Clare Camogie Adult League Finals

Div 1

Inagh Kilnamona 1-16 Sixmilebridge 1-11

Div 2

St Josephs 2-6 Feakle/Killanena 0-11

An injury time free sealed victory for St Josephs after a fast paced Division 2 Final on Sunday evening in Fr McNamara Camogie Park. In a game where the lead changed sides no less than 5 times and the sides were level on 5 occasions, it was Aisling McMahons free from an awkward angle far out on the wing in the sixty second minute that saw St Josephs claim victory.

Played in ideal conditions, both sides free takers proved crucial throughout, setting the tone for the game from the opening few minutes as both converted from placed ball for the opening scores of the game. Feakle/Killannea launched the next attack with the St Josephs corner back Kate Dillon winning back possession and sending play forward with Caoimhe Hoey making the mid air catch before playing forward to Ciara Guilfoyle in the full forward line who somehow got through the amalgamated sides defence to hand pass to the net, putting St Josephs ahead. Feakle/Killannena responded well hitting three points in quick succession, Lorna McNamara and Claire McNamara both striking over from play, and Lorna McNamara then converting a free to level the sides. The diminutive player was a constant thorn in the side of the St Josephs defence as her pacy runs saw her create scoring chances throughout the hour. Mid way through the half she edged the amalgamated side ahead again converting from placed ball. The next five minutes were played out in the St Josephs danger area, as Feakle/Killanena battled hard for a green flag with three shots on goal blocked in succession. A free out gave the St Josephs side a brief reprieve only for them to concede a free which Lorna McNamara duly dispatched between the posts to edge Feakle/Killanena two points ahead. With just two minutes remaining in the half, St Josephs were on the attack and when fouled McMahon converted to leave daylight between the sides as the half time whistle sounded, Feakle/Killanena 0-6 St Josephs 1-2.

The girls in the maroon and white restarted with vigour, from the throe in they were on the attack and a goal mouth scramble saw Hannah Meaney with a ground strike to the back of the net put St Josephs back in front. This lead was short lived as both Laura McGrath and Robyn Conway both pointed from play to level the game for the third time. McMahon again edged St Josephs in front with a converted free. From the puckout Feakle/Killanena were on the attack and drove forward with St Josephs goalie Karen McMahon getting a vital touch to deny Laura McGrath. The next passage of play ended with sides level for the fourth time when Lorna McNamara converted a free. The next effort from the amalgamated side was wide of the mark, while at the other end McMahon split the posts with a free, edging St Josephs back in front. A Regan Conway free had the distance for Feakle/Killanena however her shot was brought down by Karen McMahon and Megan O’Brien cleared from the danger area. Louise Woods gathered and dropped a dangerous ball into the Feakle/Killanena square but Shauna Canny responded well and cleared her lines. Lorna McNamara had the sides level for the fifth time with five minutes of time remaining and Regan Conway edged the Feakle/Killanena ahead by one when she pointed from play in the fifty seventh minute. McMahon levelled the sides on the sixtieth minute when she converted a free. Both sets of supporters were vocal in their efforts to roar their respective side on to victory and with Feakle/Killanena winning a free and sending play to the St Josephs end it looked like it could be an East Clare victory. However, St Josephs had one last attack left in the tank, winning possession and sending play to the other end, Woods sent her shot to the far wing and with St Josephs winning a free far out on the wing, McMahon stood over the ball before neatly slotting her shot between the posts to edge St Josephs ahead by the slimmest of margins in the sixty third minute. From the puckout referee Aaron Hogg sounded the full-time whistle and it was to the St Josephs captain Caoimhe Hoey that Clare Camogie PRO Brid McNamara presented the Div 2 League Final Cup. In addressing the crowd McNamara remarked on the momentous weekend it had been in the history of Clare Camogie as four Adult Finals were played, with all four games played in Camogie grounds, the Div 1, Div 2 and Div 4 in Fr McNamara Camogie Park with the Div 5 Final played on Saturday evening in Shannon Camogie Grounds and thanked all those who had helped reach this defining moment.

St Josephs: Karen McMahon; Fiona Tuohy, Megan O’Brien, Kate Dillon; Hannah Meaney 1-0, Orla Moloney, Eimear Casey; Síofra ní Chonaill, Orlaith Lynch; Aisling McMahon 0-6F, Sarah Hoey, Louise Woods; Erinn Hennessy, Ciara Guilfoyle 1-0, Caoimhe Hoey

Subs: Laura Hayes for Meaney, Vanessa Meaney for Touhy

Feakle/Killanena: Shauna Canny; Eileen Daly, Ciara Minogue, Aedamar Smyth; Aoife Tuohy, Regan Conway 0-1, Zi Yan Spillane; Ella McNamara, Roisin McMahon; Clodagh Gray, Evelynn Duggan 0-1, Laura McGrath; Claire McNamara 0-1, Lorna McNamara 0-7F, Robyn Conway 0-1

Referee: Aaron Hogg, Clonlara

Div 4

Kilmaley 1-10 Feakle/Killanena 0-7

A thrilling game was played out before a good attendance at Fr McNamara Park and six points were the difference as Kilmaley captured the Clare Camogie Division 4 title this past Saturday evening. 

When the two sides met in the earlier rounds of the competition, it was Feakle/Killanena that took the spoils by four points. The game was played in dry conditions and a cross field wind partly assisted Feakle/Killanena in the first half. The East Clare outfit were first to register a point from play and it was in the eighth minute when Kilmaley equalized with a well taken point from Eilish Cahill who received a pass from team captain Sinead O’Keeffe. With the pitch proving very sandy a fast-paced game was not always possible. There was only a single score separating the teams at half time. Feakle/Killanena Louise O’Callaghan added a fine point from play before Kilmaleys Chloe Neylon equalized with a converted free. Neylon was going to be instrumental in the winning of this game for Kilmaley. Her composure on the placed ball was exemplary as her many scores were into a strong cross field wind. The two teams battled competitively as they have been great rivals since their underage playing days. The midfield partnership of Jodi Cahill and Sinead O’Keeffe kept the Kilmaley full forward line supplied with a lot of good quality ball, Kilmaley had several opportunities for scores, but it was  Feakle/Killanena Lorna McNamara who saved the day for her team. A brilliant display of goal keeping kept the East Clare side in the game. The sideline was also animated as well, due to the amount of saves that the young keeper pulled off. Feakle/Killanena also had many chances upfront, but the Kilmaley full back line of Rebecca Cahill and the two corner backs, namely Maire Hehir and Emma Pyne battled hard for their team. Chloe Neylon added a further two points from frees and another from play. Polly Edge O Neill added another point for the East Clare amalgamation giving them 4 points in total to Kilmaley's five. 

The second half was all to play for. Since the wind that blew cross field in the first half dissipated, neither team was at an advantage. Kilmaley attacked from the throw in and pressed up on the Feakle/Killanena defence. Two narrow wides from the Kilmaley forward line intensified the game, but it was Feakle/Killanena who got the first score of the second half with a point from play. This levelled the sides only for Kilmaley to reply with an attack which resulted in a converted ‘45 from the stick of Sinead O’Keeffe giving Kilmaley back the lead. 

With both sides eager to win, a good few wides were inevitable and it was the next passage of play that was the turning point in the game. Goals don't come easy, and this goal resulted from a ball won by wing forward Chloe Neylon, which was passed in to Megan White, the shot was saved by the Feakle/Killanena keeper and the rebound came out to corner forward Grainne Glynn who batted the ball to the back of the net giving  Kilmaley a lead of 1-7 to Feakle/Killanena 0-6. The final fifteen minutes of play were intense to say the least. Everything was contested. The Kilmaley half back line of Sarah Ni Ceallaigh, Megan White and Leona Grace all stood up for their team and showed great skill and determination to see out the win for the team. Chloe Neylon was excellent on the placed ball and she added and additional 3 points. Feakle/Killanena added one more point from a free from the stick of Lorna McNamara who at this stage was playing out field. Ellie Edge O’Neill and Ella McNamara both impressed for the Feakle/Killanena girls. However it was Kilmaley who saw the game victors Kilamley 1-10 Feakle/Killanena  0-7.  After the game Clare Camogie PRO Brid McNamara presented the Trophy to the winning captain Sinead O’Keeffe.

Kilmaley: Amy Kennedy, Emma Pyne, Rebecca Cahill, Maire Hehir, Leona Grace, Sarah Ni Ceallaigh, Megan White, Jodi Cahill, Sinead O Keeffe, Aida Griffey, Aishling Cahill, Chloe Neylon, Ailbhe McNamara, Eilish Cahill, Grainne Glynn. 

Feakle/Kilaneana: Lorna McNamara; Roisin Tuohy, Ciara Minogue, Theresa O Donnell; Linda O Brien, Ella McNamara, Sinead O’Callahan; Roisin McMahon, Eillie Edge O’Neill; Louise Keehan, Alanah Moloney, Polly Edge O’Neill; Roisin Quilligan, Louise O’Callaghan,  Trish O’Donnell

Referee: Shane O’Loughlin, Ruan

Div 5

Truagh Clonlara 2-6 Eire Og 0-06

Two green flags were the difference on Saturday evening as Truagh & Éire Óg met in the Division 5 League Final at a sun soaked Shannon camogie pitch on Saturday evening. On this occasion, the advantage went with the south east Clare outfit. The sides had only played each other in their group game four days previously with Éire Óg coming out on top on a scoreline of 3-6 to 3-4 in that encounter.

Truagh raced into an early lead, raising their first green flag after 5 minutes of play. Roisin Martin replied with a well taken point to get the Townies up & running, but, Truagh extended their advantage, picking off 4 points in a row to give them a 6 point lead. The sides then exchanged frees and while Elana Bradley put over a brace for Éire Óg, Truagh had the last score of the half, giving them a 5 point half time lead.

The second half was a low scoring affair as Truagh defended their lead admirably. An early Éire Óg attack was well saved and Leanne Russell pointed the resultant ’45 bring the deficit back to 4 points. The Ennis side were dealt a blow as a Truagh effort found the back of the net. Éire Óg never gave up and were unlucky to see a Shauna Keane effort just blaze over the bar. The Truagh defence dealt well with any further Éire Óg attacks and Keanes point proved to be the last score of the match. Final score Truagh 2-06 Éire Óg 0-06. Tara Kirwan, the Truagh captain, was presented with the league trophy by Marie Louise Kaiser.   

Éire Óg team : Elaine Walsh; Aimee Daniels, Sally Wall, Blathin Casey; Kate Neylon, Aoife O’Neill, Leanne Russell(0-01); Amy Russell, Sinead Mulcahy; Alana McInerney, Orla McMahon, Roisin Martin(0-01); Olivia Tuohy, Elana Bradley(0-03), Shauna Keane(0-01).

Subs: Ruth McInerney for Olivia Tuohy, Mary Tiernan for Blathin Casey, Karolina Lis for Elana Bradley

Truagh team : Liza Moloney; Tracy Moloney, Clara Madden, Sadhb Fennessy; Rebecca Foley, Josephine Clancy, Maeve Donnellan; Leah Hawes, Aine Gully; Niamh Power,  Caroline Fitgerald, Tara Kirwan; Therese Hartley, Louise Kavanagh, Rebecca Reilly.

Referee : Niki Kaiser ( Newmarket on Fergus )