Clare Ladies made the long journey to Mourneabbey in Cork on Friday evening last to take on the reigning All Ireland champions in the first round of the Munster championship.  

Cork, who have been noted for slow starts, came flying out of the traps and had the ideal start with 2.5 on the board within ten minutes of the throw in, the goals coming from Grace Kearney and local girl Ciara O’Sullivan.  Clare replied with some nice passages of play and Louise Henchy’s pointed free ensued.  However, Ciara O’Sullivan added another goal fifteen minutes into the half to technically shatter any hopes of a Clare comeback.  A further tally of seven points to Clare’s one, a pointed free from Aine Kelly, did little to help Clare’s cause.  

Clare’s second half performance was much better and they managed to put 1.3 on the score board, the goal coming from substitute Aine Burke and the points from Niamh Keane (2) and a free from Aine Kelly.  However, Cork were relentless and added four more goals in this half.  

This was a hard lesson for the Clare ladies team and they will now need to regroup and look ahead to the challenge of Kerry on home soil in two weeks time, the winner of this will be up against Cork in the Munster final.