*Clare’s Lorna McNamara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CORK PROVED A level above Clare’s senior camogie side as they missed out on the opportunity to put successive wins together.
Cork 2-19
Clare 1-10
Venue: Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork
Although battling hard and never giving up a far more potent Cork outfit were just too sharp for Clare after only a six day turnaround from last weekend’s victory.
Amy O’Connor who finished with 1-8 to her name was the star player on show as the Rebels eased home to a twelve point winning margin.
Playing into a huge wind Clare were second best for the majority of the opening period as Cork came roaring out of the starting blocks with an Izzy O’Regan point after only nineteen seconds signalling their intent. Moments later Clare can be thankful for Doireann Murphy who produced a point blank save from Cork’s best forward Amy O’Connor.
Caoimhe Carmody landed the Banner’s opening score in the fifth minute before Cork scored six of the next seven points which included an audacious Cliona Healy point from the touchline. Clare though were making basic errors at this juncture and each error was punished by a rampant Rebel outfit who were constantly running at the Clare rearguard.
To their credit Clare though kept battling away and three Lorna McNamara points had the lead down to three in the twenty sixth minute. With such a strong wind blowing against John Carmody’s charges in that opening period a three point deficit had the Banner in a seemingly enviable position approaching the interval.
However a huge puckout from All-Ireland Poc Fada champion Cork keeper Molly Lynch was plucked from the heavens by All Star midfielder Saoirse McCarthy before rifling over. This inspirational point ignited the rebels once more and three more Amy O’Connor points quickly followed with the home side heading to the dressing rooms leading by seven at the interval.
Hope though was still there for Clare as a seven point deficit was not insurmountable considering the wind they would now have at their backs.
However it was Cork who again started much the better of the two in the second half with sharpshooter Amy O’Connor landing the first two points. Clare even at this stage probably needed a green flag and unfortunately a superb catch, turn and shot from full forward Aine O’Loughlin drifted agonisingly wide. Moments later a short puck out went astray and the lethal O’Connor didn’t hesitate blasting low to the right hand corner effectively killing this game as a contest with the rebels now leading 1-16 to 0-7.
Scores were then traded, two apiece before a Chloe Morey close range free was saved with Aine O’Loughlin following up pulling to the net to reduce the arrears. A bad day at the office was summed up in the next passage when a Kate Wall attempted point was defected into the net by keeper Doireann Murphy.
After the high of last week’s victory over the All Ireland Champions this was always going to be a tough task away to powerhouses Cork and so it transpired as the home side were full value for what was a comfortable victory.
Scorers for Cork: Amy O’Connor 1-8(4f, 1 45), Sorcha McCartan 0-4(2f, 1 45), Kate Wall 1-0, Fiona Keating 0-2, Hannah Looney 0-2, Emma Murphy, Cliona Healy, Saoirse McCarthy 0-1 each
Scorers for Clare: Lorna McNamara 0-6(4f, 1 45), Aine O’Loughlin 1-0, Clare Hehir 0-1(1f), Chloe Morey 0-1(1f), Caoimhe Carmody, Rebecca Foley 0-1 each
Cork
16: Molly Lynch (Sarsfields)
2: Meabh Murphy (Ballinora)
3: Libby Coppinger (St.Colums)
4: Meabh Cahalane (St.Finbars)
10: Izzy O’Regan (Ballygarvan)
6: Laura Treacy (Killeagh)
7: Laura Hayes (St.Catherines)
8: Saoirse McCarthy (Courcey Rovers)
18: Hannah Looney (Killeagh)
9: Fiona Keating (Courcey Rovers)
11: Chloe Sigerson (Killeagh)
12: Cliona Healy (Aghabullogue)
13: Amy O’Connor (St.Vincents)
14: Orlaith Cahalane (St.Finbars)
15: Sorcha McCartan (St.Finbars)
Subs:
19: Emma Murphy for Chloe Sigerson (42)
17: Aoife Healy for Cliona Healy (43)
Ali Smith for Orlaith Cahalane (50)
Aoife O’Neill for Laura Hayes (50)
Kate Wall for Amy O’Connor (53)
Clodagh Finn for Sorcha McCartan (58)
Clare:
1: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle)
2: Susan Daly (Scariff-Ogonolloe)
3: Clare Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona)
4: Ciara Grogan (Clooney-Quin)
5: Laoise Ryan (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6: Niamh O’Dea (Kilmaley)
7: Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen)
8: Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley)
9: Caoimhe Kelly (Kilkishen)
10: Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena)
11: Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge)
12: Lynda Daly (Scariff-Ogonolloe)
13: Rebecca Foley (Truagh-Clonlara)
14: Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara)
15: Lorna McNamara (Feakle-Killanena)
Subs:
21: Abby Walsh (Scariff/Ogonolloe) for Alannah Ryan (30)
19: Muireann Scanlon (Sixmilebridge) for Lynda Daly (HT)
18: Jennifer Daly (Scariff/Ogonolloe) for Spillane (49)
20: Amy Keating (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Carmody (49)
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
