Clare 2-19 Waterford 3-9

A player of the match performance from Chloe Morey led Clare to a merited win over Waterford in round two of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie championship at sun drenched Cusack park this afternoon.

While wearing the favourites tag, Clare did not get things all their own way in this tie and struggled to contain the visitors for much of the first half at  the end of which the visitors held a two point advantage, 2-5 to 0-9.

Five minutes into the new half Clare had drawn level and a minute later went in front when Morey landed the first of six from play in that second period.

At the three quarter stage Clare led on a scoreline of 0-15 to 2-7 and it was still anybody’s game. Clare introduced teenager Aine O’Loughlin and within a minute of her arrival on the pitch the Clonlara girl had the ball i n the Waterford net. Two Morey points followed and Clare led by  seven with ten minutes to play.

Waterford weren’t finished and substitute Becky Kavanagh pounced on a Clare defensive error for her side’s third goal and the  home side’s lead was back to a goal.

Three minutes from time Clare sealed the win when centre forward Aoife Keane who worked very hard throughout, broke through and blasted to the corner of the net.

In their next outing in two weeks time Clare will play all-Ireland champions Kilkenny. After the game player of the march Chloe Morey who landed a whopping 0-15, six from play, in this tie, was presented with the player of the match award.

Clare; Ciara McCarthy; Amy Barrett, Carol O’Leary, Maire McGrath; Laura McMahon, Clare Hehir, Roisin McMahon’ Orlaith Duggan, Ciara Grogan; Andrea O’Keeffe (0-2), Aoife Keane (1-1), Aoibheann Duggan; Chloe Morey (0-15, 9 f), Niah O’Dea (0-1), Orla Devitt;

Subs; Aine O’Loughlin (1-0) for A. Duggan;  Emma O’Connell for C. Hehir; Vera Loughnane for C. Devitt

By Seamus Hayes