Clare super-sub Catriona O'Loughlin dashed Galway's hopes of junior glory, scoring 2-2 after her introduction as the Tribeswomen went down to a more experience Clare side in the All-Ireland junior semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday last.

Two years ago, Galway defeated Clare in the All-Ireland final and many of that Galway junior team of 2003 went on to capture an All-Ireland Intermediate title last year with some of them having progressed to senior status.

However, while Clare have much the same team, Galway have been on a rebuilding process and the Galway side in action on Sunday were very young, backboned by players who have just been out of minor grade.

The difference between the sides was evident from the early stages. Galway were slow to settle with Clare McMahon getting the Banner girls off to a rip roaring start, outscoring the Tribeswomen three points to Phyllis Hayes one in the opening eight minutes .

Catriona Cormican and Yvonne Donnelly did level it for Galway four minutes later but it was the only time that the Tribesgirls had brought the game to parity as Clare went on to dominate proceedings.

A succession of points from Deirdre Murphy and McMahon pushed Clare in front as Galway went sixteen minutes without scoring. Galway replied with points from Sara Dervan and Molly Dunne which left Larry Burns's side just a point in arrears.

Within a minute of the end of normal time though, Clare hammered home a goal through ace McMahon to leave the half-time score Clare 1-6, Galway 0-5.

While Galway came back to within a point of Clare again when Molly Dunne hit over a brace of points, the introduction of Catriona O'Loughlin for Clare was to make a huge difference to the game. O'Loughlin had been out of competitive action with a hamstring injury and her presence was to end Galway's hopes rapidly.

Almost immediately after her introduction O'Loughlin pointed and Clare McMahon added another. After Lorraine Linnane delivered a quality ball into the path of O'Loughlin, the substitute crashed the sliotar to the Galway net. One minute later, Clare McMahon added her second goal. Game over.

Although the Galway challenge was at an end, they still battled bravely. Dunne was denied twice when going for goal, but the Eyrecourt player got her reward when she drilled a twenty metre free to the net. Lynda Gohery pointed for Galway shortly afterwards but Clare struck back when a delightful deft flick from Lorraine Linnane found McMahon who pointed with the score of the day.

Linnane pointed a brace of Clare points but with five minutes remaining Galway scored another goal with the hardworking Niamh Kilkenny getting the final finish to reduce the deficit to just six points. That was to be Galway's final score as Clare finished with a flourish when substitute O'Loughlin goaled for the second time. Clare¹s Elaine Gallery pointed to close the scoring.

For Clare, their goalkeeper Rachael Lynch made numerous brilliant saves from the Galway attack, while as a unit their defence did well, inspired by Deirdre Corcoran. McMahon, Linnane and Claire Commane were all dangerous while super sub O'Loughlin excelled.

Meanwhile, for Galway, Elaine Burke and Phyllis Hayes tried hard in defence while Clodagh Glynn and Dunne fought to the end. For the Galway management team of Larry Burns, Sheila Coen, John Bowes and Trevor Corcoran, they can look back on a positive year having also reached the League final. With a very young side, there will be many more better days ahead.

Galway: R. Callanan; C. Gill, E. Burke, A. Kilkenny; E. Tannian, P. Hayes (0-1), T. Manton; P. Kenny, C. Glynn; M. Dunne (1-3), C. Hardiman, C. Cormican (0-1); Y. Donnelly (0-1), S. Dervan (0-1), N. Kilkenny (1-0).
Subs: E. Brudair for Kilkenny, C. Kelly for Hardiman, L. Gohery (0-1) for Tannian, T. Byrne for Kenny, E. Haverty for Donnelly.

Clare: R. Lynch; J. Scanlan, D. Corcoran, C. McMahon; M. Whelan, C. Halley, E. Keating; M. McMahon, D. Murphy (O-2); L. Linnane (0-3), A. O'Brien, M. O'Halloran; C. McMahon, F. Lafferty, C. Commane (2-5).
Subs: D. Lynch for Lafferty, E. Gallery (0-1) for O'Brien, C. O'Loughlin (2-1) for O'Halloran, D. Lafferty for Whelan, M. O'Looney for O'Loughlin.


Referee: J. Pender (Kildare).