Manley buoyed by Treacy return as Cork and Tipp seal progress

Laura Treacy's return after a lengthy absence with a hamstring injury was the cherry on top of Cork's win over Clare.

Cork’s Hannah Looney and Clare’s Caoimhe Carmody in action during the Clare V Cork Senior Senior Camogie Championship match at Cusack park, Ennis on Saturday. Picture : Eamon Ward

All-Ireland champions Cork booked their qualification for the last six of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship after a third straight comfortable victory in Group 2, this time by 2-19 to 1-4 over Clare at Cusack Park.

Amy O’Connor hit 1-5 and Orlaith Cahalane 1-4 as the Leesiders cantered through. For manager Ger Manley, it was a case of job done for the table toppers. Getting Laura Treacy on after a lengthy absence with a hamstring injury, was the cherry on top.

“It was about qualifying,” said Manley. “Once we won today we were qualified for the quarter-final stage with three matches won and that was the target. We started very well I thought. We lost the toss and played with the wind.

“The one thing we will have to improve against the better teams is to take our chances. We created a lot of goal chances and just didn’t take them. Clare worked hard all through the game but we were well on top and the second half was a non-event really.

“We’ve a super half-back line and Laura Treacy came back, is a huge plus. But Aoife Healy, Izzy (O’Regan) and Laura Hayes have been playing outstanding for us and it’s making competition for places. Pam (Mackey) was sick, Gráinne Cahalane came in and did okay.

“We need to get a bit of game time into Laura. You can’t get challenge matches from now on. We’re playing games amongst ourselves but you can’t beat a bit of time on the field so 20 minutes will help her.

“She’s a phenomenal player, one of the best players for the last ten years in camogie. It’s a huge plus to have her back.” 

Cork’s clash with Galway will determine who goes directly to the semi-finals as group winners, and the League finalists had an even easier win over relegation-threatened Down at Pearse Stadium, 6-27 to 0-4. Niamh Niland (two), Sabina Rabbitte (two), Ailish O’Reilly and Orlaith McGrath were the goal scorers for Cathal Murray’s squad.

Dublni are also on on the brink of a spot in the last six after defeating Wexford by 4-13 to 1-10 at Parnell Park. With Claire Gannon excelling, skipper and former All-Star full-forward Aisling Maher continuing to flourish in her new quarter-back role, and goals from Elyse Jamieson, Emma Flanagan, Grace O’Shea and Aisling Gannon, the hosts prevailed in a key tie in terms of progression. 

In Group 1, League champions, Tipperary have also booked a return to the last six at least when maintaining their flawless record with a 1-17 to 0-6 defeat of Antrim at The Ragg.

Nine points from Cáit Devane in her first start of the year and a goal four from Grace O’Brien were the highlights for Denis Kelly’s charges and O’Brien made no bones about the desire to earn the automatic semi-final spot as group winners.

“We want to go out and win every game and if you come top of the group, you avoid a quarter-final. Last year, the quarter-finals took a lot out of us. And you’re looking at getting a really good quality team in one of those quarter-finals and then having to go play a semi.

“So please God we’ll go to Limerick and get a win and then hopefully against Kilkenny. It would be a big boost to ourselves to get that time off between the group stages and a semi-final so we’ll be going hell for leather for that.” 

Kilkenny remain unbeaten as a result of their 1-13 to 1-13 draw with last year’s All-Ireland finalists Waterford. Beth Carton shot nine points for the Déise girls while Mairéad O’Brien grabbed the equaliser, having grabbed her fifth goal in three outings just before half-time.

Aoife Doyle goaled for Kilkenny, while Katie Nolan and Miriam Walsh were constant threats and Sarah Barcoe and Sophie O’Dwyer came up with some big scores late on for the Noresiders.

Derry still have a chance of qualifying but it was securing senior status that would have been uppermost in their minds of this season’s newcomers and they did that by virtue of a strong closing period in which they outscored Limerick by 0-8 to 0-0 to win by 0-19 to 0-13 at Owenbeg.

Áine Barton and Aoife Shaw shared ten points between them, while Caoimhe Costelloe had six points for the visitors, who are now in relegation trouble along with Antrim.