Clare prepare for league campaign

With the National Camogie League beginning in February the Clare senior team has been back in training for some time. Over the last couple of weeks the team has played a number of challenge games as part of their preparations.

Clare’s first game is at home against Dublin on Sunday, February 24, with their two remaining games away to Galway on March 10 and to All-Ireland champions Wexford on Sunday, March 31.

Clare narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot in their 2012 campaign and will be hoping to go one step further this year.

Clare 3-9   Limerick 1-7

Clare overcame neighbours Limerick in a recent challenge played at UL’s Astroturf facility.

Maire McGrath was outstanding at full-back while the half-back trio of Kate Lynch, Chloe Morey and Róisín McMahon were the driving force behind this win. Naomi Carroll with 3-3 and Claire Ryan with two points were the pick of the forwards.

 

There were also promising displays from Leanne Horan, Cushla Hehir, Emer Considine until injured, Orlaith Duggan, Cathriona Hennessy and Kate O’Gorman.

Clare 2-12   UCD 0-6

Clare travelled to Ballykelly, Kildare for this game with UCD. In a game where all 24 players available saw action, the visitors came away satisfied with a good evening’s work.

Clare led 2-7 to 0-1 at the break with excellent scores from Claire McMahon (1-3), Fiona Lafferty (1-2), Orlaith Duggan, Katie Cahill, Deirdre Murphy and Ailish Considine, who also created both goals.

Denise Lynch, Clare captain for 2013, was faultless in goals, while Maire McGrath, Aisling Hannon, Leanne Horan, Róisín McMahon and centre-back Chloe Morey excelled.

Aoife Griffin, Kate O’Gorman, Susan Vaughan, Catriona Hennessy, Laura McMahon and Michelle Caulfield impressed when introduced.

Clare 4-14   NUIG 2-1

Clare scored a comprehensive victory over NUIG on Sunday in this game in Feakle. Clare dominated from the off with Marian O’Brien and Róisín McMahon outstanding in the central defensive positions.

Maire McGrath dominated midfield throughout, ensuring a plentiful supply of ball to Clare’s lively forward division.

Catriona Hennessy and Claire Ryan were particularly impressive and good scores from Naomi Carroll (2-2), Fiona Laffety (1-4), Deirdre Murphy (0-3), Claire Ryan (1-3), Laura McMahon (0-1) and McGrath (0-1) ensured the win.

Others to impress were Leanne Horan, Aoife Griffin, Joanne Walsh, Carol O’Leary, Shonagh O’Brien, Niamh McInerney, Sinead O’Loughlin and Kate O’Gorman.

League groupings
There will be two groups in the upcoming league with the top two in each going through to the semi-finals.
Group 1 includes Tipperary, Cork, Kilkenny, Derry and Offaly with Group 2 comprising Wexford, Galway, Clare and Dublin.

Munster Convention
Munster Camogie Convention takes place at Áras na Mumhan, Castletroy, Limerick on Sunday at 2pm. The current executive, which includes Clare’s Bridie O’Looney (trophy officer) and Bríd MacNamara (programme officer), are all expected to be returned to office for 2013.

Clare have two motions before Munster Council, the first pertaining to the All-Ireland Club Championship where Clare are proposing that winners of the intermediate and senior championships be notified to Croke Park by November 30 with the junior winners by October 31. The current ruling, which states that all three winners must be notified by October 31.

The other Clare motion proposes that Munster Council set up a fixtures committee comprising one representative from each county.