Cork clear Clare hurdle

Cork Clear Clare hurdle. By Fr Liam Kelleher.

Cork 4-10 Clare 3-8 A win is a win not matter what way you look
at it and Cork achieved this in the Semi-Final of the Munster
under 16 Championship on a beautiful pitch at Churchtown on Tuesday
evening. Cork’s play was disjointed and lacked real quality which
has been the hallmark of Cork underage teams down through the
years. Certainly they were trying their best and showed huge enthusiasm
and commitment but there was something missing. The first touch
was off, the ability to win the breaking ball was minimal. Perhaps
it was the first serious challenge this team had encountered and
no doubt they will have learned a lot as well as the management
team will have learned. But unless there is a huge improvement
before the Munster final against Kerry, Cork will be in big trouble.

I have no doubt that the players will have learned a huge lesson
from the from the scare they received from Clare and they will
make a bold bid for their 7th Munster under 16 title in a row.
Dominated opening exchanges. Playing with the stiffish breeze
Cork attacked form the outset but strong defending from the Clare
rearguard kept them at bay. The biggest cheer of the night came
after 6 minutes when playing on her home turf, Ciara Sherlock
found the net. Cork continued to dominate but again they found
scores difficult to come by. Yvonne Cahill who had been showing
some nice touches and when she finally shook off her marker she
scored a much needed goal after Clare had got a goal back after
some sloppy Cork defending. Cork upped the ante and playing much
better football which saw them to a comfortable lead 2-7 to 1-2
lead. In the 2nd half Clare went on the offensive aided by the
breeze they scored 3 quick points and Cork looked vulnerable.
But in one of the best moves of the game when the ball was worked
right up the field, Aine O’Leary was at the end of the move to
finish to the net. Claire Keohane who had come on as a sub after
a long term injury added another goal and Cork looked safe with
an 11point lead. A number of changes were made but again the Cork
defence were caught flatfooted and conceded 2 goals which put
the game back in the melting pot again, but they had enough in
reserve despite some glaring misses from gilt edged scoring chances,
to win by a mere 5 points.

They have now 2 weeks to prepare for the Munster final and no
doubt they know that they will need a huge improvement to continue
Corks brilliant record in this grade.

Cork Caoimhe O’Callaghan Claire O’Connor, Niamh O’Keefe, Maureen
O’Sullivan. Donna Smyth, Sinead O’Reilly, Beulah McManus, Julie
McCarthy, Aine O’Leary, Orlaith Farmer, Aoife Scally, Marie O’Donovan,
Leanne Kearney, Ciara Sherlock, Yvonne Cahill, Claire Keohane,
Niamh O’Regan, Caroline O’Conor, Joanne O’Brien, Kate Harrington,
Sarah Harrington, Ciara Harrington, Deirdre O’Driscoll, Patricia
Dunne, Niamh Crowley, Sinead O’Neill Ddenise Cronin