2024 Munster Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final – Cork 1-17 Clare 1-8

Cork defeated Clare by 1-17 to 1-8 in the Munster Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final on Sunday April 28th at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

McCarthy and O’Connor lead the way for Cork in Munster senior camogie championship win over Clare

Cork 1-17 Clare 1-8

Report by Rory Noonan for the Echo newspaper

CORK are through to the Munster senior camogie final after their win over Clare at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday lunchtime.

Last year they got caught at this stage by Waterford but this time they made no mistake

The Rebels never looked like losing with Saoirse McCarthy leading their attack and Aoife Healy and Libby Coppinger rock solid in defence.

It was a much-improved performance from Clare since their league meeting but they still never really troubled Cork who were in control all around the pitch.

A free from Amy O’Connor put Cork in front but from the restart Clare took the lead.

A long ball in from Zi Yan Spillane deceived Amy Lee in the Cork goal as she found the back of the net, to make it 1-0 to 0-1.

But the response from Cork was instantaneous as Saoirse McCarthy picked up the ball from the puc out, took on the Clare defence, and buried it in the back of the net.

Sorcha McCartan increased Cork’s lead and a point from McCarthy after 11 minutes, made it 1-3 to 1-0 in the Rebels favour.

A free from Aine O’Loughlin saw Clare raise their first white flag and she was on target from another placed ball to put one between the sides after 17 minutes, 1-3 to 1-2.

McCartan got her second before Cork were denied a second goal.

A free from O’Connor came back off the post and Clare Mullins looked like scoring. But her effort was stopped on the line by Rachael Daley for what looked like a certain goal.

Two frees from O’Connor increased Cork’s lead as they were 1-6 to 1-2 up after 25 minutes.

Ashling Thompson and O’Connor increased Cork’s lead, with Orlaith Cahalane getting in on the scoring act to make it 1-9 to 1-2 after 29 minutes.

McCarthy pointed with Caoimhe Cahill replying as the Rebels were in control by half time as they led by 1-10 to 1-3.

Early points from Spillane and O’Loughlin reduced the deficit as Clare were now playing with the slight wind.

O’Connor got Cork off the mark in the second half, with Laura Hayes also on target, to make it 1-12 to 1-5.

A brilliant save from Daley denied McCarthy a goal after 38 minutes to keep her side in contention.

McCartan increased Cork’s lead with O’Loughlin replying for Clare, to make it 1-14 to 1-6 after 47 minutes.

Clodagh Finn scored for Cork, with O’Loughlin on target from another free for Clare as the Rebels led by 1-15 to 1-8 with two minutes left.

Finn rounded off the scoring for Cork as they ran out deserving winners and move on to the final.

The Rebels will now wait to see their opponents in the final with the other semi-final taking place next weekend.

Scorers for Cork: S McCarthy 1-3, A O’Connor 0-5 (4f), C Finn, S McCartan (1f) 0-3 each, A Thompson, O Cahalane, L Hayes 0-1 each.

Clare: Zi Yan Spillane 1-0, A O’Loughlin 0-6 (6f), C Cahill 0-2.

CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, L Coppinger, M Cahalane; I O’Regan, A Healy, A Thompson; H Looney, L Hayes; H Ryan, S McCarthy, S McCartan; A O’Connor, O Cahalane, C Mullins.
Subs: N O’Callaghan for I O’Regan (42), M Condon for H Looney (45), C Finn for C Mullins, P Mackey for L Coppinger (both 50),

CLARE: R Daley; S Daly, A Walsh, M Scanlon; N Mulqueen, C Grogan, C Queally; G Carmody, C Carmody; A Anderson, A O’Loughlin, L O’Donnell; Zi Yan Spillane, J Daly, C Cahill.
Subs: R Begley for J Daly (ht), E Casey for C Queally, L Daly for L O’Donnell (both 42), L Foley for G Carmody (46), H M Neylon for A Anderson (52).

Referee: Joe Leahy, Tipperary.