Cork U23 camogie side advance to Munster semi-final

Cork 0-11  Clare 0-9

Cork got the better of Clare in their Munster U23 Camogie championship quarter-final clash at Castle Road on Sunday.

Conditions were no better at Castle Road than anywhere else, as the two sides had to battle them as much as each other.

Cork played with the strong wind in the first half and went in four points to the good. Then it was a case of seeing would it be enough to keep Clare at bay?

Far from an easy task, but full credit must go to Cork for the way they battled after the break to ensure they advanced to the semi-final against Limerick next weekend.

Cork’s half-back line of Liz O’Donovan, Laura Dunlea, and Avril Cashman played a key role in that half, along with others like Ciara Golden, Orlaith Cremin, Ava McAuliffe, and Sinead Hurley.

But overall, this was an impressive team display and one that manager Jerry Wallace was delighted with.

Rose Murphy opened the scoring for Cork, with Aoife Byrne O’Riordan adding a second from a free, before Meave Millea got Clare’s first point.

Ciara Morrison increased Cork’s lead as both sides were trying to get used to the driving wind and rain.

Another free from Byrne O’Riordan made it 0-5 to 0-2 in Cork’s favour after 17 minutes.

Millea pointed again for her side, with McAuliffe replying for Cork.

Jennifer Daly got Clare’s fourth point, with Cremin and McAuliffe replying as Cork led by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time.

Despite playing against the strong wind, Cork managed to start the second half the better of the two sides, with McAuliffe on target again from a free.

Another point from Cremin made it 0-10 to 0-4 with 37 minutes gone.

Credit to Clare, they didn’t panic, and using the wind to their advantage, they started to reduce the deficit.

Aisling Cooney pointed from a free, and she added a second, from another free, to make it 0-10 to 0-6 after 45 minutes.

Cooney hit her third without reply, from another free, to put only three between the sides.

Tara Moroney made it a two-point game before Daly got her second to put only one between the sides.

However, Cork were making it difficult for Clare to create chances, and a late point from McAuliffe rounded off the scoring to secure the win for her side.

Scorers for Cork: A McAuliffe 0-5 (0-4 f), A Byrne O’Riordan (f), O Cremin 0-2 each, R Murphy, C Morrison 0-1 each.

Clare: A Cooney 0-4 f, M Millea, J Daly 0-2 each, T Moroney 0-1.

CORK: C Hurley (St Finbarr’s); M De Burca (Carrigtwohill), S Hurley (Sarsfields), A O’Riordan (Ballinora); L O’Donovan (St Finbarr’s), L Dunlea (Sarsfields), A Cashman (Youghal); C Golden (St Finbarr’s), A McCarthy (Clonakilty); O Cremin (Éire Óg), R Murphy (Ballinora), E Duignan (Mallow); A McAuliffe (Castlemartyr), A Byrne O’Riordan (St Finbarr’s), C Morrison (Castlelyons).

Subs: C Murphy (Kinsale) for A Byrne O’Riordan (28), A Kearney (Blackrock) for C Hurley (ht).

CLARE: S Cullen; C Queally, C Lally, C Ryan; G McMahon, A Walsh, J Hogan; E O’Driscoll, D Beston; C Cahill, E Casey, J Daly; A McNamara, A Cooney, M Millea.

Subs: A Marren for J Hogan (35), T Moroney for E O’Driscoll (38).

Referee: Niamh Murphy, Waterford.