Munster U14 B Championship 1st Round

 

 

Venue: Miltown Malbay

 

Waterford 4 -3                       Clare 0 – 8

 

The final score-line does no justice to a courageous Clare display that saw the spirited girls in Saffron and Blue reduce a 3 – 2 to 0 – 3 half time deficit to 0 – 8 to 3 – 2 with the game entering five minutes of added time.  Two softly conceded frees at this stage however handed the initiative back to the Déise side and they capitalised in converting their placed balls into a 1 – 1 return.

 

Waterford won this game through their first half performance when a nervous Clare team just could not get to grips with the pace and flow of the game.  All this changed in the second period when Clare dominated affairs but that little bit of luck needed to dramatically change things on the scoreboard just never fell their way.  What a goal would have done for home spirits and confidence we will never know but Pat Hanrahan and his team of mentors deserve great credit for the efforts his squad of players put in in trying to turn this game in Clare’s favour.

 

Clare got off to a horrible start when Waterford’s Abbie Dunphy converted a twenty metre free to the Clare net in the third minute. Clare’s Megan Downes pointed Clare’s opener, also from a free, on seven minutes.  Waterford struck for their second goal in the twelfth minute when full forward Kate Cliffe netted. The excellent Emma McMahon then pointed from play for Clare but this was quickly cancelled out with a similar Waterford score from a Dunphy free. Emer Hanrahan scored another point for Clare on 22 minutes but Waterford finished the half strongly and added 1 – 1 before the break.

 

Clare came out fighting in the second period and scored 0 – 5 without reply to really bring the game to Waterford.  The home defence also tightened up significantly with Tara Kelly giving a master class in defending. Points from McMahon (2), Downes, catriona Callinan and Kiera McGrath saw Clare in with a great chance as they dominated affairs throughout the field.  A break in play for a blood injury to Waterford’s Abbie Dalton and an injury to Clare’s own Emma McMahon broke their momentum entering the vital last five minutes. Waterford secured two vital frees in this period which they converted into 1 – 1 to put a gloss on the final score-line that the home side ill deserved. Goals win matches and unfortunately for Clare they just could not raise a green flag.  Still the team and management will gain both consolation and confidence from their super second half display.

 

Clare: Niamh O’Keeffe, Shona Power, Tara Kelly, Áine Keane, Laoise Ryan, Lizzie Roche, Sarah Marrinan, Emer Hanrahan(0-1), Sarah McGann, Aisling Reidy, Megan Downes (0-2), Emma McMahon(0-3), Eimear Keane, Fidelma Marrinan, Catríona Callinan(0-1).

 

Subs Used: Ciara Corbett, Aisling Morrissey, Keiera McGrath(0-1), Mary Conneally.

 

 

Paul McKenna, Secretary Clare LGFA