Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League

by Brid Macnamara

Pic credit : Caroline O'Keeffe

Div 1

Clare 0-12 Meath 0-1

Clare proved too strong for Meath on Sunday afternoon in Round 4 of the Littlewoods Ireland Div 1 Camogie League. Following some heavy rain Ogonnelloe HC provided the venue and it is testament to their work that the game went ahead, conditions underfoot were very soft with both sides struggling at times.

The opening ten minutes was a tentative affair as both sides struggled with the heavy underfoot conditions. The games first score came in the tenth minute from Chloe Morey when she converted a free. Meath went on the attack and Aedin Slattery finally got the visitors in to the Clare danger area, only for Lauran Solon to deny her. Solon came off her to line to clear but Slattery regained possession and tried again only for Maire McGrath to deny on her on this attempt, McGrath passed to Carol O’Leary who sent paly to the other end. When Meaths Louise Donoghue struck a line ball, Roisin McMahon intercepted the ball in flight and off loaded to Sinead Conlon, with the plucky Tulla youngster who was fouled in possession, only for the resulting scoring opportunity to drift wide. From the puckout Clare were on the attack, and it was Niamh O’Dea who split the posts from play for Clares second score in the seventeenth minute. Morey added a trio of frees to have Clare ahead 0-5 to 0-0 with twenty two minutes on the clock. Clare hunted in packs and the tenacious efforts didplayed by Conlon and Roisin Begley saw the duo combine for Clares next attack, Conlon sending the ball forward to Begley only for her shot on goal to be deflected out for a ’45. Moreys shot came off the crossbar however play remained in the Meath danger area and with O’Dea winning possession she passed to Morey who split the posts. The last play of the first half also resulted in a score for the home side, Eimear Kelly went on a run down the wing and passed to Orla Devitt who registered Clares seventh point  just before the half time whistle to leave the score Clare 0-7 Meath 0-0.

The second half started with a Meath attack and when Clare were punished, Amy Gaffney struck the resulting free between the posts to get the visitors on the scoreboard. Morey responded in kind at the other end and Clare started to ring the changes. Aoife Keane was introduced for Conlon, and the positional change of Grogan moving to the half back line with Kelly moving forward saw Kelly win ball and drive play forward. A Clare line ball was well taken by Laura McMahon who picked out O’Dea in the Clare forwards. O’Dea turned on a sixpence and went forward with Andrea O’Keeffe in support, and it was O’Keeffe who split the posts. Mid way through the second half Emily Mangan again denied Clare a green flag and Morey converted the resulting ’45.  Morey added another free to bring her tally to eight points and Keane signalled her return to the Inter County scene by firing between the posts for the last score of the game. With the end in sight and the points secured, Allanah Ryan, Doireann Murphy and Ciara Doyle were introduced for Clare Hehir, Kelly and Grogan who will be in action for UL in the Ashbourne Final on Wednesday night. A hand injury to Solon saw Aine O’Loughlin introduced as sub goalie.

In the other games Limerick recorded the upset of the League when they overcame Kilkenny on the road, with Waterford taking the win over Dublin.

Clares last game is away to Dublin on Saturday where a win is a must if Clare want to make the knockout stages. However they will have to wait until Sunday to know if they progress to the semi final as the result of Limerick v Waterford will come into play.

Clare: Lauran Solon Whitegate; Clare Hehir Inagh Kilnamona, Máire McGrath Sixmilebridge, Carol O’Leary Newmarket on Fergus; Eimear Kelly Truagh Clonlara, Roisin McMahon Newmarket on Fergus, Laura McMahon Newmarket on Fergus;Sinead Conlon Tulla, Orlaith Duggan Clooney Quin; Ciara Grogan Clooney Quin, Niamh O’Dea Kilmaley 0-1, Orla Devitt Eire Og 0-1; Roisin Begley Truagh Clonlara, Chloe Morey Sixmilebridge 0-8 6F 1’45, Andrea O’Keeffe Inagh Kilnamona 0-1

Subs: Aoife Keane Inagh Kilnamona 0-1 for Conlon, Allanah Ryan Kilkishen for Hehir, Doireann Murphy Clarecastle for Kelly, Ciara Doyle Scariff Ogonnelloe for Grogan, Aine O’Loughlin Truagh Clonlara for Solon (inj)

Meath:  Emily Mangan Blackhall Gaels; Aine Keogh Kildalkey, Claire Coffey Na Fianna, Ellen Burke Dunboyne; Aine Cooke Ratoath, Cheyanne O'Brien Kiltale, Louise Donoghue Kiltale; Aoife Maguire Killyon, Emma McGill Ratoath; Amy Gaffney Ratoath 0-1F, Megan Thynne Kilmessan, Aedin Slattery Na Fianna; Fia O’Brien Kiltale, Kristina Troy Blackhall Gaels, Aideen Smith Kiltale

Referee: Andrew Larkin, Cork