VERY NATIONAL CAMOGIE LEAGUE DIVISION 3B

CLARE CANTER INTO NATIONAL LEAGUE FINAL 

Report by : Derek Dormer

CLARE 3-9
DUBLIN 0-11


Led out onto the field by eleven year old mascot Pippa Lordan from the Ruan Camogie club the Banner proceeded to lead Dublin a merry dance as they cruised into the League final with a powerful second half performance. Early goals certainly helped the Clare cause but in truth a strong defensive second half showing, restricting Dublin to only one score from play, ultimately proved the difference between the table toppers.
The Banner had the dream start when  after only ninety seconds an Aoife Anderson attempted point was batted out by Dublin keeper Cooke. Corner forward Aideen Hickey gathered possession before gliding past the last defender and rifling home into the left hand corner. Clare though were wasteful over the following ten minute period hitting some poor wides while on the flip side the visitors were proving extremely economical with Grainne Skelton landing three points to level the contest for the one and only time. John Carmody's charges though hit back in devastating fashion with their very next attack yielding another major. Wing back Sinead O'Keefe found midfielder Grace Carmody on the overlap with a neat pass. The diminutive Carmody then burst through the centre leaving a host of players in her wake before unleashing an expert finish low into the right hand corner. Four Aisling Cooney converted placed balls alongside a superb Kate O'Gorman point saw the Banner leading at the interval by three on a 2-5 to 0-8 scoreline. 
There was concern though as Dublin with Skelton keeping them in touch would now have the elements at their backs for the second period and one wondered would a three point cushion be enough.
There was no need for worry as the sun appeared and along with it came a defensive masterclass from Clare especially in the half back line with Michelle Powell and player of the match Laura McMahon excelling. They suffocated Dublin time and time again allowing them no space to run into and no time whatsoever on the ball. It was a hunger driven performance laden with determination. Two further Cooney frees along with a fine Niamh Mulqueen point from play had Clare ahead by six less than ten minutes into that second period. Dublin were visibly rattled and in truth had no answer as they never really threatened a comeback. 
The game was then effectively ended as a contest when a long delivery broke at the edge of the Dublin square. In old fashioned style Lorraine Grady, on as a half time substitute, first time pulled on the breaking ball with the sliotar flying into the net and Clare's second team were most definitely heading to a League final showdown with a group game to spare. 
Clare emptied their bench giving valuable game time to their youthful squad and on another positive note Niamh Powell returned to action after a year out with a cruciate injury. 
Overall a hugely significant result for the Banner as manager John Carmody eluded to afterwards.
" We are absolutely delighted with that second half performance and it's just fantastic to be sixty minutes away from silverware. We have a big squad and competition is building for places. That competition is healthy and will drive on Clare Camogie. If we can win that cup now it would be a tremendous boost and would mean these girls would be playing Intermediate league next year and that's the progress we want. 
To build a base of a pool of Senior players this is where the work begins and to be playing better teams bodes well for the County.
I'm delighted for them, we've beaten two Intermediate teams in the last two weeks in Antrim and Dublin. We will face one of them again in the final so it'll be another huge test but one we will relish."




Clare: Lauren Solon (Whitegate), Rebecca Crowe (Ruan) Caoimhe Lally (Newmarket on Fergus), Sinead Hogg (Truagh-Clonlara), Laura McMahon (Newmarket on Fergus), Michelle Powell (Truagh-Clonlara), Sinead O'Keefe (Kilmaley), Grace Carmody (Kilmaley), Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford), Labhaoise O'Donnell (Scariff-Ogonolloe), Kate O'Gorman (Kilkishen), Aoife Anderson (Ruan), Aideen Hickey (Whitegate), Olivia Phelan (Sixmilebridge), Aisling Cooney (Parteen)
Subs: Lorraine Grady (Scariff-Ogonolloe) for Anderson(HT), Michelle McMahon (Newmarket on Fergus) for Hickey (39), Sarah Loughnane (Sixmilebridge) for Cooney (40), Niamh Powell (Truagh-Clonlara) for O'Keefe (52), Bonnie Wiley Murphy (Scariff-Ogonolloe) for L McMahon (58), Danielle Griffin (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Carmody (59), Meave Stankard (Crusheen) for Phelan (60)


Scorers: Aisling Cooney 0-6(6f), Aideen Hickey, Grace Carmody, Lorraine Grady 1-0 each, Kate O'Gorman, Niamh Mulqueen, Sarah Loughnane(f) 0-1 each 


Dublin: Dara Cooke (St.Vincents), Grace Shanahan (Naomh Olaf), Niamh Heffernan (Naomh Peregrines), Aoife Deegan (Naomh Peregrines), Robyn Buckley (Skerries Harps), Chloe O'Connor (Lucan Sarsfields), Lizzy Murphy (St.Vincents), Siobhan Kehoe (Naomh Fionnbarra), Aisling Groarke (Cuala), Shauna McCarthy (Naomh Fionnbarra), Grainne Skelton (Naomh Mearnog), Leonie Power (Ballyboden St.Endas), Meabh Hicks (CBC), Emily Adderly (Ballinteer St.Johns), Cara Feeney (Castleknock)
Subs: Eile O'Ceallaigh (Whitehall Colmcille) for Heffernan (49),


Scorers: Grainne Skelton 0-8 (6f), Siobhan Kehoe, Robyn Buckley, Eile O'Ceallaigh 0-1 each


Referee: Enda Loughnane (Galway)


PLAYER OF THE MATCH
LAURA MCMAHON (NEWMARKET ON FERGUS)
A colossal performance by the ex Senior player. Returning after a year away McMahon swept away any Dublin attacks with an incredible ease. Showing huge determination she led from the front and her experience is vital to the development of the younger players. A vital cog in this Clare Junior Machine.


REACTION 
LAURA MCMAHON


BRING THEM ON 


 " It's a great day for Clare. This group lost out last year so to get to the League final is just huge. It's massive progress for the group as a whole. I went travelling last year and to come back and see the excellent panel we now have it's brilliant. It's great to be back. We have substitutes who come on and do as good a job if not better than who they are replacing. Training with the Seniors too has given us all a bond and we are friends for life. You feel like giving everything you have when you play with people who are your friends. It's just a hugely positive feeling.  It doesn't matter who we face in the final. We are in it to win it so bring them on be it Dublin or Antrim. We just have to keep doing what we are doing and the results will follow."