Clare 2-17 Limerick 2-8
CLARE recorded their fourth successive win in the National Football League Division 3 in Miltown Malbay last Sunday. Following earlier wins over Down, Leitrim and Wicklow, Clare are now joint top of the division along with Fermanagh. They still have games to come against Wexford away this weekend, Longford and Fermanagh.
Last weekend’s game was virtually decided after just 15 minutes when Clare led 2-5 to 0-2. Kilfenora girl, Niamh O’Dea, buried Clare’s first goal in the opening seconds, while she scored a total of 2-4 inside the opening 30 minutes. Clare led 2-9 to 1-4 at half-time with Eimear Considine (0-3), Niamh Keane and Ailish Considine completing Clare’s first-half tally.
Joanne O’Gorman netted Limerick’s first half goal as the All-Ireland junior champions struggled to keep tags on the home county.
O’Dea added four points in the second half while Marie Considine and Louise Henchy also notched scores.
Clare lined out with Susan McNamara in goals as regular goalkeeper Emma O’Driscoll has broken a finger, while Fergus Rovers’ Lorraine Kelly has returned to training and should be available in the coming weeks.
Niamh O’Dea, Marie Considine, Róisín McMahon and Louise Henchy played well for Clare, who will be keep to keep their run going when they play Wexford in the south-east.
Clare: Susan McNamara (Banner Ladies); Clare Hester (Fergus Rovers), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies); Carmel Considine (Liscannor), Róisín McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Louise Woods (Banner Ladies); Louise Henchy (0-1) (Banner Ladies), Marie Considine (0-1) (Liscannor); Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Keane (0-3) (captain), (Banner Ladies), Ailish Considine (0-1) (Kilmihil); Niamh O’Dea (2-8, 0-6f) (Banner Ladies), Eimear Considine (0-3) (Kilmihil), Naomi Carroll (Banner Ladies).
Subs: Kayleigh McCormack (Burren Gaels) for A Considine (43rd), Grace Lynch (Coolmeen) for C Corry (46th), Niamh Greene (Coolmeen) for C Considine (50th), Anne Marie Callinan (Cooraclare) for N Keane (57th), Áine Burke (Liscannor) for N O’Dea (59th), Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels) for L Ryan (59th), Martina Scales for L Woods (59th).
Limerick: Martina Giltenane, Theresa Mulcaire, Yvette Moynihan, Maggie O’Brien, Lisa English, Emma McGuire, Karle Sheehy, Niamh Richardson (1-0), Janet Garvey, Sinéad O’Riordan, Marie Claire Curtin, Kadie Colbert (0-1), Catriona Davis (0-1), Dympna O’Brien (0-6, 0-4f), Joanne O’Gorman (1-0).
Subs: Clodagh Reidy for S O’Riordan, Siobhán Fitzpatrick for L English, Sinéad O’Riordan for MC Curtin.
Referee: Seán Joy (Kerry).