Clare ambush Waterford in U-16 Championship

Match Report U16 Munster Championship Clare 6 – 7 Waterford 0
– 4

Waterford were ambushed by a rampant Clare U-16 team in this Munster
Championship first round clash at Solohedbeg in Co. Tipperary
on Thursday evening. Led by Cratloe ace Naomi Carroll (who contributed
a personal tally of 1 – 5) the Banner county forwards led their
Waterford opponents a merry dance and should really have notched
up more than 6 – 7. Over-elaboration cost Clare dearly on a number
of occasions.

On a still, overcast and heavy evening in Solohed Clare set out
their stall from the beginning and went a goal up within three
minutes when Coolmeen’s ace attacker Sinéad Moloney finished a
good move to the Déise net. Clare were on top in all sectors but
failed to convert possession into scores. Over-elaboration, wayward
shooting and excellent Waterford defensive play (especially from
full back Eibhiín Power) kept Clare scoreless until the eleventh
minute when Naomi Carroll had a good point from play. Cooraclare’s
Rachel Garry added to Clare’s tally with a fine nineteenth minute
goal and this heralded an avalanche of Clare scores. Following
a point from the Banner’s Niamh O’Dea on twenty minutes Lissycasey’s
Clodagh McNeilis found the Waterford net a minute later and the
Banner’s Shonagh Enright added another goal on twenty five minutes
for the saffron and blues. On the stroke of half time Naomi Carroll
added another point for Clare to leave the interval score Clare
4 – 2, Waterford 0 – 3.

The Déises points came from Deirdre Fahy on fourteen and thirty
minutes with a Helen Keating point sandwiched in between on twenty
eight minutes. Clare started the second half in blistering fashion
with Sinéad Moloney again finding the Waterford net in the opening
minute. Seconds later the ever buzzing Naomi Carroll was upended
in the Waterford square and a penalty ensued which the confident
Naomi duly dispatched to the back of the Waterford net. The game
was well and truly up for Waterford now and although over twenty
five minutes of play still remained Clare were coasting from here
on in. Further points were added on forty seven, fifty four and
fifty nine minute from O’Dea and Carroll(2) before Waterford’s
Katie Hannon and Clare’s Sally Glynn swapped scores in the final
minute to leave the full-time score reading Clare 6 – 7, Waterford
0 – 4. Next up for Clare is Cork in early July in the Munster
A semi-final.

While Thursday’s win was well merited Clare will realise that
they have a major step up in class ahead of them in facing the
Rebel county and that they will have to improve significantly
on their own performance levels to be in with any chance. Certainly
Clare will have to be more clinical in their score taking if they
are to trouble Cork while their midfielders will also have to
step up a notch or two. All in all it is good to get a decent
win under their belts and if things can go right for this team
on the day they could really rattle Cork’s championship ambitions.

Clare: Rebecca Smyth (Cooraclare), Laurie Ryan (The Banner), Niamh
Martin (The Banner), Aoife Murphy (Doora-Barefield), Louise Woods
(The Banner), Roisín McMahon (Newmarket), Ciara Harvey (West Clare
Gaels), Sally Glynn (0-1, Cooraclare), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen),
Shonagh Enright (1-0, The Banner), Rachel Garry (1-0, Cooraclare),
Sinéad Moloney (2-0, Coolmeen), Naomi Carroll (1-4, The Banner),
Clodagh McNeilis (1-0, Fregus Rovers), Niamh O’Dea (0-2, The Banner).
Subs Used: Laura Meaney (Fergus Rovers), Rebecca O’Regan (Liscannor),
Carol O’Leary (Nermarket on Fergus), Grace Walsh (West Clare Gaels),
Sinéad Griffin (Miltown).