Superb team performance sees Clare into All-Ireland final

Clare 3-12 Dublin 0-9

Clare have moved to within one win of a first ever All-Ireland minor A camogie championship title after this merited semi-final victory over Dublin at sun splashed St. Brendan’s Park in Birr this Saturday afternoon.

An all round better balanced and more skillful Clare side led from the outset and went to the break with an eight point advantage, 2-5 to 0-3.

There was some concern at this stage as the would have to face what was a strong breeze in the second half but a blistering start to the new half which saw them extend their advantage by four points sent them on their way to the final where they will play either Cork or Galway who play their semi-final tomorrow, Sunday.

Clare had a dream start with a goal in the first minute, Olivia Phelan turning a delivery from Evelyn Duggan to the net. Aoife Power an daine O’Loughlin had added points before Dublin opened their account with a pointed free in the tenth minute.

Indeed the Dublin girls were fortunate not to have been further behind at this stage as Aine O’Loughlin had an effort cleared off the goal line in the ninth minute.

The Truagh-Clonlara girls wasn’t to be denied in the thirteenth minute when she scored Clare’s second goal.

Dublin came back strongly in the final ten minutes of the half when they piled on the pressure but the Clare defence was magnificent and none more so that full back Alannah Ryan who was outstanding.

In the opening ten minutes of the second half Clare midfielder Laura Foley landed two great points before O’Loughlin blasted home her second and Clare’s third goal.

To their credit Dublin hit the next three points but they just could not break down an excellent Clare defence for the goal they so badly needed.

Against the wind in the second half Clare operated a sweeper system, Deploying Amy Barrett as an additional defender between the half and full back lines.

Alannah Ryan, as mentioned, excelled at full back but, all round, the defence was superb. Elsewhere Laura Foley and Aine O’Loughlin were prominent while substitutes Sinead Power and Sinead Conlon also did well.

Clare; Ciara McCarthy (Newmarket); Laoise Ryan (Inagh-Kilnamona_ Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen), Louise Egan (Truagh-Clonlara); Ciara Grogan (Clooney-Quin), Emma Kennedy (Sixmilebridge) Captain, Ciara Doyle (Scariff-Ogonnelloe); Amy Barrett (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Laura Foley (Truagh-Clonlara) 0-4; Laura McGrath (Feakle), Evelyn Duggan (Tulla) 0-1, Aoife Power (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) 0-2; Olivia Phelan (Sixmilebridge) 1-0, Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara) 2-3, Bridin Dinan (Tulla) 0-1;

Subs; Sinead Power (Inagh-Kilnamnna) for Dinan; Sinead Conlon (Tulla) 0-1 for Phelan; Hannah Dinan (Clarecastle) for Duggan; Roisin Power (Truagh-Clonlara) for McGrath

By Seamus Hayes