Blow to Clare’s play-off hopes

Galway 0-17  Clare 0-8

Clare’s chances of making it to the play-off stages of the National Camogie League suffered a blow at Ballinakill in Galway on Sunday, when they were defeated by the home county.
Galway’s greater experience and ability to score from placed balls proved decisive on a day when a strong, cross-field breeze made things difficult for the players.
Clare travel to play Wexford on Saturday week and must beat the Slaneysiders to have a chance of progressing. Wexford maintained their unbeaten run on Sunday when they had two goals to spare over Offaly.
Galway were first on the scoreboard with a point from play from Noreen Coen inside the first minute. Clare levelled matters two minutes later with a Claire McMahon free before Chloe Morey pushed the visitors to the front with another pointed free. This was to be the only time Clare would take the lead in the game. Galway were back in front with two frees from Aislinn Connolly by the 10th minute of the first half before Fiona Lafferty levelled matters again with a point from play.
Galway tried to capitalise on a 21-yard free, with Connolly going for goal but Clare’s net minder Susan Vaughan blocked the shot at the expense of a 45, which Connolly converted.
Claire McMahon again levelled matters for the Banner before Galway had three points in a row, Veronica Curtin (2) and Orla Kilkenny were on target from play. McMahon narrowed the deficit to one point with two more pointed frees to leave the score at half-time Galway 0-7, Clare 0-6.
While Clare were first on the scoreboard in the second half, Galway’s determination to bag their first points in the league saw them step up the pace. Two more Galway points from Rebecca Hennelly and Connolly frees pushed Galway two points ahead again. Chloe Morey pointed for Clare from a free in the 10th minute and this was to be Clare’s last score of the half. Galway went on to score eight more points without answer from Clare.
Galway’s ability to cope better with the strong breeze blowing across the field stood to them, as did their ability to score from placed balls. Clare now travel to Wexford on Saturday, March 12, where a win is essential if they are to have a chance of making it to the play-offs.

Clare: Susan Vaughan (Ogonnelloe); Kate Lynch (Kilkishen), Sinéad Donovan (Wolfe Tones), Marion O’Brien (Ogonnelloe); Sinéad O’Loughlin (Inagh), Róisín McMahon (Newmarket), Eimear Considine (Kilmaley); Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge), Ruth Kaiser (Newmarket); Laura Linnane (Wolfe Tones), Sharon McMahon (Newmarket), Fiona Lafferty (Inagh); Mairéad Scanlon (Scariff), Naomi Carroll (Sixmilebridge), Claire McMahon (Kilmaley).
Scorers: Claire McMahon (0-4f); Chloe Morey (0-2, 1f); Fiona Lafferty, Naomi Carroll (0-1) each.
Subs: Shonagh Enright (Kilmaley) for Mairéad Scanlon 43 min; Anne Marie McMahon (Crusheen) for Laura Linnane 47 min; Norah Murphy (Kilkishen) for Sharon McMahon 47 min; Ashling Hannon (Clooney) for Eimear Considine 52 min; Ailish Considine (Kilmaley) for Naomi Carroll 56 min.

Galway: Susan Earner; Regina Glynn, Sarah Dervan, Sinéad Cahalan; Niamh Kilkenny, Sinead Keane, Lorraine Ryan; Orla Kilkenny, Niamh McGrath; Rebecca Hennelly, Emma Kilkelly, Veronica Curtin; Noreen Coen, Fiona Keely, Aislinn Connolly.
Scorers: Aislinn Connolly (0-8, 6f); Veronica Curtin (0-3); Orla Kilkenny (0-2); Niamh Kilkenny, Rebecca Hennelly, Niamh McGrath, 0-1 each.
Subs: Shauna Healy for Fiona Keely; Jessica Gill for Emma Kilkelly; Tara Rutledge for Veronica Curtin.