Kilmaley just hold off Clooney-Quin

Kilmaley 1-8   Clooney-Quin 0-9

After a lapse of two years, Kilmaley were crowned Clare senior camogie champions at Clarecastle on Saturday but they had to battle right to the end against underdogs, Clooney-Quin, who produced a tremendous performance.

Indeed, had the game gone to extra time, few would have quibbled, as Clooney-Quin turned in a battling second-half performance that just came up short. Kilmaley’s only score of the second period came in the fifth minute of injury time and only then could they relax happy in the knowledge that they had the McMahon Cup secure for a third time.

An outstanding performance from inter-county player Deirdre Murphy, which earned her the player-of-the-game award, wasn’t enough to steer her side to a first success in over 60 years. The Munster camogie development officer contributed all but a point of her team’s total on the day.

Before a big and enthusiastic attendance, the game produced some great play. Kilmaley took the lead in the second minute through Ashling O’Halloran but it was a short-lived lead, as Murphy opened Clooney-Quin’s account a minute later before putting her team ahead in the seventh minute when converting a 20m free. 

In the eighth minute, Kilmaley, who begin their Munster club campaign on Saturday with a home date against Cork intermediate champions, Aghabullogue, struck for the game’s only goal. A Clare McMahon cross was won by Shónagh Enright and she found the net with a fine strike. McMahon followed with a point from a 20m free to put a goal between the sides 10 minutes into the half.

Points were exchanged twice in the next 15 minutes before Kilmaley finished the half strongly to take a five-point advantage when referee Aidan Ryan sounded the short whistle. The score at this stage was 1-7 to 0-5.

Straight from the resumption of play Clooney-Quin let it be known they were not going to go down without a fight. A brace of Deirdre Murphy pointed frees in the opening two minutes cut the deficit to three and clearly showed Clooney-Quin’s belief that they could upset the odds.

When Claire Ryan found the target in the fourth minute, the margin was down to two and it was clear Kilmaley had a battle on their hands. Deirdre Murphy struck again in the eighth minute to cut the lead to the minimum but, amazingly, there would be only one other score and this came in the fifth minute of injury time.

Kilmaley did a lot of the attacking but the Clooney-Quin defence was magnificent, with Orlaith Duggan and Aisling Hannon particularly prominent. However, for all of their great work, they were unable to get upfield for the scores they needed and for this credit must go to new champions and particularly Niamh O’Dea, who excelled, Niamh and Katie Cahill, Shonagh Enright and Claire McMahon.

The final whistle sparked off great celebrations amongst Kilmaley followers, officials, substitutes and players.

After the game, Clare camogie chairperson Orla Considine presented the McMahon Trophy to the winning captain, Claire McMahon.

Kilmaley: Edel Griffey; Lisa Kennedy, Denise Lynch, Sinéad O’Halloran; Niamh Cahill, Katie Cahill, Eimear Considine; Aida Griffey, Aishling Darcy; Shonagh Enright, Emma O’Driscoll, Claire McMahon; Niamh O’Dea, Ashling O’Halloran, Ailish Considine.
Subs: Helen McMahon for L Kennedy (43 minutes) and Siobhán White for A O’Halloran (53 minutes).
Scorers: Claire McMahon (0-4), Shonagh Enright (1-1), Denise Lynch, Aishling Darcy, Ashling O’Halloran (0-1 each).
Frees for: 11; wides: 8.
Clooney-Quin: Sheelagh Daffy; Imelda Colleran, Aisling Hannon, Nicole O’Riordan; Jessica O’Neill, Orlaith Duggan, Jenny Costelloe; Claire Ryan, Christina Colleran; Marie Halpin, Deirdre Murphy, Siobhan Lee; Kelly MacLean, Louise Henchy, Aisling Corbett.
Sub: Mary Clune for M Halpin (47 minutes).
Scorers: Deirdre Murphy (0-8), Claire Ryan (0-1).
Frees for: 14; wides: 2.
Referee: Aidan Ryan.