Match Preview with Ann Marie McGann: Clare v Cork All Ireland Camogie Quarter Final
This game has the prospect of being a tasty encounter with Clare getting into their groove and Cork teetering through the Championship so far with only one real competitive game against Galway.
It may have been noted that it was the case of ‘anyone but Cork’ in general chat but Clare should take solace in the fact that reaching a quarter final in six years is nothing to be sneered at. The past wins in the 2012 Munster Camogie final and the 2014 National League will be nothing to fall back on come Saturday though.
Both teams bring youth and experience to the mix this weekend. Cork had tried to lay down a marker against Galway in their final round game but failed to do so. It was nearly more enticing to see the commotion that was occurring on the line rather than watch some of the fantastic skill on display. Both managements went hell for leather and it will be no different when Paudie Murray and Ger O’Connell go head to head this Saturday. The last time Clare met Cork in Fr. McNamara Park, Paudie could be seen pacing the field for dimensions. He wanted any reason to bring Clare into a wide open arena, and he gets just that in Páirc Uí Chaoimh this weekend.
It will be interesting to see if Clare go defensive for the first 20 minutes to get settled into the game. Cork will try to work the ball between the lines, something they are experts at, so as not to launch it into a defense packed with saffron and blue. One fault of Cork’s is their lack of imagination when trying to deliver a ball to the inside lines and Clare may be able to exploit this. It is almost as if Cork are afraid to express themselves and their skills, than deviate away from the ‘Cork plan’. Clare should be able to capitalize on this and put Cork under pressure going forward.
Cork will look to the likes of Aisling Thompson and Chloe Sigerson to drive forward into the Clare defense to try and set up some simple scores. Niamh O’Dea, Alannah Ryan and Roisin McMahon will have to adopt a ‘thou shalt not pass approach’ to allow Cork to keep the board ticking over but not kill off the game with goals early which they tried to do against Galway. It should be noted that it has become a harder task to get goals in camogie due to the lack of dropping the hurley and handpass to the back of the net. Cork have been affected with this change.
Clare have improved significantly since their first outing against Tipperary and some changes on the starting 15 have paid dividends. Eimear Kelly should work well for Clare this weekend around the half forward line as her darting runs will put the Cork defense under pressure and hopefully gain some frees. It may also see the opportunity arise for Mairead Scanlon to drift in behind and get a killer goal. Orlaith Duggan scored two inspirational points against Dublin and Clare should look to the midfield and half forward line to take their chances when the opportunity arises. It is almost a game that would suit the likes of Gretta Hickey who isn’t afraid to put in the hard tackles in the forward line. It’s time to let Cork know Clare are in this game for the win.
The game will be won and lost on the defensive display of the Clare forwards. Cork have been dealt a blow with Gemma O’ Connor having been ruled out of action the day before the Wexford clash but we may see a revival of her into action for this quarter final battle. Not letting the ball easily out to the likes of Pamela Mackey, the interim Cork orchestrator (instead of Gemma), will be imperative. Against Dublin, Clare were too lackluster in the forwards to fight for the ball and it something that management will have worked on over the last two weeks. A never give up attitude will be essential and should be led from stalwarts Chloe Morey, Maire McGrath and captain Laura McMahon.
It’s not going to be over till the final whistle is blown.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.