Race for senior title begins

THE race for the Clare Senior Camogie  Championship got underway at the weekend when the meeting of neighbours Clooney and Kilkishen produced some great action before the sides ended on level terms.
Elsewhere, Newmarket, Sixmilebridge and champions Kilmaley emerged victorious in their opening ties.

Sixmilebridge  8-21   Wolfe Tones  1-3

As the scoreline suggests, Sixmilebridge were always in control and had the points secured long before the final whistle.
They were 7-9 to 0-2 ahead at the halfway point on an evening when they dominated in most positions.
Naomi Carroll with 2-9 and Sinead Tuohy with 4-2 were the team’s top scorers while Rachel O’Brien accounted for all of the Shannon side’s scores.
Sixmilebridge will play Tulla-Bodyke in the next round.

Sixmilebridge: Áine McNamara; Orla Chaplin, Maire McGrath, Sinead Hyland; Aiveen O’Shea, Sinead Crowe (capt), Shauna Chaplin; Niamh Corry, Sinead Costello; Rachael O’Halloran (0-3), Chloe Morey (0-6,3f), Mairead Hyland (1-1); Sinead Touhy (4-2), Orla Fitzgerald (1-0), Naomi Carroll (2-9,2f).
Subs: Anne Sweeney, Jean Chaplin, Ciara Whelan, Eimear Murray, Emma Robbins, Aisling Hawkes, Niamh McInerney.
Wolfe Tones:  Sharon Coleman; Aoife Nihill, Martina O’Brien, Michelle Roughan, Leanne McInerney, Sinéad Donovan, Leanne Boyle, Mairead McKenna, Deborah Roughan, Rachael O’Brien (1-03), Kelley Molloy, Tracey Byrne, Lizzy Danaher, Claire O’Brien, Evelyn McGurl Subs: Sinéad Kelley for Aoife Nihill, Tara Mulcahy for Deborah Roughan

Clooney 2-10   Kilkishen 3-7

This meeting of neighbours Clooney and Kilkishen at Shannon on Saturday evening provided some great play and plenty of excitement.
There was little between the sides throughout as both enjoyed periods of dominance but neither was able to pull away.
Kilkishen were guilty of a number of missed goal chances early on but Clooney were the more economical with the chances available and were ahead heading to the half-time break.
Kilkishen struck for a goal just before the break and this changed the pattern of the game.
Clooney-Quin came out attacking and were helped on the way with two goals in quick succession from Saidhbhe Corbett and Karen O’Riordan. Kilkishen never let the game get away for them and stuck to the task at hand, picking off some excellent points. 
They were only a point down when Norah Murphy set Marie Collins up for goal with a well-worked pass.
The Kilkishen side levelled and had a chance to win but a late long-distance free just drifted wide.
On the evening, a draw was a fair result.

Kilkishen: Pauline McNamara; Marie Nash, Nollaig Baker, Michelle Moloney; Cushla Hehir, Kate Lynch, Sorchadha Loughnane; Sarah Donnellan, Lisa Loughnane; Leah O’Keeffe, Caroline Sheedy, Marie Collins; Noelle McNamara, Norah Murphy, Claire McGrath.
Clooney-Quin: Sheelagh Daffy; Christine Colleran, Amy Colleran, Triona Gallagher; Immelda Colleran, Aisling Hannon, Siobhan Lee; Kelly MacLean, Deirdre Murphy; Karen O’Riordan, Mary Clune, Claire Ryan; Aisling Corbett, Saidhbhe Corbett, Marie Halpin.

Elsewhere, Newmarket were 4-20 to 0-0 winners over Bodyke-Tulla while titleholders Kilmaley had a 2-9 to 2-4 win over Scariff-Ogonnelloe.