*Labhaoise O’Donnell finished with a hat-trick for Scariff/Ogonnelloe. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ENTERING THE FINAL round of the Clare Credit Unions senior camogie championship, title holders Scariff/Ogonnelloe and Feakle/Killanena are among the sides to have booked their place in the knockout stages.
East Clare sides Scariff/Ogonelloe and Feakle/Killanena recorded their third wins on the bounce to seal their semi-final spots with Inagh/Kilnamona likely to confirm their passage this weekend.
Truagh/Clonlara remain on course to emerge from the group stages while Newmarket-on-Fergus’ win over Sixmilebridge pits them in a relegation battle.
Truagh/Clonlara come up trumps
Truagh/Clonlara 4-14
Clarecastle/Ballyea 2-4
Venue: Shannon Camogie Pitch
After suffering a two point reversal last week at the hands of Feakle/Killanena, the Bob Caulfield managed side recorded their third victory from four outings. This result puts them on nine points virtually securing their semi-final spot.
However if Kilmaley defeat Feakle-Killanena next week scoring difference will come into play but with Truagh/Clonlara sitting on +39 it’s almost impossible for them not to qualify. On Saturday they accounted for the 2022 Intermediate champions scoring an impressive four goals and landing fourteen white flags in the process.
Playing into the wind in the first half Truagh/Clonlara were firing on all cylinders. Moving the ball through the lines at pace they, by the interval, had racked up an incredible 4-10. Full forward Aine O’Loughlin was once more in majestic form scoring a sensational first half hat trick with each finish as lethal as the one before. O’Loughlin only ever sees the colour green when she has the sliotar and the Clare senior seldom misses when opportunities arise.
Corner forward Róisín Begley was also in sparking form and raided for 1-2 with her goal the result of some superb build up play. At the interval Caulfield’s charges led 4-10 to 1-2 and this tie was effectively over as a contest.
However their opponents Clarecastle/Ballyea are learning each and every outing in their return to the senior ranks and to their credit they never stopped battling. Throughout the second half they contested each ball as if it the game was still alive. They actually won the second half 1-2 to 0-4 and special mention must go to Emma O’Connell for a truly spectacular goal late on when she blasted past seven players from a twenty one yard free. They will no doubt regroup for their season defining encounter with Clooney/Quin. This should be a cracking contest as the losers will head into the dreaded relegation game.
Scorers for Truagh/Clonlara: Áine O’Loughlin 3-2, Laura Foley 0-5 (5f), Róisín Begley 1-2, Michelle Caulfield, Niamh Powell, Niamh Ryan, Joanna Egan, Hannah Horgan 0-1 each
Scorers for Clarecastle/Ballyea: Lauren Tuohy 1-0, Emma O’Connell 1-0 (f), Doireann Murphy 0-2 (2f), Hannah Mai Neylon, Lauren Cusack 0-1 each
Truagh/Clonlara: Sophie Cullen, Sarah Meade, Róisín Powell, Sinead Hogg, Louise Egan, Michelle Caulfield, Ellen Horgan Laura Foley, Niamh Powell, Aoibhinn Marren, Joanna Egan, Hannah Horgan, Róisín Begley, Aíne O’Loughlin, Niamh Ryan
Subs; Leah Hawes for N Ryan, Marie Begley for A O’Loughlin, Sinead Ryan for H Horgan
Clarecastle/Ballyea: Suzy O’Shea, Zoe Ellingstad, Emma O’Connell, Lily McMahon, Amie Wiley Carol Browne, Chloe Devitt, Louise Griffin, Stella Quinlivan, Emma O’Donoghue, Evie Scanlon, Lauren Tuohy, Emma O’Loughlin Doireann Murphy, Hannah Mai Neylon
Subs; Fiona Breen for Z Ellingstad (HT), Lauren Cusack for E O’Loughlin (45), Róisín Halpin for C Devitt (50).
Feakle/Killanena continue to fire
Feakle/Killanena 3-15
Clooney/Quin 0-6
Venue: Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis
Feakle/Killanena have been hugely impressive in the race for the McMahon Cup. Since winning the Intermediate title they have been making steady progress and this season so far they remain unbeaten after recording their third victory from three outings.
In doing so they have built up an incredible tally of 9-48 in the process. The East Clare club possess huge firepower up front as illustrated by that massive 9-48 total. County Seniors Lorna McNamara and Zi Yan Spillane always need marking but when you also factor in Robyn and Regan Conway plus Shauna Canny one can see how strong a forward unit they have.
On Saturday playing with the aid of a strong breeze Feakle/Killanena came roaring out of the blocks. Their passing was accurate throughout but especially in the opening period where they moved the sliotar at pace into the scoring zone. Once they were in that aforementioned scoring zone they tend not to miss. So dominant were they that by the interval this game was effectively over as a Lorna McNamara inspired Feakle/Killanena built up a commanding lead of thirteen points on a 1-12 to 0-2 scoreline.
Clooney/Quin to their credit kept battling away and they are a really youthful side who are missing some key experienced personnel. Without doubt Mike Duggan’s charges are missing county senior and star forward Orlaith Duggan.
Nevertheless on Saturday against a side many believe are real championship contenders they never dropped their heads and kept going until the final whistle. Their season will come down to an almighty encounter with Clarecastle Ballyea with the victors securing senior status while they losers will play Sixmilebridge.
Scorers for Feakle Killanena: Lorna McNamara 1-7 (2f, 1 45), Zi Yan Spillane 0-4, Regan Conway, Louise O’Callaghan 1-0 each, Sophie Conway 0-2, Shauna Canny, Robyn Conway 0-1 each
Scorers for Clooney Quin: Ciara Grogan 0-3 (3f), Emma Considine 0-2 (1f), Emily Costelloe 0-1
Feakle/Killanena: Roisin Quilligan, Maeve Brady, Eileen Daly, Laura McGrath, Rachael McNamara, Ella McNamara, Claire McNamara, Róisín McMahon, Sophie Conway, Shauna Canny, Lorna McNamara, Zi Yan Spillane, Robyn Conway, Regan Conway, Louise O’Callaghan
Subs; Vera Loughnane for L O’Callaghan, Aine Daly for S Conway
Clooney/Quin: Deirdre Murphy, Anna Doyle, Nicole O’Riordan, Beibhinn Gallagher, Poppy Rees, Ciara Grogan, Claire Murphy, Emer Hynes, Rachel Conneely, Clodagh Quinn, Emma Quinn, Emma Deegan, Emma Considine, Orna Moynihan
Subs; Ellen Mullins for E Considine (52).
Blues put Bridge under relegation pressure
Newmarket-on-Fergus 4-15
Sixmilebridge 0-7
Venue: Clarecastle
Sixmilebridge will now face into a relegation battle with the losers of the Clarecastle/Ballyea and Clooney-Quin match after suffering a twenty point defeat to neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus on Saturday.
The Blues it must be said were far superior in every line of the field but none more so than in defence where they incredibly didn’t concede a single score from play. With five All Ireland Junior winners namely Laura McMahon, Ellen Casey, Kaci Toomey, Caoimhe Lally and Michelle McMahon in their starting line up they are certainly not short of experience nor do they lack in quality or scoring power as evidenced by their huge tally.
All of Sixmilebridge’s total came from placed balls with another All Ireland Junior winning medalist Sarah Loughnane landing seven over the course of the sixty minutes.
The first half though was a competitive affair. Both sides were going at it as one would expect in a derby encounter. It was tight with plenty of wholehearted challenges. However it was a Zoe McInerney major that proved the difference at the interval with the blues heading to the dressing rooms leading on a 1-5 to 0-6 scoreline.
On the resumption of play though Newmarket upped their work rate and began delivering quick incisive ball into their inside line. Sixmilebridge under immense pleasure began to concede frees and Ellen Casey stepped up for his side firing two superb twenty metre frees to the net. This effectively killed the game as a contest and a succession of white flags followed before Jennifer Kelly put the icing on the cake with a well taken goal late on.
Scorers for Newmarket-on-Fergus: Ellen Casey 2-4 (2-2f), Zoe McInerney 1-1, Jennifer Kelly 1-0, Michelle McMahon, Emma Crowe 0-3 each, Rachel Kelleher 0-2(2f), Grainne McMahon, Carol O’Leary, Kaci Toomey 0-1 each
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Sarah Loughnane 0-7 (7f)
Newmarket on Fergus: Ciara McCarthy, Aoife Crimmins, Laura McMahon, Aoife Griffin, Maeve Begley, Katie O’Flanagan, Grainne McMahon, Ellen Casey, Caoimhe Lally, Kaci Toomey, Jennifer Kelly, Izzy Coffey, Carol O’Leary, Zoe McInerney, Michelle McMahon
Subs: Rachel Kelleher, Anne Marie Hayes, Emma Crowe
Sixmilebridge: Sinead Hogan, Aoife Hurley, Rachel Kelly, Róisín O’Grady, Maeve Egan, Kiah Mellett, Emma Stanley, Samantha O’Sullivan, Muireann Scanlon, Niamh Lyons, Chloe Morey, Sarah Loughnane,,Aoibhín McNamara, Olivia Phelan, Fínia O’Brien
Subs; Kate Fitzgerald for S O’Sullivan (17), Helena Ryan for K Mellett (18), Doireann Ní Bhraoin for S Hogan (HT).
Scariff/Ogonnelloe storm past Kilkishen/Bodyke
Scariff/Ogonolloe 5-16
Kilkishen/Bodyke 0-8
Venue: Fr McNamara Park, Doora
The Scariff/Ogonolloe machine keeps on moving as they comfortably booked their place in the final four.
Back to back county championships and two Munster club titles in recent years is testament to the quality of player they possess. Successive Minor A titles in the last two campaigns also highlights the conveyor belt of talent at manager Alphie Rodgers’ disposal.
On Saturday they scored an impressive five green flags and sixteen white flags resulting in a whopping twenty three point winning margin over neighbors Kilkishen Bodyke in this East Clare derby.
Labhaoise O’Donnell, recent All Ireland Junior winner, was in unstoppable form racking up a hat trick of majors with each finish being as deadly as the previous one. Aoife Power, was also in sparking form and she accounted for 2-4 with all her scores coming from play.
For Kilkishen/Bodyke, it was a tough day at the office but they are progressing all the time and their recent victory over Sixmilebridge has secured their senior status for 2024. Considering they were in a group with Munster Club winners Scariff/Ogonolloe and Munster Club finalists Inagh/Kilnamona it was always going to be a tough task but to their credit they have given their all in each of their outings.
Scorers for Scariff/Ogonolloe: Labhaoise O’Donnell 3-0, Aoife Power 2-3, Mairéad Scanlon 0-6, Jennifer Daly, Lynda Daly 0-3 each Danielle Beston 0-1
Scorers for Kilkishen/Bodyke: Siobhan Lenihan 0-3 (3f), Kate O’Gorman, Aíne Lenihan, Aoife Ryan, Alannah Ryan, Caoimhe Kelly 0-1 each
Scariff/Ogonolloe; Rachel Daly, Bonnie Wiley Murphy, Susan Daly, Robyn McKenna, Alison Collins, Aimee Barrett, Rachael Minogue, Ciara Doyle, Abby Walsh, Jennifer Daly, Lynda Daly, Labhaoise O’Donnell, Aoife Power, Mairéad Scanlon, Lorraine O’Grady
Subs: Danielle Beston for L O’Grady, Alison McGee for A Collins, Holly McGee for R McKenna
Kilkishen/Bodyke: Edel McNamara, Nollaig Baker, Orla McInerney, Rebecca Burke, Emer Murphy, Alannah Ryan, Katie Frost, Eilish Whitney, Aíne Lenihan, Kate O’Gorman, Caoimhe Kelly, Siobhan Lenihan, Michaela McNamara, Shauna Doyle, Aoife Ryan
Subs: Cara Close for M McNamara, Emily Pewter for O McInerney
