Clare 2-14 Meath 1-09

Camogie League Round 2 @Kilcloon (Source: Meath Chronicle)

The going was tough in Kilcloon yesterday where Meath played their first home game in the National Camogie League Div 1 and lost out eight points in difficult conditions against Clare.

Clarer emerged with a deserved 2-14 to 1-9 victory agianst a hard-working Meath team that finished with 14 players after goalkeeper Emily Mangan was red-carded with about 10 minutes remaining.

The game was originally scheduled for Trim, but that venue was ruled out after storm damage last Wednesday night and beleaguered Meath Camogie Board tried 35 different venues up to Friday night to stage the game without success.

Facing the prospects of having to concede home advantage and take the long trip to Clare, the Kilcloon pitch was made available by the Blackhall Gaels club.

However, the venue was pelted with torrential rain about an houe before thes echduled throw-in time and it was only due to the diligence of the groundsmen at the venue who worked hard to make the pitch passable that the game went ahead.

Wind-assisted Meath were ahead by 1-7 to 1-2 at the interval, but a five-point lead was never going to be enough and Clare gradually whittled down the lead and were on on terms (1-8 apiece) by the end of the third-quarter.

Niamh O'Dea then got in for a Clare goal and she was injured in the process for which Emily Mangan collected a red card.

Once in front, Clare eased clear with Chloe Morey scoring 1-12 of the overall total.

In the other game in Clares group, Galway went home from Birr with a 1-11 to 1-4 win. Much of the action came in the first quarter with Galway getting the scoring under way thanks to Catherine Finnerty, who was making her first start since the 2015 All-Ireland final, and Niamh Kilkenny. Like Meath, Galway were also ahead by 1-7 to 1-2 at the interval.

And like Meath, Offaly also finished with 14 players when Patrice Delaney departed for a second yellow-card offence at the three-quarter mark.

GROUP 2 FOCUS

RESULTS

First round - Galway 1-22, Clare 0-7; Limerick 0-18, Meath 0-7.

Second round - Meath 1-9, Clare 2-14; Offaly 1-4, Galway 1-11.

FIXTURES

Sunday 12th March - Galway v Meath; Limerick v Offaly.

Sunday 19th March - Meath v Offaly; Clare v Limerick.

Sunday 26th March - Limerick v Galway; Offaly v Clare.