CAMOGIE: Ruthless Rebels hold off battling Banner

Munster Minor A Camogie Championship Final
Cork 2-16 Clare 0-6

CORK maintained their vice-like grip on Munster after brushing off the challenge of Clare to cement their third successive provincial Minor A Camogie title in Cahir, Tipperary this afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan.
Clare had defied the odds to overcome both Limerick and Waterford through the scenic route to get to their first final since 2017. But that was where their heroics ended as recently crowned All-Ireland champions Cork clinically flexed their muscles to run out comprehensive winners.
The Rebels’ pace, first touch and superior physicality was a joy to watch as they led from start to finish to complete their second Munster and All-Ireland double in three seasons.
Scorers-in-chief Orlaith Mullins (0-6) Ciara Morrison (2-2) excelled with a combined tally of 2-8 while Fiona Twohig and Edel Sheehan dominated the second period in a superb collective display.
On the flip side, Clare, despite falling increasingly in arrears, never dropped their heads and peppered the Cork goals in search of a late consolation goal led by Aisling Cooney. Indeed, the Banner, who also had leadership displays through Eimear Murphy and Jennifer Nicholas, were adamant that a Grace Carmody shot had crossed the line at one stage but their protestations fell on deaf ears in a contentious late decision that ultimately mattered little in terms of the overall result.
Clare had the slight conditions at their backs but it was Cork who hit the ground running through Mullins (3) and Morrison (2) to fire the first six points of the decider in side ten minutes of the throw-in.
Clare did finally settle with four of the next six points, two from Aisling Cooney, at 0-8 to 0-4 but their comeback hopes were dealt a severe blow just before the break when Ciara Morrison found the net on the Rebels’ way to a 1-9 to 0-5 interval cushion.
It was a timely boost that Cork only capitalised on for the new half as they stretched their advantage into double figures, capped off by Morrison’s second goal at the turn of the final quarter at 2-13 to 0-5.
Indeed, the damage could have been much worse only for Banner full-back Jennifer Nicholas to charge down an Edel Sheehan bullet while an Aoife Healy subsequent effort flashed just wide of the right post.
Aisling Cooney scored Clare’s only point of the second period in the 47th minute but four late goal attempts were all frustratingly thwarted by a buoyant Cork rearguard that held out for a fully merited clean sweep of Minor honours in 2022.

Grace Carmody of Clare in action against Tara Elliot and Avril Cashman of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Mary Hanrahan of Clare in action against Eimear Duignan of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Abby Walsh of Clare in action against Ciara Morrison of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Abby Walsh of Clare in action against Ciara Morrison of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Edel Sheehan of Cork in action against Abby Walsh of Clare during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Eimear Duignan of Cork in action against Aisling Moloney of Clare during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Mary Hanrahan of Clare in action against Kellie Mc Carthy of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare fan Niamh Mulqueen at the Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Jennifer Nicholas of Clare is treated for an injury watched by TP Sullivan, referee, during their Munster Minor A Cup Final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Eva Fitzgibbon of Clare in action against Leah Hallihan of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Jennifer Nicholas and Aoife Dillon of Clare in action against Ciara Walsh of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Jennifer Nicholas of Clare in action against Fiona Twohig of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Eimear Murphy of Clare in action against Ciara Morrison of Cork during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Ciara Walsh of Cork in action against Cloidhna Queally of Clare during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare Camogie stalwart David Dillon with his camera on the sideline during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Edel Sheehan of Cork in action against Jennifer Nicholas of Clare during their Munster Minor A Cup final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Eva Fitzgibbon and Sophie Cullen of Clare meet following their Munster Minor A Cup Final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare manager Eleanor Walsh talking to her charges following their Munster Minor A Cup Final loss to Cork at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare manager Eleanor Walsh visits the victorious Cork camp following their Munster Minor A Cup Final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Johnathan Walsh gives a hug to his wife and Clare manager Eleanor Walsh following their Munster Minor A Cup Final loss to Cork at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare players watch the cup presentation following their Munster Minor A Cup Final loss to Cork at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare players look on as Cork captain Orlaith Mullins makes her speech following their Munster Minor A Cup Final at Cahir. Photograph by John Kelly

Cork: Jill Connaughton; Meabdh de Burca, Aoife Barrett, Tara Elliot; Avril Cashman, Aoife Healy, Eimear Duignan; Edel Sheehan, Millie Condon; Orlaith Cahalane, Ciara Morrison, Orlaith Mullins; Leah Hallihan, Fiona Twohig, Ana Fahy
Subs: Ciara Walsh for Fahy (28), Amy O’Sullivan for de Burca (HT), Thea Coleman for Duignan (37), Chloe Lane for Connaughton (42), Emma Cantillon for Healy (49), Caoimhe Murphy for Twohig (58), Ellen Crowley for Hallihan (58), Ellen Murphy for Mullins (58)

Scorers: Ciara Morrison (2-2); Orlaith Mullins (0-6); Fiona Twohig (0-3, 1f); Leah Hallihan, Millie Condon, Orlaith Cahalane, Ciara Walsh, Edel Sheehan (0-1 each)

Clare: Sophie Cullen (Truagh-Clonlara); Cliodhna Queally (Inagh-Kilnamona), Jennifer Nicholas (Tulla), Aoife Dillon (Truagh-Clonlara); Lauren Slater (Truagh-Clonlara), Eimear Murphy (Kilkishen), Hannah Mai Neylon (Ballyea); Abby Walsh (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Aisling Moloney (Ruan); Grace Carmody (Kilmaley), Lorraine Grady (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Aisling Cooney (Parteen); Aoife Anderson (Ruan), Mary Hanrahan (Crusheen), Aoife Dooley (Tulla)
Subs: Eva Fitzgibbon (Crusheen) for Slater (23), Eimear Begley (Truagh-Clonlara) for Moloney (39), Éabha McInerney (Tulla) for Dooley (48), Labhaoise O’Donnell (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) for Hanrahan (53)