Strong finish seals victory for Clooney-Quin

TRUAGH started the strongest in Clonlara on Sunday in this Division 1 league game, with sustained pressure on Clooney-Quin, resulting in a 45m free being conceded, which was converted by Aileen O’Sullivan.
Máire Guinnane followed three minutes later with a point from play leaving the scores at 0-2 to no score for last year’s championship finalists, Truagh added another and could have been further ahead but for two good saves from Shauna Ryan in the Clooney-Quin goal.

Clooney-Quin got on the scoresheet with a point from a Deirdre Murphy free. Truagh scored from a similar free at the other end of the park, to extend their lead to go three points clear again. Clooney-Quin had some missed chanced mid way though the half. O’Sullivan from Truagh added another point from a 45m free. Clooney-Quin then had a strong patch with Claire Ryan pointing from play and Murphy converting a free, to narrow the gap to two points, Truagh 0-5  Clooney-Quin 0-3.

Deep in injury time, both teams scored points to leave the half-time score at 0-6 to 0-4 in Truagh’s favour.
Clooney-Quin had the wind at their backs from the restart and they quickly found the range with three unanswered points to go ahead for the first time in the match.

Truagh hit back with Máire Guinane getting on the end of a drive and hand-passing to the net to put Truagh ahead once again. This was their last score of the game though as Clooney-Quin had too much power and experience. Claire Ryan with a brace from play, had the sides level again. Deirdre Murphy restored the lead with a free and then the decisive score came, as Marie Begley was on the end of a move when she unleashed first time to the corner of the Truagh net. The home side battled on but a great run and a powerful shot from Deirdre Murphy rattled Liza Moloney’s net to all but finish the tie. Claire Ryan, who was in fine form throughout, added two further points from play to bring her total to six, resulting in a win that looked easier on paper than it was.

Truagh had good performances from Eimear Kelly, Kathleen and Ellen Horgan and Aileen O’Sullivan, while Clooney best were Claire Ryan, Deirdre Murphy, Orlaith Duggan and Emma Sheehy.   

Clooney-Quin: Shauna Ryan; Siobhan Lee, Aisling Hannon, Emma Sheehy; Laura McHugh, Orlaith Duggan, Jenny Costelloe; Claire Ryan (0-6), Aisling Corbett (0-1); Marie Halpin, Deirdre Murphy (1-5 4f), Louise Henchy; Marie Begley (1-0), Jessica O’Neill, Lorraine Ryan.
Sub: Laura Costelloe for McHugh (inj 10min)
Truagh-Clonlara: Liza Moloney, Siobhán Fahey, Teresa Nihill, Sarah Hastings: Aideen Hogg, Trish Mullins, Kathleen Horgan: Máire Guinane (1-1), Eimear Kelly: Ellen Horgan, Aileen O’Sullivan (0-5 2f), Sarah Sherlock: Caroline Lynch, Yvonne Woods, Michelle Caulfield.
Subs: Sarah Koyce for Hogg (38 mins), Emma Kavanagh for Woods (47 mins).
Referee: Flan O’Reilly.