The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
An All-Ireland Final beckons for Coláiste Muire after proving worthy players for all seasons following a gritty low-scoring war of attrition with Laois’ Mountrath Community College in Clarecastle on Saturday.
On a day that you would be hesitant about putting your pet outside, the Ennis demonstrated their character and versatility in abundance once more to tee up a final showdown with Wicklow’s Coláiste Bhríde Carnew in a fortnight’s time.
The antithesis of their freescoring Munster Semi-Final against Laurel Hill a month previously when firing 23 scores, every point was pivotal this time around thanks to almost Biblical weather conditions.
With a gale blowing towards the clubhouse end, what unfolded was the proverbial game of two halves, with Coláiste Muire having its aid in the opening period before declaring with a four point cushion by the break.
With the pressure on their shoulders from the outset, the home side eventually got off the mark in the fourth minute when the ever-impressive Ellen Casey punished a poor clearance. On a difficult day for shooting, it took until near the midway mark of the half for Coláiste Muire to double their advantage, this time chief target Mary Hanrahan earning a free that Emma Considine duly converted.
Three minutes later Hanrahan would open her own account but it wasn’t until late in the half that they would do so again as despite having a goal chance denied, the Munster champions would go into the dressing rooms with a 0-4 to 0-0 lead following another Emma Considine free.
Coming out at all for the second half was an achievement in itself as with the addition of incessant rain, it couldn’t really have been much worse weather-wise.
For Coláiste Muire, it was about digging crater deep against the conditions, with sheer grit and resolve essential to holding the visitors scoreless by the two-thirds mark.
Mountrath almost made up for lost time in spectacular fashion, only for home goalkeeper Grace McMahon to tip away Karla Whelan’s shot for a ’45 that the Naomh Éamann player duly converted.
The hosts’ miserly defence forced Mountrath to shoot from distance, playing right into Coláiste’s hands as the wide tally mounted up or else the ball dropped short into the assured perimetre of goalkeeper McMahon.
At the turn of the final quarter, Whelan did arrow over another free to cut the deficit to just two but while it would spur the Leinster runners-up on for the remainder, with each passing minute they became increasingly desperate.
Instead, the leadership and composure of captain Tierna Hegarty, Ellen Casey and Cliodhna Queally was inspirational for the Clare representatives in an exceeding tense finale that reached its crescendo in injury-time when the Laois college launched one final attack.
Grace McMahon managed to keep up her duel with Karla Whelan to force a ’45 that was inevitably dropped into a congested goalmouth where in the ensuing scramble and appeal, there was not even a social distance between over 20 players.
McMahon was equal to anything that came her way though and even earned a relieving free followed by the welcome, melodious sound of the final whistle.
Barry Donnellan and Aidan McGuane’s ‘absolute warriors’ now prepare for a first ever All-Ireland Senior B Final, an ultimate battle of the Munster and Leinster champions, Coláiste Bhríde Carnew.
With the Wicklow college brushing aside the challenge of Dublin’s Mount Sackville by 6-10 to 2-9 on Friday, Coláiste Muire’s unflinching determination will be require once more in a fortnight’s time. Whatever the weather.
Coláiste Muire: Grace McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Sinead Hastings (Ruan), Hannah Doyle (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Lauren Cahill (Kilmaley); Cliodhna Queally (Inagh-Kilnamona), Tierna Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Karlene McGerr (Inagh-Kilnamona); Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Orna Moynihan (Clooney-Quin); Emma Considine (Clooney-Quin), Emily Costelloe (Clooney-Quin), Muireann Daffy (Inagh-Kilnamona); Emma Quinn (Clooney-Quin), Mary Hanrahan (Crusheen), Emma O’Loughlin (Clarecastle). Subs: Aimee Colleran (Crusheen) for Quinn, Kate Forde (Ruan) for O’Loughlin (inj), Evie Scanlon (Clarecastle) for Considine. Scorers: Emma Considine (0-2f) Ellen Casey, Mary Hanrahan (0-1 each)
Mounthrath Community School: Caoimhe Williams (Naomh Éamann); Sarah Cuddy (Camross), Anabelle Ryan (Camross), Aileen O’Neill (Portlaoise); Lorna Phelan (Naomh Éamann), Katelyn Shore (Naomh Éamann), Leanne Dowling (Camross); Leah Daly (Camross), Aoibheann Phelan-Dalton (Portlaoise); Grainne Delaney (Camross), Karla Whelan (Naomh Éamann), Ali Cuddy (Camross); Aimee Byrne (Naomh Éamann), Eireann Cole (Naomh Éamann), Caoimhe Cuddy (Naomh Éamann) Sub: Louise Bergin (Camross) for Cuddy. Scorer: Karla Whelan (0-2, 1f, 1’45)
Referee: Sarah Gaughran (Galway)
