Clanmaurice claim historic first senior win after titanic battle with Newcastlewest
Clanmaurice’s Jackie Horgan celebrates. Pic: Ryan Byrne, Inpho
In only their second year as senior club Clanmaurice displayed their warrior like spirit to out-battle four-in-a-row Limerick champions Newcastlewest at Hermitage Park on Sunday.
They also did it with a bare bones panel of 16 players which didn't include injured Kerry Ladies All-Star Danielle O’Leary.
Newcastlewest, with former Limerick midfield pairing Deborah Murphy and Karen O'Leary and current Limerick joint captain Rebecca Delee in their ranks, fired over the opening score after Hazel Horgan gathered a good pass from her county minor team-mate Mia Smith.
Straight from the puckout Deborah Murphy finished a well-worked move with a point to put the visitors two ahead.
Clanmaurice’s full forward Jackie Horgan was her side's target up front, winning a free in the early stages and converting to open her side's account.
Newcastlewest settled the better and two Delee points and another from midfielder and captain Karen O’Leary pushed the visitors 0-5 to 0-1 in front.
But once Caoimhe Spillane got going at midfield, Clanmaurice started to find their range. Horgan converted another free. A great turnover by Amy O'Sullivan saw Horgan fire over a beauty from play soon after.
Delee had a good effort well gathered by Clanmaurice keeper Aoife Fitzgerald. In the following sequence of play Amy O'Sullivan found Horgan with a great pass and the forward did the rest, pointing well.
Diggin leveled the contest at 0-5 apiece, thanks to a brilliant free from well inside her own half. Just before the short whistle, Delee placed another one over from the dead ball which saw Newcastlewest retire 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.
Just minutes after the restart, Newcastlewest's Hazel Horgan was fouled as she bore down on goal. Referee Andy Larkin correctly pointed to the spot and Horgan drilled the sliotar low past Aoife Fitzgerald.
A quick-fire brace from Delee saw Newcastlewest move five points clear. This was a real test of Clanmaurice's character now. How would they respond?
Clanmaurice simply would not accept defeat. Horgan pointed from a free before turning and drilling the ball to the net three minutes later to level the game.
Clanmaurice now had the bit between their teeth. Amy O'Sullivan hit twp great scores to give the home side some breathing space. But Newcastlewest were not giving up and quality scores from Delee and an equalizer from outstanding captain Karen O’Leary forced extra time.
Two Delee points for the visitors was matched by points from Horgan and Diggin in the first half as the sides remained deadlocked.
Aoife Behan and Karen O’Leary exchanged early second half points. Clanmaurice had the wind in their sails now though, and closed out an historic win with final scores from Horgan (2f) and O'Sullivan.
Clanmaurice will now go forward to face Waterford champions Gaultier next Sunday in Waterford.
J Horgan (1-8, 5fs), A O’Sullivan (0-4), P Diggin (0-3fs), A Behan (0-1).
R Delee (0-8, 7fs), H Horgan (1-1, 1-0 pen), K O’Leary (0-3), D Murphy (0-1).
A Fitzgerald; R McCarthy, S Murphy, M Costello; N Leen, P Diggin, A Behan; C Spillane, K Lynch; E Ryall, L Collins, E Slattery; L Houlihan, J Horgan, A O'Sullivan.
C Evans for L Houlihan (55).
A Corbett; F Murphy, R Mann, Y Lee; E Woulfe, I O'Brien, L O'Brien; D Murphy , K O'Leary; Mia Smith, R Delee , Hazel Horgan; K Hurley, E Whelan, G Kelly.
S Tobin for K Hurley (54), A Collins for M Smith (58), G O'Gorman for Grace Kelly (70).
A Larkin (Cork).
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