Limerick 2-01 v 2-06 Clare
The home side hit the ground running and before Clare knew that the ball had been thrown in Limerick had 2-01 on the board. Naomi Carroll was on target with two blistering shots that gave Susan Vaughan in the Clare goal no chance. These were struck in the 2nd and 4th minute and Kerri Brosnan followed up with a point a minute later. Clare were now seven points behind the home side and things looked gloomy.
Full credit though to the Clare contingent they never panicked and were set on their way when Carina Roseingrave collected a puck out on the 45 metre line and made a cutting dash for the Limerick goal. Shifting three challanges on the way and loosing the hurl, Roseingrave palmed the ball to the back of the net and the Clare comeback was on the cards.
Clare continued to work hard and they closed down every Limerick attack as they continued to put pressure on the Limerick forwards. Shona Enright scored two fine points from play to bring Clare ever closer. The Banner girls began to grow in confidence and continued to put the Limerick back line under pressure. This pressure paid off when Limerick conceded a æ45 which Enright cooly slotted over. This had the Limerick lead back to just the minimum and this was the way things stood at the break, Limerick 2-01 v 1-03 Clare.
Clare were dominant again in the second half. A strong performance saw the Clare girls hold Limerick scoreless in this period, even under pressure they never gave way to Limerick who were left wondering what they had to do to break the Clare rear guard. Carol Kaiser was operating out on the 40 when she collected a ball and hand passed out to Enright who again was on target and had Clare level within four minutes of the restart. Carroll for Limerick saw a free sail just wide and this again was a boost to the Clare side. Roseingrave who was operating in a two player full forward line was causing trouble for the Limerick back line and she won many frees. Enright was on target with two of these frees in the 11th and 13th minutes of the half which put Clare two points clear. Clare were now dominating in many places with Roisin McMahon and Roisin O’Brien doing well about the middle of the field. Aoife Griffin, Kate Lynch and Chloe Morey looked comfortable in the back line. Carroll struck a close free for Limerick and Susan Vaughan held her cool to block this out and AnneMarie McMahon who was solid as ever at full back relieved the Clare line. Clare continued to put the pressure on the Limerick backs and in a goal mouth scramble Enright and Rosiengrave held the ball from being cleared and credit was given to Enright for Clare’s second goal.
This was a determined Clare performance. They never gave up even after conceding a seven point lead. This comeback showed great character and will from the Clare girls. They were deserving winners in the end and Limerick never really looked like troubling them once Clare got a hold of the game.
This performance now puts Clare into a Munster final against Cork which will take place next weekend.
Teams/Scorers:
Clare: Susan Vaughan, Aoife Griffin, AnneMarie McMahon, Michelle Caulfield, Kate Lynch, Sarah Reidy, Chloe Morey, Roisin McMahon, Eimear Considine, Aine O’Brien, Shona Enright(1-06, 1’45, 2 fr), Roisin O’Brien, Carina Roseingrave(1-00), Carol Kaiser, Aiveen O’Shea
Subs: Carol O’Leary for Caulfield 47min, Niamh Corry for O’Brien inj 54min, Mary Clune for Considine 55min.
Limerick: Ashling Enright, Sarah Carey, Ashling McAuliffe, Rachel Carmody, Aideen McNamara, Judith Mulcahy, Siobhan Enright, Joanne O’Gorman, Katie Cambell, Niamh Mulcahy, Kerrie Brosnan(0-01), Mairead Fitzgerald, Ashling Russell, Annette McAuliffe, Naomi Carroll(2-00)
Sub: Claire Casey for Russell 51min
Ref: Killian Looney, Cork
Orla Considine, Munster PRO.
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