National League Division 2 – Convincing win for Clare

Clare earned their second points in the National League with a comprehensive win over Cork in Tulla on Saturday afternoon. That win puts Clare top of the table and with 1 game left they will travel to Waterford in what will decide who will take the group 1 place in the Final.
There was a strong wind present swirling around the field favouring Cork for the most part in the first half. The visitors opened the scoring with Michelle Browne pointing a free within the first minute. Aine O’Brien was quick with the reply and had the sides level again on 90 seconds.
Clare were more in command and were putting the cork back line under pressure. Aiveen O’Shea had two shots deflected for 45’s and Deirdre Murphy stepped up to slot these over. The sides were level again on 17 minutes as Michelle Browne pointed two frees. Laura Linnane gave Clare the lead a minute later and Clare never relinquished this. Aiveen O’Shea, who was playing very well in the corner had a shot again saved on the line by Cork goalie Denise Leahy. Deirdre Murphy again was on target with the resulting 45′. O’Shea eventually got on the scoreboard with a point on 25 minutes. Claire Commane had the half’s last score, leaving the half time score Clare 0-07 v 0-03 to Cork.
Clare with the aid of the breeze opened brightly in the second half and Fiona Lafferty, back operating at full-forward, had 1-01 on the board within 5 minutes. Claire Commane added a free and Laura Linnane a point before Deirdre Murphy had her first from play. Deirdre converted a 45′ on 51 minutes and Stephanie Moloney on 53 minutes. Laura Linnane had a free on 55 minutes and this all but sealed up the victory for Clare.
Cork hadn’t given up the chase though and tried hard to breech the Clare defence in the remaining minutes. Denise Lynch was called on to make a double save before a Cork 45′ was awarded. The 45′ fell short and in the scramble Michelle Browne pulled the ball over the bar. Laura Linnane was fast with the reply to give Clare the final score of the game.
This was a strong determined Clare performance and even with the difference in score Cork never gave up. Clare suffered a number of injuries in the game

Clare: Denise Lynch, Jane Scanlon, Siobhan Lafferty, Aimee McInerney, Kate Lynch, Dee Corcoran, Orla Slattery, Deirdre Murphy(C)(0-05, 3-45′, 1-fr), Aoife Ryan, Carina Roseingrave, Laura Linnane(0-04, 1-fr), Aine O’Brien(0-01), Claire Commane(0-02), Fiona Lafferty(1-01), Aiveen O’Shea(0-01) Subs: Shona Enright for Ryan(41min), Stephanie Moloney(0-01) for Lafferty(43min), Amy Colleran for Aimee McInerney(inj)(47min), Aoife Griffin for Aine O’Brien(51min), Sharon O’Loughlin for Claire Commane(51min)
Cork: Denise Leahy, Emma Dunne, Noreen Mulcahy, Aine Moynihan, Leah Weste, Siobhan Gleeson, Christine O’Neill, Jennifer Browne, Susan Buckley, Rachel Myers, Michelle Browne(0-04, 3-fr), Julia White, Charlotte Kearney, Marie Watson, Denise Luby Subs: Lydia Cunningham for Dunne(30min), Suzanne Lynch for Jennifer Browne(38min), Trishia Murphy for O’Neill(inj)(47min), Roisin de Faoite for Luby(53min)

Ref: Morgan Conroy, Waterford

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