Clare off to winning start but Foudy wants more
Clare's Lorna McNamara scored 2-7 against Dublin. Pic: ©INPHO/Jim Coughlan
Clare manager Eugene Foudy was disappointed his charges didn’t push on from a commanding position, but was overall content with a 2-16 to 3-10 win over Dublin in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg on Saturday in their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Group 2 opener.
In a peculiar game, Dublin led by 0-3 to 0-1 after a quiet first quarter and also added two late goals, but in between Clare were comfortably superior.
“We got the three points on the board, which was the main thing,” Foudy said, before acknowledging that his own desire to bring fresh players into the action may not have worked out in this instance.
“We played well but bringing in five subs late in the game upset our rhythm a little bit, they pushed away from using the sweeper and pushed up, and we were a bit naive on one or two of the plays.
“Winning the first game out at home is very important. It would have been shocking if we had come in without that after leading by ten points, but we didn't pay the price and still got the points on the board.
“From the 20th minute on in the first half and the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half, we were super. We got some great scores, there was some fantastic off the shoulder running, the goals were superb. Lorna (McNamara, who scored 2-7) got some wonderful points but the quality of the ball going into her made it easy for her.”
Clare travel to Wexford next week, hoping to continue their rich vein of form.
Kilkenny had it much easier in their battle with Limerick, running out 3-19 to 1-11 winners at a sun-kissed UPMC Nowlan Park.
Sarah O’Brien’s goal in the first minute gave Limerick a dream start and that was followed up by Orlaith Kelleher’s point, but the Cats had 2-7 on the board before Limerick raised a third flag, and it was that response that delighted team mentor, Michael Walsh.
“We got off to a terrible start, conceding 1-1 in the first couple of minutes, but it was a great response from the girls, they went to town in that 20 minute spell,” said Walsh.
“I was at a match the other night where a team was 12 points up and got reeled in so you have to be careful, but in reality the goal at the start of the second half was a killer blow to Limerick and the rest of the game petered out from there.”
With one of the youngest panels in the championship, Kilkenny are disproportionately affected by exam season, but the flip side of the coin is that strong performances from their minor, U-16 and U-23 teams have helped boost the mood in their camp even further.
“There's lots going on. Rachel Phelan played in every league match but her Leaving Cert is coming up now. It goes to show that the attitude that girl has, herself and Grace Brennan the same.
“Things like (the underage success) have to have a positive effect, they all know each other so well and they all go to each other's matches, so something like that has a huge impact across the board,” he added.
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