Newmarket and Sixmilebridge notch up league victories

Newmarket-on-Fergus 4-14   Kilkishen 0-3

THE meeting of Newmarket and Kilkishen in the opening round of Division 1 in the senior league proved to be a physical battle.

The home side started the better and converted the game’s first score. A tough battle at midfield was apparent throughout the first half, with Róisín McMahon and Ruth Kaiser working hard.

The supply of ball to the Newmarket forwards resulted in good scores and the sharpness of Carol O’Leary, Niki Kaiser, Ruth Kaiser and Katie Hayes in front of goal proved decisive.

Newmarket’s team work and workrate was impressive from beginning to end.

 

Newmarket-on-Fergus: Carol Kaiser (0-1); Jane O’Leary, Laura McMahon, Aislinn Keogh; Aoife Griffin, Joanne Walsh, Aimee McInerney; Róisín McMahon (0-2f), Ruth Kaiser (1-1); Áine O’Brien, Carol O’Leary (1-6), Rachel Mulcaire; Katie Hayes (1-1), Jenny Kelly, Niki Kaiser (1-3, 1-2f).
Subs: Bríd Enright for A Keogh, Róisín White for K Hayes and AnnMarie Hayes for Aoife Griffin (inj).
Kilkishen: Clare Baker; Marie Nash, Sarah Loughnane, Paula Loughnane; Clodagh O’Halloran, Deirdre Minogue, Marie Collins; Cushla Hehir, Kate Lynch; Shauna Fleming, Siobhán Kiniry, Nora Murphy (0-1); Noelle McNamara, Lisa Loughnane, Kate O’Gorman (0-02, 1f).
Subs: Marie McNamara for Paula Loughnane, Áine Cooney for Deirdre Minogue and Martina McNamara for Marie Collins.

Sixmilebridge 3-15   Inagh-Kilnamona 3-3

SIXMILEBRIDGE got their league campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 12-point win over Inagh/Kilnamona. The ’Bridge girls picked up an early lead in the first half with two goals from Naomi Carroll and a third from midfielder Fiona Murphy. They went in at half-time with a 3-9 to 1-2 lead.

It was Sixmilebridge who again were first off the mark in the second half with a point from Naomi Carroll. However, Inagh/Kilnamona edged their way back in with two goals from full-forward Edel Devereux.

Sixmilebridge held onto their lead and ran out convincing winners. They had solid displays from the reliable Chloe Morey, Naomi Carroll and Maire McGrath, while Deanna Considine and Slaine Carey both proved their worth in their first senior encounter.

Division 2

St Joseph’s 5-8   Whitegate 2-3

ON a cool crisp March morning, a more dominant St Joseph’s team overcame Whitegate in the first round of Division 2.

The first half was a mixed bag from both sides with Whitegate defending really well but they were unlucky when it came to putting scores on the board. St Joseph’s were first to raise the flag in the opening few minutes, with a response from Susan Fahy not long after. St Joseph’s were also first to score a goal, having finally beaten goalkeeper Ciara Mulvihill, who had pulled off numerous saves prior to this.

Susan Fahy, with a superb shot, netted for Whitegate. Aideen Burke and Anita Forde were best in defence for Whitegate. After a tight first half, it was St Joseph’s, who led by 2-4 to 1-2 at half-time.

From the resumption, Whitegate gave their followers some hope when they had a goal but this was short-lived and Joseph’s upped the tempo, hitting 3-4 in the remaining time.

Killanena/Tulla 2-7   Clarecastle/Ballyea 2-5

IN their first-round clash, Killanena/Tulla came away with the points after an entertaining game played in Killanena in crisp weather conditions with a strong breeze blowing.

Clarecastle/Ballyea started the brighter and, playing with the aid of the breeze, had a point on the board within the first minute. Áine Dinan replied with a like score in the fifth minute but for the next 18 minutes, it was nearly all one-way traffic, with Clarecastle/Ballyea hitting 2-3 without reply. During this period of sustained pressure, the Killanena/Tulla defence was constantly on the back foot and indeed could have been even further behind but for some great work by their backs and goalkeeper. In the final few minutes of the half, Evelyn Glynn put over a couple of points from placed balls to leave the half-time score at 2-4 to 0-3 in favour of Clarecastle-Ballyea.

In the second half, the visitors again got on the scoreboard first with a well-taken point from play after only two minutes. However, the Killanena/Tulla combination got into their stride and playing with the aid of the strong breeze, they slowly but surely pulled themselves back into this game. Evelyn Glynn was accurate with a 30m free and a 45’ before Siobhán Torpey raised the green flag after a very good movement involving four players. She added a point from play just a minute after to leave a goal between the sides.

The Killanena/Tulla girls could now sense that victory was within their grasp and when Sinéad Reilly added another goal, they weren’t about to let it slip from their grasp. Evelyn Glynn finished the scoring with a point from play.

Clarecastle/Ballyea tried right to the final whistle but just couldn’t get the scores they needed.

Intermediate

Éire Óg Ennis 2-6   Scariff/Ogonnelloe 2-4

ÉIRE Óg marked their debut at intermediate level with a two-point victory over visitors Scariff/Ogonelloe. The match was a closely contested affair, with great displays from both sets of players.

Marian O’Brien struck for goal for the East Clare side after two minutes of play, while Éire Óg replied with an Orla Devitt goal in the sixth minute to level matters. Scariff/Ogonelloe pushed ahead with a pointed free from Mairéad Scanlon but Éire Óg equalised with a Gráinne Nolan free. Marian O’Brien’s point gave the visitors a narrow lead but once again Nolan brought her side level, this time with a pointed 45’.

Éire Óg took the lead early in the second half with two points from Nolan. O’Brien pulled back a point for her side but following a great passage of play, Orla Devitt rattled the Scariff/Ogonelloe net for the second time. Staunch defending from the Éire Óg backline held wave after wave of attack from the visitors at bay.

O’Brien put over a point to narrow the margin to three points but points from Shaunagh O’Brien and Orla McMahon put Éire Óg five points in the clear. In the last minute of play, Susan Vaughan finally breached the home side’s defence when she kicked the sliotar to the net. It was too late, however, for a comeback and Éire Óg emerged as winners.

Éire Óg: Katie Malone; Laura Brown, Claire McMahon, Aoife Sheehan; Sinéad Darcy, Rae Wall, Sophie Hanna; Alana O’Brien, Gráinne Nolan (0-4, 2f, 2 45’); Orla McMahon (capt, 0-1), Aoife O’Neill, Shauna Keane; Caroline Walsh, Shaunagh O’Brien (0-1), Orla Devitt (2-0).
Scariff/Ogonnelloe: Ashling Corbett; Caoimhe O’Gorman, Regina O’Brien, Sarah Daly; Sarah Madden, Leanne Horan, Keli Nugent; Susan Vaughan (1-0), Helen Mooney; Ellen Collins, Marian O’Brien (1-3), Shannon McNamara; Rachel Moloney, Aileen Thornton, Mairéad Scanlon (0-1f).

Division 3

Corofin 2-4   Ruan 0-6

THE meeting of neighbours Ruan and Corofin attracted a big attendance and resulted in victory for the most experienced Corofin side.

Ruan got the opening score, a point from Alice Casey in the eighth minute, which Corofin cancelled out two minutes later when Brenda Lee was on target. Casey added two more points for Ruan, when she converted two frees to push the visitors in front. However, Lee and Aoibheann Malone levelled the score for Corofin with a point each.

Both sets of backs were under pressure throughout the first half but Corofin held strong and got the ball to Lee, who rattled the back of the Ruan net to leave Corofin in front by 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.

The second half started as the first, with Ruan getting the first two points. Casey was on target from placed balls but again Lee was at hand to get a point from a difficult angle, which helped Corofin to settle. With just a point between the sides, the last few minutes were played out at frenetic pace. Ruan tried hard for an equalising or winning score but it was Corofin’s Aoibheann Malone who grabbed a goal in the last few minutes of play to ensure victory for the home side.

Corofin: Carmel Tierney; Sinéad Collins, Aoife Forde; Ailish Hanrahan, Neasa Carkill, Rebecca Collins; Amy O’Brien, Eva O’Dea; Aoibheann Malone (1-1), Emer Kierce, Erin McCarthy; Brenda Lee (1-3), Emma Collins.
Ruan: Niamh Lyons; Emily Mulqueen, Brenda O’Donoghue; Edel O’Regan, Claire McDonnell (0-1 45’), Eimear Neilan; Alice Mahoney, Rebecca Crowe; Lauren O’Donoghue, Anne O’Regan, Niamh Ní Mhuiri; Alice Casey (0-5, 4f), Sandra Lynch.

Feakle/Broadford 4-9   Bodyke 0-1

BODYKE opened their Division 3 League campaign with a home game against Feakle/Broadford in Bodyke on Sunday at 1pm.

The away team opened with a score of 1-3 before Bodyke got their first score, a point by Louise Hayes. This was to be Bodyke’s only score in a match dominated by the amalgamation.

Bodyke had strong performances on the day by Louise Hayes, Fiona McNamara and goalie Catherine McNamara.

Division 4

Kilkishen 3-4   Sixmilebridge 0-2

KILKISHEN got their league campaign off to a winning start with an 11-point win over Sixmilebridge on Sunday morning.

After a very tight first half, it was Kilkishen who went in on top at half-time, when the score was 0-3 to 0-0. Kilkishen dominated the second half and were deserved winners.

Truagh 6-4   Kilmaley 1-4

TRUAGH had the upper hand through most of their game against Kilmaley and despite not scoring in the second half, ran out winners.

Truagh had the best start possibly when, within a minute, Liza Moloney put the ball in the Kilmaley net. However, this start seemed to shock Kilmaley into action and they put pressure on the Truagh’s backs almost immediately.

McKeon and Hastings worked well in midfield for Truagh and the hard work was converted by Michelle Powell, who scored a brace of goals for Truagh inside the first quarter. Kilmaley scored a point from a free in between Powell’s goals but Truagh rallied again.

Fiona Caulfield got on the end of an attack to score a goal and with 10 minutes remaining in the half, Truagh led 4-0 to 0-1. The experience of the Moloney cousins in attack showed through and Caroline (0-1) and Liza (2-0) added to Truagh’s tally to leave the South-East Clare side ahead, 6-1 to 0-1, at half-time.

Truagh brought on four substitutes at half-time and Kilmaley shuffled their pack. Kilmaley kept the pressure on the Truagh defence for most of the half, with the ball rarely making its way towards the Kilmaley goals. After eight minutes, Kilmaley scored a point from play and added a goal. With the aid of a mounting breeze in the second half, Kilmaley converted a wonderfully struck free from 50m. The Truagh defence worked very hard under the extra pressure in the second half and did well not to concede more scores.

Best for the winners were the Moloneys in attack with young Michelle Powell, the midfield pairing of McKeon and Hastings and Koyce and Fahy in defence.

Truagh: Sinéad Hogg; Julie Ann Ryan, Eileen Gleeson; Siobhán Fahy, Sarah Koyce, Tara Kirwan; Aoife McKeon, Sarah Hastings; Michelle Powell, Caroline Moloney, Emma Hastings; Liza Moloney, Fiona Caulfield.
Subs: Claire Ryan for Ryan, Róisín Rynne for C Moloney, Molly Power for L Moloney, Emma Kavanagh for Caulfield (all half-time), Eimear Burke for McKeon, Aileen Ryan for E Hastings and M Flanagan for Gleeson (50 mins).
Kilmaley: Alanna Barry; Rebecca Cahill, Aoife Talty; Caomhine O’Halloran, Marie Hehir, Siobhán White; Amy Kennedy, Lauren McGuane; Orla Killeen, Gráinne Barry, Aishling O’Grady; Mary T McMahon, Aishling Cahill.
Sub: Clionadh O’Loughlin for Caomhine O’Halloran.