Clara 2-15 Windgap 0-5
After coming out narrowly on the wrong side of their two previous first round matches, Clara powered to an impressive win over Windgap in the third round of the senior camogie league matches last Sunday in Clara. The swirling crosswind made conditions challenging on occasions for both sides but Clara adapted much the better of the two teams and in truth looked likely winners from the opening minutes when they established early dominance on the scoreboard. The results leaves Clara free from the threat of relegation and well capable of having a cut in the knockout rounds of the senior championship while Windgap, who are also free from relegation this year will know that improvements are needed especially in attack when knockout matches commence in two weeks time.
Clara opened the match in determined fashion with early points from play in the opening three minutes from Mary O’Connell and Emma Shortall and although Windgap replied with an Emer Smith point moments later, Clara continued to dictate and had stretched the elad to 0-4 to 0-1 by the 10th minute thanks to further scores from Mary O’Connell and Keara Ryan. A good point from play by Caoimhe Power for Windgap did reduce the margin but Clara pressed on for the remainder of the half and after fine points from Lucy Boyd, Keara Ryan and Niamh Ward, they struck for a timely goal approaching half time after a mixup in the Windgap defence and a follow up point from Emma Shortall left them with a comfortable 1-9 to 0-2 lead at the break.
The second half saw both sides continue to battle hard for each possession and while Windgap competed well throughout the match, they found scores very difficult to come by against a well drilled Clara defence. Both sides traded points in the opening twenty minutes of the half which saw the scoreline read 1-12 (C) to 0-4 (W) by the 50th minute. Clara then finished the match well with further points from Keara Ryan and a fine goal from Emma Shortall to seal an impressive win which sets them up well for the knockout stages of the senior championship.
Clara: Aoife Glynn, Onagh Fitzgerald, Rachel Whelan, Katie Ryan, Grainne Glynn, Aisling Nolan, Claire Nolan, Rebecca Nolan, Laoise Nolan, Niamh Ward, Keara Ryan, Mary O’Connell, Siobhan Curtis, Lucy Boyd, Emma Shortall.
Windgap: Ali Kennedy, Sophie McGowan, Margaret Purcell, Ava Lily O’Neill, Laura Doyle, Gillian Costello, Moya Egan, Orlaith O’Shea, Caoimhe Power, Rachel O’Meara, Molly Walsh, Sarah McCarthy, Shonna King, Megan Kenneally, Emer Smith. Subs: Denise Foley, Nathania Jackson.
Referee: Eamon Mansfield
By PRO Fri 11th Sep
