U14B Championship
Sixmilebridge 6-5 v 4-00 Clooney Quin
Clooney travelled for their second game in the championship on Wednesday night 6th April. With conditions wet and windy it was a difficult evening for camogie. It took the Clooney girls a while to settle into the game and Sixmilebridge were first on the score board they pointed from play and then converted a free, quickly followed by a goal with cut open the Clooney defence. This was the wake up call for the Clooney girls. Clooney got strong in the tackle and with Molly Slattery outstanding in the goal every attack after this was thwarted. Indeed Molly got her hurl to the ball that was heading to the top left hand corner and managed to bat it away, Keith Hogan watch out. This gave the out field girls the confidence to up their game. And with Clooney growing in the game they were getting attacks of their own and these were eventually made to pay off and Laura Halpin held up a Sixmilebridge clearance and scrambled the ball over the line. Clionadh Ryan also goaled for the visitors and now Sixmilebridge were getting nervous. Abi O’Sullivan and Emily Costello worked very hard in mid-field and Anna Doyle, Holly Deegan, Niamh McGee and Lauren Slattery were giving nothing in defence. Emma Considine stood over a 25m free and coolly banged in Clooney’s third goal. Emma had the last score of the half also as she turned her defender and headed straight for goal. With the half time whistle sounding Clooney were 4 goals to 1-2 in front, having dominated the second quarter of the game.
With the second half underway the elements were with Sixmilebridge and the physically stronger team were working hard to get themselves back into the game. Clooney worked hard to keep them at bay but the greater strength started to show towards the end of the third quarter as Sixmilebridge had a goal and point on the board while holding Clooney scoreless. This had the game level heading into the final quarter. While the Clooney girls worked hard to keep the pressure on Sixmilebridge and were unlucky in the few scoring chances that they had themselves. Sixmilebridge were too strong for Clooney though in the final quarter of the game, they were now in control in the middle of the field and this was setting up numerous attacks. Work hard as they did the back line was then penetrated a number of times and Sixmilebridge were deserving winners in the end. Clooney never gave up though and this fighting spirit and team work and the competitive nature of the girls will ensure that they will learn from this.
Clooney-Quin: Molly Slattery, Holly Deegan, Niamh McGee, Lauren Slattery, Anna Doyle, Caoimhe Leamy, Ciara O’Connor, Abi O’Sullivan, Emily Costello, Lucy Cassidy, Emma Considine(2gls), Rebeca Keane, Laura Halpin(1gl), Clionadh Ryan(1gl) Jenny O’Connor Subs: Lara Begg for J O’Connor, Juilette Cantwell for L Halpin
Ref: Jim Hickey
U14 B Clooney Quin 5-08 v 0-01 Newmarket-on-Fergus
In Clooney’s third game of the championship the girls returned to winning ways. This is marking a great improvement for the girls and the levels of skill, team work and work rate that they are displaying in each game as they progress is a huge factor in this.
There were some great individual battles in the game and all girls worked hard for each other. Clionadh Ryan opened the scoring for the game and with a cutting run through the Newmarket defence with no space left to strike the ball with quick thinking she kicked and the ball sailed over the bar. Rebeca Keane then had a brace of points as she was in control on the left hand side of attack. Clooney Quin were dominating in most positions on the field with the ball rarely getting past the half back line. Caoimhe leamy and Ciara O’Connor dominated this area and with the work rate of Abi O’Sullivan and Emily Costello sending Clooney on the attack there was little time for The Blues to settle or get time on the ball. Then there was great link up between Emily Costello, Emma Considine and finishing with Cliodhna Ryan who pointed again. This was the story of the game with the girls managing to pick each other out with great passing moves, added to some great catching the girls were growing in confidence all the time. Emma Considine then added two further points one from play and a converted free before Rebeca Keane had her third of the game. With Clooney Quin having dominated the play they went in at the break 7 points to nil to the good.
The second half saw the Clooney girls take up where they left off. With Clooney attacking great credit must be given to the Newmarket goalie who repelled many attacks. She was helped with the aid of her full back who worked hard in clearing the ball, indeed they were successful to this stage in keeping a clean goal sheet. This would come to an end though as relentless Clooney pressure with Laura Halpin working hard now on the edge of the square to hold up ball this eventually forced a 45. With Emma Considine striking the ball was helped to the net with a deflection from a Newmarket hurl. This gave Clooney the room they needed in holding of any attempt at a revival from Newmarket. With ball being played to the forwards from the hard working half back, mid field and half forward line Laura Halpin and Juilette Cantwell preventing any clearances. Indeed from one of these Laura Halpin and Emma Considine held up a clearance from the sharp Newmarket goalie and blocking the ball had piece of mind to kick the ball to the net. Clooney had a further goal when Emma Considine stood over a free from 21 yards out and blasted the ball through the crowed defence. Newmarket were working hard to try and get on the score board but the Clooney girls in Lucy Cassidy, Lara Begg, Anna Doyle with Niamh McGee were not for giving on the evening and with clearances being helped by the hard working Caoimhe Leamy who picked out Emily Costello who linked up with Rebeca Keane who when she shook of her marker was able to point. On the next occasion Rebecca sent in a long ball in to full forward Laura Halpin was again on hand to get her second goal of the game. Late in the game Newmarket did get an over lap on the Clooney girls and from a long range did manage a point on the score board before time ran out for them.
Clooney had fine performances on the evening with the girls growing in confidence and performing well in their games.
Clooney Quin: Molly Slattery, Lara Begg, Niamh McGee, Lucy Cassidy, Anna Doyle, Caoimhe Leamy, Ciara O’Connor, Abi O’Sullivan, Emily Costello, Laura Halpin(2 gls), Emma Considine(2-2; 1-1frs), Rebeca Keane(4pts), Jenny O’Connor, Cliodhna Ryan(2pts), Juilette Cantwell Sub Holly Deegan for J O’Connor
Newmarket Panel: Hannah Fitzgerald, Eva Frost Raftery, Lisa O’Niell, Kaci Toomey, Niamh Enright, Nora McInerney, Caoimhe Lally, Hayley Nesbitt, Amy Considine, Ella Fitzpatrick, Ellen Casey, Roisin O’Flanagan, Emma McInerney, Caroline Enright, Emma Freeman
Ref: Jim HIckey
Clooney Quin’s next U14 game will be at home to Eire Og on April 27th