Rebel girls overrun Clare in one sided contest

Munster Under 16A camogie semi-final
Cork 5-13 – Clare 0-3

Father McNamara park on Sunday was a welcome hunting ground for Cork Under 16 camogie sides. Following their B squad edging past Clare it was the turn of their premier squad to take on Clare at A grade.

In the end it turned out to be a sobering experience for the Clare side who struggled to compete with the striking and pace of the Cork side especially when they introduced more than capable replacements in the second half that delivered scores and renewed threats to an already overstretched Clare side. Anthony O’Regan, the Cork manager never saw his side in real danger in this contest as Clara Murphy was the scorer-in-chief from frees as Murphy and Eanna Duff opened the scoring before full forward Holly Fitzpatrick got on the end of a long ball and confusion in the Clare square for the first Cork score. Emily Carmody who was the only Clare scorer on the day hit the first score after 20 minutes action. It must be noted that Clare had defended well in the first half but did not possess the power or craft to create upfield against Cork.

A number of missed frees did little for the Clare challenge before Laura Walsh and Clara Murphy (2) all hit the scoresheet between the 23rd and half-time left Cork comfortably (1-5) to (0-1) clear at the break. Clare did miss a clearcut opportunity for a much-needed goal as Leah Scanlon pulled across the square and sent her effort wide.

Cork went on the offensive at the start of the second-half replacing their midfield partnership and one of those Eimear Foughy was simply unstoppable and did more than most to end the Clare challenge. Laura Walsh opened the scoring before Foughy raced clear for her sides third goal in the 34th minute. Clara Murphy (3) and Emily Carmody exchanged points to leave the rebel girls (2-9) to (0-2) in front and in complete control.

Clare were able to contain to some degree the Cork advances but the power in the last twenty minutes overran Clare and it was unfortunate that the last sequence of goals from Grainne O’Neill, Eimear Foughy with her second and Holly Fitzpatrick also with her second near the end of the game saw a 25 point reversal for Clare at the end.

Cork scorers: Clara Murphy (0-8), Eimear Foughy, Holly Fitzpatrick (2-0) each, Grainne O’Neill (1-0), Laura Walsh (0-3), Eanna Duff (0-2)

Cork: Aoife Collins, Sophie Donoghue, Ava Ashman, Eimear Barneyy, Tara O’Neill, Millie Lombard, Caoilainn Ryan, Roisin McManus. Taylor Aherne, Ciara Murphy, Niamh O’Mahony, Maria O’Donovan, Laura Walsh, Holly Fitzpatrick, Eanna Duff. Subs: Darcy O’Brien for Aherne. Eimear Foughy for McManus, Gemma Classen for O’Mahony, Grainne O’Neill for O’Donovan, Laura Kenneally for O’Neill

Clare scorers: Emily Carmody (0-3)

Clare: Aine Boland (Broadford), Amy O’Rourke (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Grainne Cooney (Kilkishen), Saoirse O’Farrell (Broadford), Kate Kennedy (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Sophie Ryan (Parteen/Meelick), Joanna O’Grady (Scariff/Ogonnelloe), Lucy Pearl (Smith O’Briens), Ruby Earley (Crusheen), Emily Carmody (Kilmaley), Aine Quaid (Parteen/Meelick), Leah Scanlon (Smith O’Briens), Bronagh Brady (Feakle/Killanena), Sarah McEvoy (Wolfe Tones). Subs: Kayla Darcy (Kilmaley) for Earley, Molly Purcell (Sixmilebridge) for Ryan, Emma Carmody (Truagh/Clonlara) for McEvoy, Keela Markham (Kilmaley) for Scanlon, Avril Crowe (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for O’ Farrell.

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)

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Late goals for Cork seal hard-fought win over Clare

Munster Under 16B camogie semi-final
Cork 4-10 – Clare 2-6

The curtain raiser in Father McNamara park on Sunday saw the B squads of both Clare and Cork play each other for a place in the B provincial final in the near future. During the first half a torrential downpour hampered the best efforts of both sides. There was little to separate the sides in both halves bar that Cork had the greater potential for goal-creating opportunities. The Clare defence was well up the task of containment even though Cork did strike for two first-half goals from Emma McSweeney and Grace Hughes as opposed to one Clare goal that came from the hard working Kate Dowling to leave Cork (2-5) to (1-3) ahead at halftime. Point scorers for Clare in the first half included Ava Casey and Isobelle McInerney. Emma McSweeney, Grace Hughes, Naoise Hegarty and Caoimhe Power were the Cork point scorers entering the second half. Clare rose their challenge early in the second half as Isobelle McInerney hit the Cork net to narrow the scoreline even though Cork were on hand with two points to leave the visitors (2-7) to (2-3) ahead after 39 minutes. McInerney and McSweeney (2) for Cork kept the scoreboard ticking over. Clare did go close on three occasions between the 40th and 45th minute with goal chances but when they were spurned Cork took over the game as Aisling O’ Brien and McSweeney sealed out the game soon after with 10 minutes left to play, Shannon Beston had the final Clare score as they also hit four wides in the final minutes but Cork had the tie well decided at this juncture. Best for Cork included their full forward line of Hughes, Hegarty and McSweeney who contributed (3-6) of the Cork tally. Others to do well included Aisling O’ Brien, Ava McAuliffe, Caoimhe Power and Robyn Keating. Clare worked hard and with one more strong forward the game would have been a lot closer. Isobelle McInerney, Kate Dowling, Caoimhe McDonnell, Shannon Beston, Orla Cahill, and Kayla Connellan led the charge for Clare.

Cork scorers: Emma McSweeney (2-3), Aisling O’Brien (1-3), Grace Hughes (1-1), Naoise Hegarty (0-2), Caoimhe Power (0-1).

Cork: Emily Creggan, Eimear O’Callaghan, Robyn Keating, Aine Crowe, Abbie Hyde, Caoimhe Power Taylor Holland, Ava McAuliffe, Abby Hicks, Aisling O’Brien, Karen O’Sullivan, Erin McCarthy, Grace Hughes, Naoise Hegarty, Emma McSweeney. Subs: Allie Sexton for Hicks, Suin Carey for Crowe, Aoibhinn Halpin for Holland,

Clare scorers: Isobelle McInerney (1-4), Kate Dowling (1-0), Ava Casey, Sharon Beston (0-1) each

Clare: Rhia Kavanagh (Kilkishen) Emma Rellis (Clarecastle), Isobella McKenna (Scariff/Ogonnelloe), Ezila Wiley (Scariff/Ogonnelloe), Nikki O’Brien (Kilkishen), Kayla Connellan (Eire-Og), Caoimhe McDonnell (Clooney/Quin), Isobelle McInerney (Ruan), Orla Cahill (Sixmilebridge), Shannon Beston (Scariff/Ogonnelloe), Amy Reynolds (Parteen/Meelick), Ava Casey (Ruan), Shauna O’ Neil (Scariff/Ogonnelloe), Kate Dowling (Inagh/Kilnamona), Laura Meaney (Wolfe Tones). Subs: Holly Fahy (Newmarket on Fergus) for Kavanagh, Ella Woods (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Beston,

Referee: Niamh Murphy