This article is from page 67 of the 2011-03-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 67 JPG
ALL-IRELAND FINALISTS Galway still have the edge over their near neighbours Clare after securing their first victory of the campaign on Sunday. Clare have been on the receiving end of four consecutive defeats to the Tribeswomen over the last two years since they returned to the senior ranks but any hopes of a repeat of last year’s championship tie when Clare ran them very close were dismissed as Galway were determined to bounce back from their opening league defeat to defending champions Wexford.
That added spark plus the fact that Clare were without captain Siobhan Lafferty and pivotal player Deirdre Murphy handed the advantage to the home side who were first on the scoreboard with a point from play from Noreen Coen inside the first minute of play.
Clare levelled matters two minutes later with a Claire McMahon free before Chloe Morey pushed Clare to the front with another pointed free soon afterwards. However, this was to be the only time time Clare would take the lead in this game as Galway were back in front with two frees from Aislinn Connolly by the tenth minute before Fiona Lafferty levelled matters again with a point from play.
Galway tried to capitalise on a 20 metre free with Connolly driving her shot straight to the goal line, but Clare’s netminder Susan Vaughan blocked the shot and Connolly converted the resulting ‘45. Claire McMahon again levelled matters for the Banner before Galway had three points in a row, Veronica Curtin (2) and Orla Kilkenny both on target from play. McMahon narrowed the deficit to one point with two more pointed frees to leave the score at half time Galway 0-7, Clare 0-6.
While Clare were first on the scoreboard in the second half, Galway’s determination to bag their first points in the league saw them step up the pace a level. Two more Galway frees, Rebecca Hennelly and Connolly, pushed Galway two points ahead again. Morey pointed for Clare from a free in the 40th minute and this was to be Clare’s last score of the game.
Instead, Galway went on to score eight more points without answer from Clare. In an attempt to stem the Galwegian onslaught, Clare management moved Susan Vaughan from her usual position between the posts to the forward line, replacing her with Ailish Considine in goals. This move could have seen Clare raise a green flag, only for Vaughan’s shot to go just wide of the mark, leaving the final score Galway 0-17, Clare 0-8.
Galway’s ability to contend better with the strong breeze blowing across the field stood to them as did their unerring accuracy from placed balls. Clare now travel to Wexford on Saturday, March 12, a win there is essential and depending on the result of Galway v Offaly game will decide if they can still progress to a play off in the League. Wexford comfortably beat Offaly on a scoreline of 2-10 to 10 points.
Galway
Susan Earner, Regina Glynn, Sarah Dervan, Sinead Cahalan, Niamh Kilkenny (0-1), Sinead Keane, Lorraine Ryan, Orla Kilkenny (0-2), Niamh McGrath (0-1), Rebecca Hennelly (0-1f), Emma Kilkelly,Veronica Curtin (0-3), Noreen Coen, Fiona Keely,Aislinn Connolly (0-8 6f, 1’45
Subs
Shauna Healy for Keely, Jessica Gill for Kilkelly,Tara Rutledge for Curtin
Clare
SusanVaughan (Ogonnelloe), Kate Lynch (Kilkishen), Sinead Donovan (WolfeTones), Marion O’Brien (Ogonnelloe), Sinead O’Loughlin (Inagh), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Eimear Considine (Kilmaley), Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge) (0-2 1f), Ruth Kaiser (Newmarketon-Fergus), Laura Linnane (WolfeTones), Sharon McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Fiona Lafferty (Kilnamona) (0-1), Mairead Scanlon (Scariff), Naomi Carroll (Sixmilebridge) (0-1), Claire McMahon (Kilmaley) (0-4f)
Subs
Shonagh Enright (Kilmaley) for Scanlon (43 mins),Anne Marie McMahon (Crusheen) for Linnane (47 mins), Norah Murphy (Kilkishen) for S. McMahon (47 min),Ashling Hannon (Clooney/ Quin) for E. Considine (52 mins),Ailish Considine (Kilmaley) for Carroll (56 min)
Referee
Mike O’Kelly (Cork)