All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship semi-final: Armagh 2-13 Clare 1-6
ARMAGH’S place in the All-Ireland Premier Junior camogie final was never in doubt after Eimear Smyth’s goal in the 40th minute. The Ballymacnab tucked the sliotar into the net to give the competition holders a 1-9 to 0-4 lead and Ciara Hill quickly added a point.
Although Sinéad Power did find a way to the Armagh net a couple of minutes later, Armagh still led at the second water-break by 1-11 to 1-4 and there was never going to be time for Clare to close that gap.
It was the Armagh defence that stood tall in this clash, particularly in the 10-minute period in the middle of the first half when Clare threw everything at them. Ciarraí Devlin had to be smart to pull off a couple of saves while Grainne McWilliams and Gemma McCann also came to the rescue with hooks and blocks.
After that sustained pressure the teams were still level at 0-3 each and Armagh enjoyed a period of ascendancy before the break in which they hit four unanswered points. Captain Ciara Donnelly hit three of those scores, a 45, followed by a free and then a point from play right on half-time to leave her side with a 0-7 to 0-3 advantage.
Two more Donnelly points led into Smyth’s goal and a clear gap on the scoreboard.
With 10 minutes to go, Bernie Murray got in a shot from the right wing. The Clare goalie Karen McMahon was unsighted and the sliotar ended in her net.
Donnelly then brought her tally to nine points as Mattie Lennon introduced his subs. Armagh were back into the final and on their way to Croke Park
Armagh: C Devlin; A Harvey, N Woods, S Curry; C Casey, G McWilliams, G McCann; M McArdle, L Donnelly; C Hill (0-2), C McSorley, B Murray (1-1); N Forker, C Donnelly (0-9, 0-6 frees), E Smyth 1-1
Subs: C Doyle for C McSorley (54), O Curry for B Murray (60)
Clare: K McMahon; R Crowe, K O’Flanagan, C McMahon; A Griffin, S Ní Cheallaigh, E Kennedy; N Mulqueen, C Kelly; C Carmody (0-4, 0-2 frees), A Malone, S Power (1-0); K O’Gorman, S O’Keefe, F O’Brien (0-2, 0-1 free)
Sub: K Clancy for N Mulqueen (52).
Referee: A Doheny (Laois)
