Littlewoods Irl Camogie Leagues

Div 1

Clare 0-10 Dublin 1-12

Clare bowed out of the Littlewoods Irl Div 1 Camogie League on Saturday afternoon in  a bitterly cold Parnells GAA, Coolock. Played in the same venue as their encounter in the 2017 Championship, conditions underfoot were a vast improvement on what they had been eight months previously, however the result was the same with the home side taking the win. Nothing less than a win was what Clare required going into this clash if they wanted to remain in contention for a semi final spot, however the Dubs rallied following an enthusiastic Clare opening and once they got ahead, they remained in front to the final whistle.

Clare had their most dominant period n the opening quarter, their first attack saw Chloe Morey drop the sliothar into Aine O’Loughlin however the Dublins deployment of Aisling Carolan to the role of sweeper saw the Dubs clear their lines. Morey opened the scoring when she converted a free, with Dublins Siobhan Kehoe answering in kind a minute later. A brace of frees from Morey saw the Banner with an 0-3 to 0-1 advantage with close to ten minutes on the clock. Grace O’Shea narrowed the deficit to a point when she converted a free from thirty yards. In what was a physical encounter, both free takers were called on regularly throughout the sixty odd minutes of play, with Morey converting Clares fourth free mid way through the half. A brace of frees from Kehoe saw the sides level with nineteen minutes on the clock. Clare had their scoring opportunities over the next ten minutes but with an over crowded Dublin defence were finding it difficult to break through. With the half time whistle approaching Dublin moved play to the other end and another brace of frees from Kehoe saw the home side go in at the break with a two point advantage Clare 0-4 Dublin 0-6.

The second half was a continuation of free takers skills with Morey and Kehoe, who were the chief scorers for their respective sides, both called on throughout. Kehoe converted a free with just four minutes played in the second half, with Morey converting at the other end just two minutes later. The games first score from play came from the stick of Niamh O’Dea in the thirty eight minute and left just a point between the sides, however referee Eamon Cassidy penalised Clare affording Kehoe the opportunity to extend the Dubs lead back to two points. Dublins first effort from play came mid way through the second half, when Eimear McCarthy split the posts with an effort struck from out on the wing. A Kehoe free was followed by a brace of frees from Morey to see Clare trail by a point with ten minutes of time remaining. Again however Kehoe hit a brace of frees to extend the Dubs lead back to three points. Another Morey free left two points between the sides with four minutes of time remaining. However Dublin launched one final attack, winning possession in the middle McCarthy fed forward to Doireann Mullany, with the half forward making good use of the wing, she drove forward before sending a cross field pass which substitute Roisin Baker pulled on and struck to the back of the net for the only goal of the game and effectively ending Clares chances of victory.

Clare: Lauran Solon Whitegate; Allanah Ryan Kilkishen, Maire McGrath Sixmilebridge, Carol O’Leary Newmarket on Fergus; Laura McMahon Newmarket on Fergus, Roisin McMahon Newmarket on Fergus, Ciara Doyle Scariff Ogonnelloe; Ciara Grogan Clooney Quin, Orlaith Duggan Clooney Quin; Sinead Conlon Tulla, Roisin Begley Truagh Clonlara, Orla Devitt Eire Og; Chloe Morey Sixmilebridge 0-9F, Aine O’Loughlin Truagh Clonlara, Niamh O’Dea Kilmaley 0-1

Subs: Aoibheann Duggan Clooney Quin for Conlon, Regan Conway Feakle for O’Dea (inj), Chloe Devitt Ballyea for O’Loughlin

Dublin: Sile nic Coitir Ballboden St Endas; Arlene Cushen Na Fianna, Aisling Carolan St Oliver Plunket Eoghan Ruadh, Emma O’Byrne Good Counsel; Hannsh Hegarty Naomh Jude, Martha O’Donoghue Ballyboden St Endas, Miriam Twomey Naomh Mearnog; Laura Twomey Naomh Mearnog, Eimear McCarthy Naomh Unisionn 0-1; Doireann Mullany Ballyboden St Endas, Siobhan Kehoe Naomh Fionnbarra 0-10 9F, Ali Twomey Lucan Sarsfields; Orla Beagan Lucan Sarsfields, Grace O’Shea Ballinteer St Johns 0-1F

Sub: Roisin Baker Na Fianna 1-0 for O’Donoghue

Referee Eamon Cassidy, Derry