Stephens)
3: Grace Walsh (Tullaroan)
7: Tiffany Fitzgerald (Young Irelands)
6: Niamh Deely (James Stephens)
5: Steffi Fitzgerald (Young Irelands)
4: Ciara Phelan (Dicksboro)
8: Denise Gaule (Windgap)
11: Katie Power (Piltown)
10: Julianne Malone (Mullinvat)
12: Michaela Kenneally (Windgap)
9: Aoife Prendergast (Dicksboro)
13: Sophie O’Dwyer (James Stephens)
14: Miriam Walsh (Tullaroan)
15: Jenny Clifford (Dicksboro)
Subs:
Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)
