THE Clare minor camogie team qualified for the All-Ireland semi-final for the third year-in-a-row when they beat Cork by the minimum margin at Ballincollig on Wednesday evening.
Having lost by three points to Tipperary last week, Clare, who have been beaten by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final for the past two years, had to beat Cork to remain in the race for the title.
A first half goal from Naomi Carroll helped Clare to a 1-5 to 0-1 half-time lead. An early second-half goal sparked off a Cork fight back and they drew level by the three-quarter stage. Clare went back in front by a point three times but each time the home side levelled. A goal from Niamh Corry in the final minute of normal time put Clare in a strong position and they quickly added a point but Cork refused to give up and they hit back for their third goal. After four minutes of injury time, the final whistle sounded with Clare ahead by the minimum margin, 2-9 to 3-5.
Amongst those who stood out for Clare were Jessica O’Neill, Naomi Carroll, Niamh O’Dea, Chloe Morey and Niamh Corry.

 

Clare succumb to dominant Wexford

Wexford 2-17   Clare 1-5

CLARE were comprehensively beaten by Wexford in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship at Wexford Park on Sunday.
The home side laid the foundations for the victory in the opening half when playing against the wind, limiting Clare to just three points.
Indeed, Wexford would have been further ahead at half time but for some excellent goalkeeping from Susan Vaughan. The score at the break was 0-7 to 0-3.
Clare’s first half scores came from Fiona Lafferty, Clare and Roisín McMahon.
Any hopes of a Clare fight back were dashed early in the second half that the winners started with three unanswered points.
With centre-back Mary Leacy dominating affairs, the Slanesiders piled on the pressure and Lenni Holohan stretched their lead with a goal midway through the half.
Substitute Mairead Scanlan scored the visitor’s only goal but they managed just one more score after this as Wexford continued to dominate affairs and scored their second goal in the closing stages.
This week Clare will have home advantage when they take on Galway  who go into the game on the back of good wins over Wexford and Cork in the past two weeks. This game will be on Saturday in Corofin at 1pm.
Clare will be hoping to have Naoimi Carroll available for this tie after her outing with the County minor side against Cork in mid-week.

Clare: Susan Vaughan (Ogonnelloe); Ann Marie McMahon (Crusheen), Kate Lynch (Kilkishen), Sinead Donovan (Wolfe Tones); Eimear Considine (Kilmaley), Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge), Ruth Kaiser (Newmarket); Kelly McClean (Clooney-Quin), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket); Claire McMahon (Kilmaley), Deirdre Murphy (Wolfe Tones), Fiona Lafferty (Kilnamona); Danielle Sheedy (Broadford), Claire Ryan (Clooney-Quin), Sharon McMahon (Newmarket).
Subs: Mairead Scanlon (Scariff) for Sheedy; Sarah Sherlock (Truagh) for Kaiser; Aiveen O’Shea (Sixmilebridge) for E Considine; Áine O’Brien (Scariff) for C Ryan.

U-16s defeat Limerick to reach Munster final

Clare will contest the Munster U-16 camogie final for the second year in succession thanks to victory over Limerick at Clooney last Saturday. In the final they will play Tipperary who overcame the challenge of Cork in the other semi-final.
Clare made a great start and helped by a goal from Alice Casey they went 1-4 to 0-0 ahead after ten minutes. It was 2-9 to 2-2 at half time, with Clare’s second goal coming from Nikki Kaiser.
In the early minutes of the second half, Limerick closed the gap with a third goal and they went on to take the lead when they hit for their fourth goal, a score which put them a point in front.
Vera Loughnane had a Clare goal when she converted a penalty afrter a foul on Aisling Corbett. Alice Casey struck for the team’s fourth goal and her second and from here on the Banner girls held control.

Clare: Suzie O’Shea (Ballyea) Laura McMahon (Newmarket) Clodagh Lawlor (Newmarket) Jane Flanagan (Ballyea); Louise Griffin (Ballyea) Claire McDonnell (Ruan), Kate O’Neill (Newmarket); Rachel Mulcaire (Clarecastle) Kate Collins (Scariff) Vera Loughnane (Feakle), Rebecca Culligan (Ballyea) Sinead Tuohy (Sixmilwebridge); Niki Kaiser (Newmarket) Claire O’Brien(Wolfe Tones) Alice Casey (Ruan).
Subs: Aisling Corbett (Clooney-Quin) Ali Quinlan (Sixmilebridge).