Clonoulty Rossmore Munster hopes dashed by goal hungry Clare champions

AIB Munster Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final

Clonoulty Rossmore 0-13

Truagh Clonlara 3-10  

By John O’Shea

Clonoulty Rossmore’s maiden voyage in the Munster Senior Camogie Club championship came to an end at the semi-final stage when going under to the Clare champions, Truagh Clonlara, at Clonlara GAA Grounds on Saturday afternoon. 

Played before a good crowd at this beautiful rural setting, the home side just about deserved their victory, as they finished on a high, getting in for two goals late on. 

From the start Clonoulty Rossmore battled hard against the home side, who had Laura Foley at the heart of their defence and Roisin Begley operating as a third midfielder. 

Their attack was always dangerous with Clare inter-county player Aine O’Loughlin posing a threat. Courtney Ryan, Clodagh Quirke, and Eimear Loughman were very solid in defence, while Casey Hennessy and Kellie Quirke put in a big shift in the middle of the park. 

The attack coped well, especially during the opening thirty minutes, against a solid home defence, with Eimear Bourke always threatening. Cait Devane was again unerring from placed balls and her two second-half wonder points from a distance were worth the entrance fee alone.

Truagh Clonlara had gone into a four-point lead by the end of the first quarter, 1-3 to 0-2, with the goal coming on eleven minutes from player of the match Roisin Begley, but Clonoulty came storming back over the second quarter and were back on level terms by the half time break, 0-7 to 1-4.

Clonoulty had the better of the exchanges after the restart and went one up after six minutes, but the home side were back on level terms by the end of the third quarter. 

The visitors were still very much in the game with seven minutes of normal time remaining, following two wonder points from placed balls by Cait Devane, but this was as close as they would get as Truagh Clonlara finished the game in flying fashion with two late goals to register a victory that puts them in the Final against Waterford champions Gailltir.

The first-time Tipperary champions, playing in their first Munster semi-final, were quickly off the mark and got the scoreboard moving inside the opening minute when Cait Devane converted a placed ball. 

They had doubled their advantage by the fourth minute when Casey Hennessy finished off a move that involved Cora Hennessy and Sinead Ryan.

However, the home side settled and points from Joanne Egan from open play, and a converted free from their top scorer, Aine O’Loughlin, has the sides level for the first time on ten minutes. 

Clonlara’s first break came one minute later when a good move that started around midfield by Joanne Egan was carried into the heart of the Clonoulty defence by Emer Begley who found the in-running Roisin Begley who crashed home from close-in, giving Teresa Bourke no chance. Aine O’Loughlin followed up when she converted her second free following a foul on Eimear Kelly.

Clonoulty Rossmore got to the pitch of the game for the second quarter with Eimear Bourke causing problems for the home defence. She struck two points in succession from out near the corner at the village end, before Cait Devane hit two, one from a free and one from a 45. 

Aine O’Loughlin eased the home side back in front but Cait Devane had the final say of an entertaining opening 30 minutes when she struck the equaliser in injury time. Truagh Clonlara 1-4, Clonoulty Rossmore 0-7 at half-time.

The home side were quickly off the mark after the restart when Aine O’Loughlin split the posts, Emer Begley being the provider. 

Clonoulty were quickly back on level terms for a fourth time when Cora Hennessy intercepted an attempted clearance before firing over from thirty meters. Aine O’Loughlin hit her fifth point from a 45 before Kate Ferncombe tied the game on 35 minutes. 

Clonoulty Rossmore were back in front when Cait Devane put over from the far side, but they failed to drive on, mainly through some stern defending by the home side. Substitute Niamh Ryan had the home side back on level terms by the 43rd minute when she hit a good point under pressure. 

The nearest that Clonoulty Rossmore came to finding the net came coming up to the three-quarter mark with the game finely poised. After winning a good ball out near the corner, Sarah Fryday cut in along the end line only to see her shot skim the outside of the upright. This certainly was a let-off for the home side, at a vital stage in the game.

Clonlara picked it up again and Aine O’Loughlin put two between the sides with converted frees in the 39th and 40th minutes. 

Clonoulty refused to lie down and with seven minutes of normal time remaining they were back on level terms following two monster points from Cait Devane. The first came from a free just short of the 65 metre line and the second from out on the sideline between the 45 and 65 metre lines.

The sides were still on level terms as the clock ran down, but the home side finished with a flourish. Midfielder Eimear Kelly crashed home goal number two on 58 minutes and quickly followed up with a minor. 

One minute into added time Rebecca Foley kicked home a third major to put the game beyond Clonoulty’s reach. Cait Devane had the final say when her attempt for a goal was deflected over the bar by the Clonlara defence as they ran out six-point winners at the finish.

Scorers: Clonoulty Rossmore: Cait Devane (0-8, 0-6f), Eimear Bourke 0-2, Casey Hennessy 0-1, Cora Hennessy 0-1, Kate Ferncombe 0-1.

Truagh Clonlara: Aine O’Loughlin (0-7, 0-6f), Eimear Kelly 1-1, Roisin Begley 1-0, Rebecca Foley 1-0, Joanne Egan 0-1, Niamh Ryan 0-1.

Clonoulty Rossmore: Teresa Bourke; Lorna Ryan, Aoife Bourke, Moira Kinane; Courtney Ryan, Clodagh Quirke, Eimear Loughman; Casey Hennessy, Kellie Quirke; Sinead Ryan, Cora Hennessy, Kate Ferncombe; Cait Devane, Sarah Fryday, Eimear Bourke.

Truagh Clonlara: Sophie Cullen; Sinead Ryan, Michelle Powell, Sinead Hogg; Ellen Horgan, Laura Foley, Louise Egan; Emer Begley, Eimear Kelly; Rebecca Foley, Joanne Egan, Hannah Horgan; Roisin Begley, Leah Hawes, Aine O’Loughlin. 

Subs used: Aoibhin Marren for Hannah Horgan (HT); Niamh Ryan for Rebecca Foley (35); Rebecca Foley for Leah Hawes (46).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)