Clare Outclassed

Suzuki National Football League Division 2

Venue:              Lemybrien, Co. Waterford

Referee:            Paddy White (Kerry)

 

Clare 2 – 4           Waterford 1 – 14

Clare ladies got a dose of higher grade football when the senior graded ladies of Waterford proved too strong in all departments for an admittedly under-strength Clare side.  With their West Clare Gaels panellists still absent and Michele Delaney a victim of flu Clare knew they had a tough challenge ahead of them in taking on Waterford in their own backyard.

Clare started this game brightly and two early raids saw them power to a 1 – 1 to no score lead in the opening minutes.  Fiona Lafferty opened the scoring in the second minute with a well taken point before Niamh Keane played an exquisite through ball for Áine Kelly to run on to a minute later and Áine finished with aplomb wit a low shot to the corner of the Waterford net.  It would be a full twenty seven minutes before Clare would score again however as Waterford settled into their game and almost totally monopolised play for the remainder of the half.

The Déise midfield pairing of Clíona Ó’Keeffe and Michell McGrath were dominating affairs and centre forward Michelle Ryan was also causing major problems for Clare.  Waterford wing back Gráinne Kenneally was also having a storming game and time and again she launched her team forward while thwarting Clare attacking moves.  Clare were guilty of poor clearances from defence which played into Waterford’s hands and despite some missed opportunities the Déise girls eventually found their range and had points from Michelle Ryan (2), Michelle McGrath (2), Kate Hannon and Linda Wall to take the lead by the 22nd minute of the half and go two up by the 25th minute.  Clare finished with an Eimear Considine point on the stroke of half time to leave the score 1 – 2 to 0 – 6 at the interval.

Clare were indeed most fortunate to be just a point in arrears at the break and had goalkeeper Denise Walsh to thank for some very good saves in the Clare goal.  The Clare full back line also coped reasonably well with the Waterford pressure but Clare were having major difficulty coping with the Waterford half forwards and midfielders.
Up front Áine Kelly, Eimear Considine and Niamh Keane did their best given the limited amount of ball going in and also Louise Henchy was working hard.

Waterford opened the second half scoring with a point from Michelle Ryan in the first minute but Clare bounced back with a super goal by Louise Henchy from the penalty spot after Tammy Hehir had been fouled in the Waterford square. Incredibly Clare were now a point up after five minutes of the second half.  Hopes that they would kick on from this position were quickly dashed however when following a Linda Wall equaliser in the thirty seventh minute Waterford pounced for their goal a minute later when Wall found the Clare net after some major hesitancy and fumbling in the Clare defence.  The concession of such a soft goal so soon after they had scored one of their own seemed to take the wind out of Clare and Waterford grew in stature.  Waterford also improved on their accuracy in front of goals and outscored Clare by five points to two over the next fifteen minutes with Clare’s scores coming from Fiona Lafferty and Eimear Considine.  Waterford had the final score however with Linda Wall again pointing as the game entered injury time to leave the final score Waterford 1 – 14 to Clare’s 2 – 7.

A seven point win probably reflects the measure of Waterford’s superiority on the day but Clare will not be too despondent with their performance given that many first team players are still to come back into the side.  For the younger members of the squad playing at this level will be sure to bring them on by leaps and bounds.  The side next face Leitrim at a home venue next weekend and this is a game well within Clare’s compass to record a victory and gain their second brace of points in the current campaign.

Clare: Denise Walsh, Carmel Considine, Lorraine Kelly, Bernie Kelly, Lorraine Griffin, Jane Kennedy, Niamh Coyne, Fiona Lafferty (0-2), Sandra Malone, Minnie Considine, Louise Henchy (1-0), Úna Downes, Áine Kelly (1-0), Eimear Considine (0-2), Niamk Keane.
Subs: Tammy Hehir for J. Kennedy, Orla Kelly for Á. Kelly, Catríona Conellan for N. Keane, Helen Quinn for M. Considine, Regina Fennessy for B. Kelly.

Waterford: Amy Jordan, Laurissa Hogan, Donna Frost, Lorraine Whelan, Louise Ryan, Elaine Power, Gráinne Kenneally, Clíona O’Keeffe (0-1), Michelle McGrath (0-2), Máiréad Wall (0-1), Michelle Ryan (0-3), Linda Wall (1-3), Roisín Manahan, Sinéad Ryan, Kate Hannon (0-3).
Sub: Marian Ryan (0-1).

Dr. Paul McKenna,
PRO Clare Ladies Football

086 6036385

www.bannerladiesfootball.com

 

U-14 County Trials

County U-14 trials continue next weekend at St. Flannan’s Ennis with a 12.45pm start.  All players are requested to attend and all club secretaries are to inform playery of the new venue.

County U16 and Minor Training

Training again continues next Saturday at 11.00am at the Cloughleigh All Weather facility.