Clare suffered a twenty four point defeat at the hands of All-Ireland Champions Cork in the Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship.
Cork 5-19
Clare 0-10
Venue: Pairc Ui Rinn
Páraic McMahon reports from Pairc Ui Rinn.
Cork showed why they’re chasing their third All-Ireland title in succession as they steamrolled past Clare in the second half to pick up their second win in the competition while inflicting another defeat on the Banner County.
Last weekend Clare failed to get going in the opening half as they fell to Offaly while this weekend it was the opposite, an improved performance in the first thirty but a brace of goals after the resumption killed off any chance the visitors had of causing an upset something which never looked likely.
Former All-Stars Chloe Morey and Maire McGrath were ruled out of this contest through injury and Clare certainly felt their absence. That said even if Morey and McGrath lined out it would be hard to imagine a different outcome as this is a team game and relying on individuals is not a sign of a successful team.
Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Roisin McMahon was first on the scoresheet with a pointed free on the sixth minute as Cork overcarried from defence whilst under immense pressure from the Clare attack. This pressure faded as the game wore on. Briege Corkey replied with two points to put the hosts in front on nine minutes. Orla Cotter added to their lead three minutes later.
Corkery struck for Cork’s first of five goals on the nineteenth minute. Further white flags from Cotter and Corkery extended their dominance as the half grew to a close with Aoife Keane, Niamh O’Dea and McMahon pointing to leave three points between the sides at the break.
Once more it was Trish O’Grady’s side who were first off the board at the resumption with Aoife Keane slotting over a free. Amy O’Connor pointed under pressure for Cork a minute later.
Slack defending on Clare’s behalf allowed Cork score two goals in the space of thirty five seconds to spring the Rebelettes to life. Hannah Looney saw space and ran straight through it before handpassing to Eimear O’Sullivan who stuck the sliotar to the bottom left corner of the net. An unmarked Katrina Mackey had Denise Lynch picking the sliotar from the net in the next attack as Cork were counting their stars with the generosity of the Banner backs.
Paudie Murray’s charges hit the next seven scores in succession to extend their advantage to seventeen points. To their credit Clare’s substitutes came in from the bench fighting with Amy Keating and Michelle Caulfield raising white flags. Cork meanwhile were raising the other colour flag at the opposite end with Mackey firing two more strikes past Denise Lynch to finish off the Banner.
Ruthlessness is a trademark of champions and it was evident as Cork never eased up in this contest, when they smelt blood it made them hungrier for more and the different mentalities were of clear contrast between the sides. Speaking during the week Paudie Murray was eager for greater discipline and workrate from his side, they conceded twelve frees over the hour so there is still room for improvement but they worked for every ball and constantly seemed to have an extra option.
Gemma O’Connor hovered up any loose supply of ball in the Cork defence while Briege Corkery, Katrina Mackey and Eimear O’Sullivan were also prominent.
Clare showed signs of improvement from last weekend but still have a long way to go if they’re to challenge for a place in the knockout stages. At stages in the first half they dictated matters but crucially failed to punish their opponents on the scoreboard, they dropped too much ball on Aoife Murray and hit twelve wides over the hour.
If the underdog is to achieve they must take their chances, Clare didn’t and their forwards didn’t pose a threat of scoring unlike their Cork counterparts. For example the Rebelettes had twenty one scoring chances in the second half, Clare had ten. It’s now must-win territory for the women in Saffron and Blue in their remaining games against Limerick, Wexford and Waterford.
Teams:
Cork: Aoife Murray (Cloughduv); Pamela Mackey (Douglas), Laura Treacy (Killeagh), Leanne O’Sullivan (Glen Rovers); Rena Buckey (Inniscarra), Gemma O’Connor (St Finbarrs), Meadbh Cahalane (St Finbarrs); Orla Cotter (St Catherines) (0-08 1f), Ashling Thompson (Milford); Eimear O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig) (1-01), Hannah Looney (Killeagh) (0-01), Katrina Mackey (Douglas) (3-03); Briege Corkery (Cloughduv) (1-04), Orla Cronin (Enniskeane), Amy O’Connor (St Vincents) (0-02). Sub: Jennifer Hosford (Glen Rovers) for Buckley (41).
Clare: Denise Lynch (Kilmaley); Emma O’Connell (Ballyea), Carol O’Leary (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Aoife Griffin (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Eimear Kelly (Truagh/Clonlara), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus) (0-02 2f), Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona); Orlaith Duggan (Clooney/Quin), Zoe McInerney (Wolfe Tones); Aoibheann Malone (Corofin), Niamh O’Dea (Kilmaley) (0-02), Laura Foley (Truagh/Clonlara); Ellen Horgan (Truagh/Clonlara), Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh/Clonlara), Aoife Keane (0-03 1f) (Inagh/Kilnamona). Subs: Grainne Nolan (Éire Óg) for Griffin (HT), Amy Keating (0-02) for Horgan (HT), Michelle Caulfield (Truagh/Clonlara) (0-01) for Malone (47), Roisin Begley (Truagh/Clonlara) for McInerney (47), Rachel Kelly (Sixmilebridge) for Kelly (49).
Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)