Clare 7 - 17 Limerick 1 - 5

Clare Ladies Football Board Match Report Date: Saturday April 5th Venue: Coolmeen Time: 3.00pm Referee: Richie O’Connor (Tipperary) Clare 7 – 17 Limerick 1 – 5

Limerick must by now have a complete aversion to travelling to the scenic GAA grounds of Coolmeen. Just a week ago their U-14’s got a major dressing down from a rampant Clare team and today their U-16’s were put to the sword by a clinically efficient and well drilled Clare side.

The score-line belies the early exchanges of the game where Clare, playing with a significant wind advantage, were rocked by a fifth minute Limerick goal to send the girls in green into a 1 – 1 to 0 – 0 advantage. The Bannerettes response was as swift however as it was decisive. Two goals in the blink of an eye from the Banner’s Megan Hough and points from Ailish Considine and Niamh Pender gave the home team a 2 – 2 to 1 -1 advantage after ten minutes of play.

Playing under the shadow of the deaths of the late Tom Malone and Maureen Kenny, the Clare side gave the most appropriate requiem that these two late stalwarts of the ladies game in Clare could wish for. In playing spirited and uninhibited football Clare simply tore Limerick apart and with a succession of well worked points from Megan Hough, (Banner) Ailish Considine (Kilmihil), Niamh O’ Dea (Banner), Toni Lagan (Wolfe Tones) and Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen) Clare really put the game beyond Limerick’s reach before the interval.

Still at 2-13 to 1-1 at half time Clare could not afford to be complacent as Limerick would have a very significant wind advantage in the second half. Any Clare worries were soon put to rest however when team captain Niamh O’Dea slotted home a wonderful left footed 33rd minute goal. Limerick did respond with an Aoife Power point a minute later but in riposte Ailish Considine netted for Clare within a minute. There was just no way back for Limerick now as a superior Clare side took ultimate control of the game. Further gaols from Toni Lagan (Wolfe Tones), Gemma Quinlan (Wolfe Tones) and substitute Aoife Davoren (Banner) ensured a comprehensive Clare victory.

Though hard to gauge the level of the opposition one can only commend Clare for their clinical performance on the day. Player of the match Louise Woods at wing back laid down several pointers to Limerick as to the home team’s intent and gave a magnificent display of attacking defensive football. That Louise is currently ineligible (due to her age) for consideration for the Clare ladies county team makes a mockery of the age rule as she is pound for pound the most talented player in Clare ladies football and could hold her own at any level.

Clare were worthy winners of this Munster Championship game today and now qualify to meet the winners of Tipperary and Kerry. This team, on today’s performance, will worry the very best. Though still short of a vital player or two of inter-county standard, this starting fifteen will cause major worries for the big guns ahead of Kerry and Cork. Well done to J.J. O’Dea and his selectors for having such a well drilled team to represent the county.

Clare: Siobhán Talty (Miltown), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies), Aoife Murphy (Doora/Barefield), Marie McMahon (Banner Ladies), Louise Woods (Banner Ladies), Naomi Carroll (Banner Ladies), Katie Curtin (Miltown), Sally Glynn (Cooraclare), Eimear O’Connor (0-2, jCoolmeen), Niamh O’Dea (1-1, Banner Ladies), Ailish Considine (1-5, Kilmihil), Toni Lagan (1-1, Wolfe Tones), Niamh Pender(0-1, Miltown), Megan Hough (2-4, Banner Ladies), Gemma Quigley (1-3, Wolfe Tones).

Subs: Niamh O’Connell (Coolmeen), Katie Cahill (Banner Ladies), Aoife Davoren (1-0, Banner Ladies), Sarah Kerwin (Wolfe Tones), Rachel Ryan (Doonbeg).

Limerick: Aisling Enright, Jessie Ryan, Marie Rainsford, Tríona Ó’Donnell, Rebecca Barry, Nicole Murphy, Stephanie Moran, Paula Donnelly, Roisín Browne, Bridget Quilligan, Katie Campbell, Sarah Connolly, Marie Murphy, Katey Fogarty, Aoife Power.