Clare 2-15 Tipperary 0-9

Clare 2-15 Tipperary 0-9

A powerful second half performance by Clare in which they outscored their Munster rivals by 1-8 to 0-2 was the key to this impressive victory over Tipperary for the second time in this years championship at Claughan, Limerick on Sunday evening. 

It was the premier side who started the better. Edel Hanley an All Star winner two years ago pointed them ahead within a minute from a free. Gillian O’Brien from play and Hanley again from a free saw them lead by three with just over five minutes played. In the seventh minor player Niamh O’Dea who went on to have an outstanding game got Clare off the mark with a point from play having earlier missed a free. Tipperary who had a very good opening quarter in which their forwards were completely on top added a point through full forward Patricia Hickey while Niamh O’Dea scored her second point this time from a free to see Tipperary lead by two with just under a quarter played.

 

Once more O’Dea who the previous day played a staring role with the Clare minor camogie team in their drawn All Ireland final against Galway had her and Clares third point (from play) and soon after Tipperary were unfortunate when attacking wing back Jennifer Grant saw her attempt at goal come back off the crossbar. Liscannors Marie Considine who lined out at midfield levelled the game at four each with a long range point and Eimear O’Connor one of Clares prominent players on the evening put her side ahead with the first of her three points all of which were from play. Jennifer Grant with another surging run pointed for Tipperary to level matters in the twentieth. Marie Considine who like O’Connor contributed three points had her second to put Clare back in the lead before a fine Clare move was finished to the net by Rachel Lenihan having received the assist from Eimear Considine with six minutes of playing time left in the opening half. The score board now showed Clare 1-6 Tipperary 0-5. Gillian O’Brien had two points before the break for the 08 All Ireland Intermediate champions while the final score of the half brought Niamh O’Dea’s tally to four and Clare retired with a 1-7 to 0-7 interval lead.

 

Having won the throw in O’Dea stretched Clares lead with a point inside thirty seconds. A Tipperary move ended with a fine save from Clare goalkeeper Emma O’Driscoll when she tipped Anne Marie O’Gormans shot over the bar. A point from the hard working Marie Considine and one from centre forward Niamh Keane put Clare 1-10 to 0-8 ahead before Jennifer Grant and Eimear Considine were sin binned with about eleven minutes played. With Louise Henchy, Fiona Lafferty and Eimear O’Connor particulary impressive and much better second half performances from team captain Sinead Eustace, Lorraine Kelly, Carmel Considine and Michelle Delaney, Clare put in a massive second half to put the Munster Final defeat to Cork well behind them in this the county’s first ever match in the qualifiers. Dual star Fiona Lafferty stretched Clare’s lead with a fine point in the twelvth. Soon after Tipperary lost the second member of their half back line for a yellow card offence when Jennifer Grant was sin binned. Clare finished the half very strong. Eimear Considine had only just returned to the field of play when she had her sides second goal to put Clare 2-12 to 0-8 ahead and there was really no way back for Tipperary who just added one further point. Clare used the last seven minutes to give four subs a run with Sarah Hoey, Aine Kelly, Ailish Considine and Katie Geoghegan all being introduced. Clare also missed a few scoring opportunities but will take heart from a fine overall team performance. Clare finished off with points from Eimear O’Connor (two) and Niamh Keane while midfielder Mairead Morrissey who scored her sides final point was the third Tipperary player to be sin binned with time almost up.

 

So, Tipperarys season is over and Clare advance to the quarter final next Saturday and a meeting with last years finalists Dublin. The draws were made at Claughan on Sunday evening. Earlier that day Kerry defeated Armagh while on Saturday Laois beat Kildare and Sligo lost to Tyrone.

 

The Quarter Final draws are Cork v Tyrone, Clare v Dublin, Galway v Kerry and Monaghan v Laois.

 

Clare

Emma O’Driscoll (Banner Ladies), Sinead Eustace (Coolmeen) capt., Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Carmel Considine (Liscannor), Michelle Delaney (Banner Ladies), Sinead Kelly (West Clare Gaels), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies), Marie Considine (Liscannor) 0-3, Louise Henchy (Banner Ladies), Fiona Lafferty (Miltown – St. Josephs) 0-1, Niamh Keane (Banner Ladies) 0-2, Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen) 0-3, Eimear Considine (Kilmihil), 1-0, Rachel Lenihan (Crusheen) 1-0, Niamh O’Dea (Banner Ladies) 0-6, 0-3f. Subs; Sarah Hoey (Banner Ladies) for C. Considine, Aine Kelly (Fergus Rovers) for R. Lenihan, Ailish Considine (Kilmihil) for E. Considine, Katie Geoghegan (West Clare Gaels) for N. O’Dea.

 

Tipperary

Nora Noonan (Brian Borus), Aoife O Dwyer (Brian Borus), Maeve Corcoran (Moycarkey Borris), Barbara Ryan (Moyle Rovers), Jennifer Grant (Brian Borus) 0-1, Samantha Lambert (Ardfinnan), Siobhan Costello (Cappawhite), Kelly Hackett (Moycarkey Borris), Mairead Morrissey (Brian Borus) capt., 0-1, Gillian O’Brien (Moyle Rovers) 0-3, Mairead Luttrell (Mullinahone), Sile Carew (Cappawhite), Catherina Walsh (Moycarkey Borris), Patricia Hickey (Brian Borus) 0-1, Edel Hanley (Aherlow) 0-2f. Subs used, Anne Marie O’Gorman (Cahir) 0-1, Angie McDermott, Teresa McManus, Nancy Ferris and Eimear Myles.

 

Referee: Joe Murray (Dublin)

 

Mary Keane
Clare Ladies Football Adult PRO