Goal blitz puts Galway in control

Galway 6-15
Clare 1-6

A THREE-goal blitz by Galway 20 minutes into the first half set the Connacht side up for a convincing victory over Clare in the All-Ireland Minor Camogie Championship at Clooney on Saturday.

Galway got the dream start with a goal inside the opening minute, when having won the battle at the throw-in, Clodagh McGrath sent the ball to Rachel Monaghan, who ran through and blasted past Suzy O’Shea.
Nikki Kaiser responded with a converted free for Clare, which was cancelled out by a Lisa Hynes point two minutes later. Clare’s Kate O’Gorman capitalised on a defensive error by Galway in the sixth minute and found the corner of the net to level the game. There was little indication at this stage of what was to follow.
Two points from Orlaith McGrath put Galway back in front before Kaiser sent a 45’ into the square, which Sinéad Touhy put over the bar.
Galway were physically stronger in midfield and this helped them get a grip on the game from early in the second quarter.
Three quick goals, one from a Rachel Monaghan penalty, having been brought down on the edge of the square, put them into a commanding lead. Clare added two more points before the break but with Galway grabbing their goal chances, it was the visitors who led 4-6 to 1-4 at half-time.
Galway’s dominance continued in the second half when their defence dominated. Kaiser added two points for Clare from frees but it was not to be Clare’s day.

Clare: Suzy O’Shea (Ballyea); Jane Flanagan (Ballyea), Laura McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Shauna Fleming (Kilkishen); Louise Griffin (Ballyea, captain), Ellen Roche (Sixmilebridge), Alana O’Brien (Éire Óg); Vera Loughnane (Feakle), Fiona Murphy (Sixmilebridge); Orla Devitt (Éire Óg), Rebecca Culligan (Ballyea), Nikki Kaiser (Newmarket-on-Fergus, 0-4, 3f 1 45’); Sinéad Touhy (Sixmilebridge, 0-1), Kate O’Gorman (Kilkishen, 1-1), Shauna O’Brien (Éire Óg).
Subs: Rachel Mulcaire (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Fleming, Claire O’Brien (Wolfe Tones) for Shauna O’Brien, Eimear Casey (St Joseph’s) for O’Gorman (58 mins).
Galway: Sarah Skehill; Laora Porter, Aisling Spellman, Sarah Keehan; Áine Dervan, Siobhán Gardiner, Maria Cooney; Clodagh McGrath (0-1), Lorraine Farrell (captain, 0-1); Lisa Hynes (1-3), Rachel Monaghan (2-7, 1-0 penalty, 6f, 1 45’), Aoibhin Kenny; Orlaith McGrath (1-1), Maria Breheny (1-1), Ailish O’Reilly (1-1).
Referee: Donal Leahy, Tipperary.