Waterford Fall Just Short In Ennis

There was no joy for the Waterford Senior Camogie team on Saturday afternoon as they slipped to a second defeat in a row in this year’s All-Ireland Championship.

Played on a good sod and in blistering heat, Waterford made all the early running and retired at the break to the dressing rooms holding a 2-5 to 0-9 advantage showing on the score board.

However, travelling to Ennis on such a warm day was to take its toll in the second half as Clare and in particular Player of the Match Chloe Morey stepped up a gear or two and in the end ran out worthy winners.

While Clare were first to score through Chloe Morey, it was Waterford that made the perfect start as Beth Carton soon cancelled out the effort of the Sixmilebridge Club player with Waterford’s first score of the game.

And when Lorraine Bray followed up with a second point for the Déise Ladies and when Caitriona McGlone and Beth Carton with a clever piece of play found Kate McMahon who soloed through for the first goal of the game on eight minutes, things were looking good for the visitors.

However, Clare would not allow their visitors to build up much of a lead and they hit back with a brace of Chloe Morey frees to leave just two between the sides.

Beth Carton with a single free had her score cancelled out with a brace of scores from the brilliant Chloe Morey to leave the minimum between the sides.

If Chloe Morey was Clare’s stand out player on the day, the Déise ladies had a number of players to pick from as their best player on the day, including Beth Carton who while well marked on the day when chances did come her way she made no mistakes, Aoife Landers, Brianna O’Regan, Niamh Rockett, Shauna Kiernan and Lorraine Bray who all showed their class in the following minutes.

Beth Carton put over another point for the Déise County to extend their lead with a free before Kate McMahon pointed to leave three between the sides.

Six minutes from the break Niamh Rockett had an effort for a point but the talented Saint Anne’s Club player saw her shot dip under Ciara McCarthy’s crossbar for a second Waterford goal, which gave her side a six point lead, and it was beginning to look as if it was to be Waterford’s day.

But Clare would finish the half the stronger of the two sides. Andrea O’Keeffe pointed before Chloe Morey shot over a brace of scores after which Andrea O’Keeffe got her second of the game to leave just two between the sides at the break.

Clare started the second half as they ended the first with Chloe Morey putting over three points in a row to go one in front but a point from Beth Carton levelled matters on thirty eight minutes.

Chloe More and Aoife Keane tagged on points for the home side to go back in front by two which was followed by an Áine O’Loughlin goal on 46 minutes. The move started at the other end of the field when Beth Carton was dispossessed by Carol O’Leary and the ball was quickly worked up the field and O’Loughlin made no mistake to give her side a 1-15 to 2-7 lead.

Another brace of Chloe Morey scores followed for Clare putting the Banner Ladies seven points in front, but an Lorraine Bray point soon had Clare a little closer to the Déise’s tally on the score board.

Seconds later Beth Carton and Fiona Morrissey teed up Áine Lyng but the Gailltir Club player saw her shot parried by Ciara McCarthy and when the sliotar fell to second half substitute Becky Kavanagh made no mistake, leaving just three between the sides.

Niamh O’Dea tagged on a point for the hosts and when Aoife Keane blasted a second goal for the home side on fifty eight minutes it secured the win for Clare.

Waterford were somewhat unlucky not to have scored a fourth goal near the end as Carol O’Leary denied Niamh Rockett with a timely block who had to settle for a consolation point.

Clare however in the time that remained had time to latch on one further score, again from Chloe Morey who rounded off a good afternoons work for her side with her fifteenth score of the game.

Clare: Ciara McCarthy; Amy Barrett, Carol O’Leary, Maire McGrath; Laura McMahon, Claire Hehir, Róisín McMahon; Orlaith Duggan, Ciara Grogan; Orla Devitt, Aoife Keane, Andrea O’Keeffe; Chloe Morey, Niamh O’Dea, Aoibheann Duggan Subs: Áine O’Loughlin for Aoibheann Duggan, Emma O’Connell for Claire Hehir, Vera Loughnane for Orla Devitt.

Scorers: Chloe Morey 0-15 (8f, 1 ‘45), Aoife Keane 1-1, Áine O’Loughlin 1-0, Andrea O’Keeffe 0-2, Niamh O’Dea 0-1. 

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Aoife Landers, Fiona Morrissey, Claire Whyte; Marie Russell, Shauna Kiernan, Mairead Power; Iona Heffernan, Áine Lyng; Caithriona McGlone, Jenny McCarthy, Kate McMahon; Beth Carton, Niamh Rockett, Lorraine Bray Subs Becky Kavanagh (1-0) for Iona Heffernan, Valerie O’Brien for Áine Lyng, Niamh Ahearne for Caithriona McGlone, Annie Glavey for Mairead Power.

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-6 (3F), Kate McMahon 1-1, Niamh Rockett, Becky Kavanagh 1-0 each, Lorraine Bray 0-2.

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)