Clooney/Quin’s camogie team gained a small measure of revenge over Sixmilebridge on the opening day of the senior championship.
A 1-13 to 0-13 victory yesterday evening overturned Senior B final defeats in 2016 and 2017.
Former Clare star Deirdre Murphy’s 36th minute goal proved the crucial score in Fr. McNamara Park.
Captain Marie Halpin says they’ve turned things around in the last few weeks.
Elsewhere, Scariff/Ogonnelloe provided the championship’s first suprise when they beat last year’s runners-up Newmarket-on-Fergus by 2-14 to 1-6.
And newly promoted Kilkishen/Bodyke celebrated their return to the top flight with a 1-15 to 1-10 win over Kilmaley.
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Clare Senior Camogie Championship – Monday, 12th August 2019
Clooney/Quin 1-13 Sixmilebridge 0-13
Clooney/Quin began their 2019 campaign in Fr. McNamara Park with a three-point win over Sixmilebridge.
It was a small measure of revenge for Senior B Final defeats in 2016 and 2017 and sets them up for a top-of-the-table clash with Scariff/Ogonnelloe at the end of the month.
The victors took an early 0-2 to 0-0 lead through two Deirdre Murphy frees but Sixmilebridge replied through Chloe Morey and Finia O’Brien.
O’Brien added another but Sixmilebridge struggled to threaten in attack and found themselves 0-7 to 0-5 behind at half-time.
Murphy added three more including one from play and got a fourth thanks to Marie Halpin’s assist either side of two Morey frees. Mairead Ryan gave Mike Murphy’s team thier two-point advantage.
Murphy and Morey traded placed balls after the restart before Clooney/Quin got the crucial score. Mairead Kelly and Murphy were involved before Emma Considine forced a save from Sarah Loughnane. Murphy took the rebound and slotted to the net.
Orlaith Dugan made it 1-9 to 0-6 on 39 minutes before Sixmilebridge started making inroads into the deficit through Morey (2) and O’Brien.
The freetakers continued their personal duel with Murphy and Morey sharing four between them but Sixmilebridge could never get closer than three points.
Substitute Naomi Carroll and O’Brien responded to efforts from Duggan and Halpin. Sixmilebridge must beat last year’s runners-up Newmarket-on-Fergus to stay in the championship.
Scorers – Clooney/Quin: Deirdre Murphy 1-9 (seven frees), Orlaith Duggan 0-2, Mairead Ryan 0-1, Marie Halpin 0-1.
Scorers – Sixmilebridge: Chloe Morey 0-8 (all frees), Finia O’Brien 0-4, Naomi Carroll 0-1.
Clooney/Quin: Marie Keating; Nicole O’Riordan, Mairead Kelly, Cliodhna Ryan; Ciara Halpin, Ciara Grogan, Sinead McGee; Aoibheann Duggan, Orlaith Duggan; Mairead Ryan, Deirdre Murphy, Marie Halpin; Emma Considine, Emma Deegan, Moya Dunne.
Sixmilebridge: Sarah Loughnane; Mary O’Connor, Kiah Mellett, Aoife Hurley; Chloe Morey, Rachel Kelly, Emma Kennedy; Olivia Phelan, Hannah Wilson; Rachael O’Halloran, Ruth O’Neill, Niamh Corry; Niamh Lyons, Aiveen O’Shea, Finia O’Brien.
