Kilkenny Camogie- Ryan goal proves crucial as Clara topple Village

Clara and James Stephens served up an entertaining and competitive opening match in the first of their three league games in Clara on Sunday morning.

Sophie O’Dwyer got the Village team off the mark with an early free, followed promptly by a well-taken point from Rachel Leahy. Lucy Boyd opened Clara’s account in the eighth minute and when Sophie O’Dwyer found herself in space she put over the next score after a nice pass from Hannah Larkin. Clara hit the following two scores through frees from Keara Ryan and Mary O’Connell. She then hit one from play after an excellent pass from Keara Ryan, but within a minute Roisin O’Sullivan levelled the score at four points each.

The Village girls looked to have found their momentum and scored four points from play via Caoimhe Moran, Lucy Coomey, Sophie O’Dwyer and Anna Doheny.

However, Clara finished the first half strongly. A well-taken O’Connell point was followed by five points from play via Keara Ryan (2), Rebecca Nolan, Peig Carrigan and O’Connell again after a fine solo run by Noeleen Shanahan to leave their side 0-11 to 0-9 up at the break.

The supporters were kept well entertained during the interval by the under-10 players from both clubs who put on a super display of camogie.

Clara made a quicker start in the second half with a point from Siobhan Curtis, followed by a cracking goal from Keara Ryan after an excellence passage of play between Laoise Nolan, Siobhan Curtis and Mary O’Connell. Sophie O’Dwyer got the following four scores for James Stephens, two from frees, with two more from play. During that period Clara scored three points from Niamh Ward, Noeleen Shanahan and Keara Ryan to stem the Village tide.

The final stages of the game were closed out with points from a free by Sophie O’Dwyer and from play by Emily Smith for James Stephens, Keara Ryan scored Clara’s last two points both from frees to seal their win.

The game was played in a sporting fashion well managed by referee Eoin Behan. Both sides had some fine defensive displays notably from Clara’s Rachel Whelan and Laoise Nolan, and for James Stephen’s Michelle Teehan and Aoife Cantwell.

On a particularly warm morning Claire Nolan and Mary O’Connell for Clara along with Tara McGuire and Caoimhe Moran for James Stephens were impressive in their work rate. Overall both teams produced very good team performances with the goal ultimately being the difference.

Both sets of management should be happy with the spread of scorers across their panels, with eight players scoring for Clara and seven for James Stephens.

Clara will travel to Inistioge on Sunday for their second round game while James Stephens host Young Irelands at home. These games promise to be equally competitive.

Teams and scorers

Clara - Keara Ryan (1-7, 0-4f); Mary O’Connell (0-4, 0-1f); Lucy Boyd, Rebecca Nolan, Peig Carrigan, Siobhan Curtis, Niamh Ward, Noeleen Shanahan (0-1 each).

James Stephens - Sophie O’Dwyer (0-9, 0-5f); Caoimhe Moran (0-2, 0-1f); Rachel Leahy, Roisin O’Sullivan, Lucy Coomey, Anna Doheny, Emily Smith (0-1 each).

Clara - Aoife Glynn, Oonagh Fitzgerald, Katie Ryan, Lucy Cody, Rachel Whelan, Laoise Nolan, Claire Nolan, Rebecca Nolan, Noeleen Shanahan, Lucy Boyd, Mary O’Connell, Aisling Curtis, Siobhan Curtis, Peig Carrigan, Keara Ryan, Niamh Ward, Siobhan Tracy, Aine McDonald, Margaret O’Connell, Aoife Treacy, Emma Corr, Lucy Kealy, Katie Boyd, Aoibheann McDonald, Katie O’Connell, Maria Shortall and Cara Brennan.

James Stephens - Jenna Larkin, Niamh Leahy, Michelle Teehan, Mia Dunne, Anna Doheny, Aoife Cantwell, Emily Smith, Tara McGuire, Sophie O’Dwyer, Anna Bergin, Caddy Boyle, Hannah Larkin, Lucy Coomey, Roisin Leahy, Caoimhe Moran, Rachel Leahy, Lucy McGrath, Keri Hennessy, Molly Burke, Emily Lauhoff, Hannah Joyce, Kate Larkin, Roisin O’Sullivan, Niamh O’Hara, Yoma Etafen.

Referee - Owen Beehan (Fenians).