21 May 2007 Clare beat Tipperary in Munster U-14 Championship Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Clare beat Tipperary in Munster U-14 encounter Munster Ladies U-14 Football Championship First Round. Date: Saturday, May 19th. Venue: Miltown Malbay Clare 6 – 11 Tipperary 3 – 7 This was a comprehensive victory in the end for Clare but when leading by just 4 – 6 to 2 – 4 at the interval – having played with the assistance of a gale force breeze – few would have predicted this outcome. Clare’s second half performance was immeasurably better than their opening half effort and they were worthy victors at the finish. Clare got off to the dream start with full forward Megan Hough finding the Tipperary net inside the first minute. When Katie Cahill goaled a minute later a possible rout appeared on the cards. Tipperary settled however and in their first attack scored a good point and followed this up moments later with a goal from corner forward Lydia Hearne. Niamh O’Dea, Cahill and Hough added points to settle Clare who led by 2 – 3 to 1 – 2 after the first quarter. Both teams swapped a pair of points over the next ten minutes before Katie Cahill goaled from a twenty metre free on twenty five minutes. Tipperary were quick to respond however with an Aoife O’Brien goal two minutes later. This score rocked Clare briefly but in first half injury time substitute Lauren Dooley cracked home a super goal for the home side and this was quickly followed by a pointed Sharon Sexton free to send Clare to the dressing room with a 4 – 6 to 2 – 4 advantage. Clare were worried at this stage as Tipperary were dominant up the middle and the Clare defensive unit looked vulnerable when the Premier county girls moved forward. With a stiff wind to contend with in the second half there were worried looks on the Clare management faces at half time. Of particular concern to Clare was the dominance of Tipperary’s Eimear Myles who was playing a stormer at midfield. When Myles pointed for Tipperary within a minute of the restart things looked ominous for Clare. In fairness though they raised their game significantly. Niamh O’Dea moved to the centre of the park and played a major role in curbing Tipp’s influence in this area. The previously subdued O’Dea now harried, chased and made significant surges forward to carry the game to Tipperary. Following another Tipperary point from Myles on thirty eight minutes O’Dea made one of her forward runs before laying off to Meagn Hough who in turn put Lauren Dooley through for a really well worked goal. This score arrested the Tipperary comeback and when Megan Hough pointed again on forty five minutes the game was definitely going Clare’s way. Tipperary did rally briefly with another goal and a point from Myles but Clare finished strongly with a late goal from Dooley and points from Hough (3) and Leona Regan to leave the final score Clare 6 – 11 to Tipperary’s 3 – 7. Clare now face Kerry in Cooraclare next weekend and will know that a further step up in performance levels will be required if they are to seriously threaten the Kingdom girls. Clare: Sarah O’Keeffe (Doora-Barefield), Sarah Kirwan (Wolfe Tones), Laurie Ryan (The Banner), Lauren McMahon (West Clare Gaels), Rebecca Culligan (The Banner), Keri Quinn (Wolfe Tones), Shauna Crowley (The Banner), Katie Cahill (The Banner), Ashling Darcy (Éire Óg), Leona Regan (Wolfe Tones), Niamh Pender (Miltown), Niamh O’Dea (The Banner), Orlaith Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Megan Haugh (The Banner), Aisling Torpey (Liscannor). Subs: Sinéad Sexton (Miltown) for Aisling Torpey (17 minutes), Lauren Dooley (The Banner) for Aisling Darcy (24 minutes), Ciara Burke (Miltown) for Lauren McMahon (37 minutes), Ann Waters (The Banner) for Keri Quinn (43 minutes), Roisín Howley (Burren Gaels) for Niamh Pender (49 minutes) Scorers: Megan Hough 1 – 7, Lauren Dooley 3 – 0, Katie Cahill 2 – 1, Niamh O’Dea, Sinéad Sexton, Leona Regan (0 – 1 each) Tipperary: Amy Henigan, Stacey O’Brien, Ruth Cummins, Katie O’Regan, Aisling Higgins, Shauna Maher, Niamh Foley, Eimear Myles, Claire harris, Niamh Myles, Siobhán Condon, Jessica Stokes, Lydia Hearne, Aisling O’Connor, Aoife O’Reilly. Dr. Paul McKenna, PRO Clare Ladies Football. 086 – 6036385 Share this Article 0 0