Minors set to finish the job

The Clare minor camogie team will travel to Semple Stadium in Thurles on Sunday “to finish the job”. That’s according to team coach John Carmody, who said this week that the team didn’t perform to their capabilities in the drawn game.

The replay goes ahead in Thurles at 1.30pm on Sunday and will be followed by the All-Ireland senior semi-final replay between Galway and Cork, who drew in Nowlan Park last week.
Is the Clare coach concerned that Galway having a bigger following on this occasion might be an advantage to them?
“We have great support and that was seen in Nenagh. I would not be worried about Galway having more support,” he replied.
The Clare management team won’t finalise the line-up for Sunday’s replay until later in the week but some changes are likely. Ailish Considine and Lorna Higgins impressed when introduced in the drawn game and they are pressing strongly for a place in the starting line-up this time out. Lisa Loughnane is another who is reported to be impressing in training while Laura McMahon from Newmarket, who impressed in the semi-final but missed the drawn final, is available for this one and will be pressing for a place in the half-back line
Orlaith Duggan will again be an absentee as she is ruled out due to injury.
Carmody believes that the switch to Thurles is an opportunity as, “everyone wants to play in Thurles”.
The closing minutes of the drawn final were the most exciting, as both sides battled hard in search of a winning score. Team captain Chloe Morey, who is appearing in the final for the third year in succession, was outstanding in that game.
In an evenly balanced contest, both sides had their periods of dominance. When Galway went two points clear after scoring the game’s only goal seven minutes from the end, Clare looked to be in trouble.
The fact that Clare hit back with three points to take the lead clearly indicates their determination to make it third time lucky in this particular championship.
Last time out Naomi Carroll, an international hockey player, caused a lot of problems for the Galway defence but Clare weren’t able to get enough ball to her over the hour. This is an area the Banner girls will be hoping to improve on this week as Carroll showed in Nenagh that she has the ability to trouble the Connacht side’s defence.
A draw was a fair result in Nenagh when, Clare scored 0-11 to Galway’s 1-8 and its likely that this week’s replay will be another close affair.
Clare will be looking to Chloe Morey, Katie Cahill, Regina O’Brien, Niamh Corry and Naomi Carroll to lead the way this week against a Galway side that will be looking to Rebecca Hennelly, Aoife Donohue and Laura Donnellan to lead the way.
It won’t be easy but Clare showed last time out that they have a well-balanced team and such has been the form of Chloe Morey this season that the Sixmilebridge teenager deserves the honour of accepting the All-Ireland trophy. At the end of what is sure to be another close tie, she may well live her dream.