Truagh/Clonlara through to first Munster senior club final

*Ellen Horgan stood out for the winners at wing back. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

CLARE SENIOR camogie champions Truagh/Clonlara are one step from adding a first Munster title to their list of achievements.

Truagh/Clonlara 3-10
Clonoulty-Rossmoire 0-13
Venue: Clonlara

Before a big following at Clonlara on Saturday afternoon they accounted for their Tipperary counterparts in a well contested tie.

Level seven times, the home side put in a storming final five minutes which yielded 2-1 while they conceded just a point in that time.

While a six point margin is a trifle harsh on the visitors who played their part in what was a hard fought and exciting contest, a victory for the home side was merited.

Clonoulty Rossmore started well and they had the opening two points but like scores from Joanne Egan and Aine O’Loughlin (free) had the sides level for the first time after eleven minutes.

A minute later the home side struck for the game’s first goal, Roisin Begley finding the net. An Aine O’Loughlin point followed and the winners led by four at the end of the opening quarter.

The Tipperary champions enjoyed their best spell in the next ten minutes during which they landed four points without reply to level matters for the second time.

Aine O’Loughlin ended fourteen scoreless minutes for the home side when she converted a 20m free but Cait Devne responded with her first from play to tie up matters again, leaving the score at 1-4 to 0-7 at the interval.

Points were swapped twice in the opening five minutes of the new half and the teams exchanged points again before the end of the third quarter at which time the score stood at 1-7 to 0-10.

Two Aine O’Loughlin frees followed for the home side bit Cait Devane replied with two from long range frees to leave the teams still deadlocked with seven minutes remaining.

Five minutes from the end Truagh/Clonlara struck a major blow when Eimear Kelly found the net and she followed with a point at the end of normal time to put her team four clear.

Becky Foley struck for her team’s third goal a minute into ‘added time’ and this score left the visitors with a mountain to climb. To their credit they battled to the end bur they only managed one further point which came from Cait Devane, her eighth of the afternoon.

Outstanding for the winners were Sophie Cullen, Ellen Horgan, Laura Foley, Emer Begley, Eimear Kelly Roisin Begley and Aine O’Loughlin while Clodagh Quirke, Casey Hennessy, Eimear Blurke and Cait Devane did well for Clonoulty Rossmore.

Scorers: Truagh/Clonlara: Aine O’Loughlin (0-7, 5 frees, 1 ‘45); Eimear Kelly (1-1); Roisin Begley, Becky Foley (1-0) each; Joanne Egan, Niamh Ryan (0-1) each;

Scorers Clonoulty Rossmore: Cait Devane (0-8, 5 frees, 1 ‘45), Eimear Bourke (0-2), Casey Hennessy, Cora Hennessy, Katie Ferncombe (0-1) each

Truagh/Clonlara;
1: Sophie Cullen;

19: Sinead Ryan
3: Michelle Powell
4: Sinead Hogg

5: Ellen Horgan
6: Laura Foley
7: Louise Egan;

8: Emer Begley
9: Eimear Kelly

15: Aine O’Loughlin
11: Joanne Egan
12: Hannah Horgan;

13: Roisin Begley
18: Becky Foley
14: Leah Hawes

Subs:
10: Aoibhin Marren for H Horgan (HT)
20: Niamh Ryan for Becky Foley (36)
Becky Foley for L. Hawes (44)

Clonoulty Rossmore;
1: Teresa Burke

2: Lorna Ryan
3: Aoife Burke
4: Moira Kinnane;

5: Courtney Ryan
6: Clodagh Quirke
7: Eimear Loughnane

8: Casey Hennessy
9: Kellie Quirke