Defeat on the double for Clare’s camogie sides

*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

IT WAS a disappointing day for Clare camogie on Saturday as both the senior and intermediate sides suffered defeat in the Glen DimpleX All-Ireland championships.

Both teams were away from home for these games with the seniors taking on Dublin at St. Peregrine’s grounds in Dublin while the intermediate side faced Offaly at Banagher

Dubs lay foundation in opening half

Dublin 0-18
Clare 0-9
Venue: St Peregine’s Grounds

Dublin took a grip on this tie from the outset and by the half time whistle they had opened an eight point lead with the score at 0-12 to 0-4 at this stage.

It was an uphill battle for Clare at this point but credit the side as they matched their opponents throughout the second half but they were unable to haul back the home side’s lead.

Dublin could have been further ahead at the break but Clare goalie Rachel Daly pulled off a couple of impressive saves while just before half time she came to her side’s rescue before defender Susan Daly stopped Dublin’s effort from the rebound
Laura Foley’s absence was a big loss to the team which was also short the services of the injured Abby Walsh who hobbled off in the previous week’s meeting with Down while Lorna McNamara has been out of action for a while due to injury.

Wing back Niamh Mulqueen followed up her impressive display against down in the opening round with another good performance while Rachel Daly, Cliodhna Queally, Roisin Begley and Aine O’Loughlin also good through good work.

Joint captain Aine who top scored with 0-4, was replaced for a period in the second half as she received treatment for an injury.

Clare will have home advantage on this Saturday in Cusack Park when they take on Cork(2p.m.)

Scorers Clare: A O’Loughlin (0-4), R Begley (0-2), C Carmody (0-1), HM Neylon (0-1), Z Spillane (0-1).

Dublin;
1: Amy Gorman (Lucan Sarsfields)

2: Abby Ryan (Crumlin)
3: Emma O’Byrne (Good Council Liffey Gaels)
4: Zoe Couch (St. Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Rua)

5: Claire Gannon (St. Judes)
6: Ashling Maher (St. Vincents)
7: Kerrie Finnegan (Faughs Celtic)

8: Niamh Gannon (St. Jude’s)
9: Gaby Couch (St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Rua)

10: Aoife McKearney (Lucan Sarsfields)
11: Sinead Nolan (St Jude’s)
12: Elyse Jamieson Murphy (Na Fianna)

13: Grace O’Shea (Ballinteer St. Johns)
14: Emma Flanagan (Lucan Sarsfields)
15: Aisling Gannon (St. Jude’s)

Clare;
1: Rachel Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)

2: Susan Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
3: Cliodhna Queally (Inagh/Kilnamona)
4: Muireann Scanlan (Cratloe)

5: Ellen Casey (Newmarket on Fergus
6: Ciara Grogan (Clooney/Quin)
7: Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford)

8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Lynda Daly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)

10: Labhaoise O’Donnell (Scariff-Ogonnelloe)
11: Aoife Anderson (Ruan)
12: Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh Clonlara)

13: Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley
14: Roisin Begley (Truagh Clonlara)
15: Hannah Mai Neylon (Ballyea)

Subs:
20: Ziyan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena) for A. Anderson (HT)
17: Grace Carmody (Kilmaley) for L. Daly (42)
19: Jennifer Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) for L. O’Donnell (45)
18: Caoimhe Lally (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Queally (55) (inj)

Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)

Offaly defeat youthful Clare by ten

Offaly 1-18
Clare 1-8
Venue: Banagher

Offaly’s experience came to the fore when emerging victors by ten points in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland intermediate championship.

An Offaly side, most of whom had played at senior level two seasons ago, were expected to win this comfortable but the visitors, two thirds of whose team were playing at this level for the first time, made life difficult for the Faithful County.

The winners settled quickly and when the half time whistle sounded they were seven points ahead with the score at 1-9 to 0-5, Ashling Cooney responsible for 0-4 of her side’s firsts half scores

Clare made three changes for the second half and went on to make two further changes as the half progressed. Éire Óg’s Ella Cahill, one of those introduced, scores the visitor’s goal shortly before the final whistle.

While disappointed with the end result, Clare officials were happy that their young and inexperienced side did well against a very experienced Offaly outfit.

Clare will be on the road again on this Saturday when they make the journey up the road to play Galway.

Offaly;
1: Leah Gallagher (Tullamore)

2: Deirdre Cashen (Birr)
3: Cathy Fogarty (St. Cillians)
4: Orla Gorman (Tullamore)

5: Alana Roddy (Birr)
6: Amy Byrne (Lusmagh)
7: Kaitlyn Kennedy (Drumcullen)

8: Faye Mulrooney (Birr)
9: Sharon Shanahan (Shinrone)

10: Grace Teehan (Naomh Brid)
11: Ciara Ryan (Birr)
12: Fianait dooley (Drumcullen)

13: Clodagh Leahy (Drumcullen)
14: Becky Bryant (Tullamore)
15: Mairead Jennings (Birr)

Clare
1: Sophie Cullen (Truagh/Clonlara)

2: Rebecca Crowe (Ruan)
3: Rachel Kelly (Sixmilebridge)
4: Bonnie Wiley Murphy (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)

5: Aisling Moloney (Ruan)
6: Sinead O’Keefffe (Kilmaley)
7: Grainne McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

8: Jennifer Nicholas (Tulla)
9: Neasa Ni Lachtnain (Ruan)

10: Aisling Cooney (Parteen/Meelick)
11: Kate O’Gorman (Kilkishen
12: Sinead Power (Inagh/Kilnamona)

13: Mary Hanrahan (Crusheen)
14: Olivia Phelan (Sixmilebridge)
15: Aoibhinn McNamara (Sixmilebridge)

Subs:
Eimear Begley (Truagh/Clonnlara) for Ní Lachtáin (HT)
Regan Conway (Feakle-Killanena) for Nicholas (HT)
Mary O’Connor (Cratloe) for Wiley Murphy (HT)
Maeve Millea (Parteen/Meelick) for A. McNamara
Ella Cahill (Éire Óg) for M. Hanrahan;