19 June 2006 Match report Clare Ladies U - 12 A Championship Football Final Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Press Release Clare Ladies Football Board. June 16th, 2006. Match report Clare Ladies U – 12 A Championship Football Final The Banner Ladies 2 – 3 Wolfe Tones na Sionna 1 – 1 Scores may have been at a premium in this championship decider but there was no shortage of excitement and endeavour in this enthralling encounter between two excellent and sporting teams. The Banner Ladies Club of Ennis was going for three in a row in this blue riband competition of U – 12 football in Clare but the Tone’s girls harboured every ambition of spoiling the party for the Ennis outfit. The Shannonsiders were buoyed on by a recent 1 – 1 to 0 – 3 victory over the Ennis girls in the Clare Community Games final and knew they were entering this game with everything to play for. Unfortunately for Wolfe Tones the reigning champions got off to the ideal start when Banner full forward Catherine Dolan was at the end of a high ball after two minutes of play and Dolan dutifully blasted the ball to the Shannon net. The Banner girls looked on their way at this stage and were completely dominating proceedings and when Bebhinn Tuohy tacked on another point for the Ennis team after eleven minutes all seemed right for the saffron and blues’. However Shannon came to Clare Abbey well drilled and well prepared and when Claire O’Brien rattled the Banner net with an absolutely fabulous goal from an acute angle in the fifteenth minute it was game on in earnest. From this point to the interval the game swung from end to end. The enthusiasm, skill and endeavour of both sides had the large attendance on tender hooks as both teams strove to gain dominance. As it was the only other score of the half came from the Banner’s Laoise Talty when she scored an excellent point from all of thirty metres to leave her team 1 – 2 to 1 – 0 ahead at the break. Wolfe Tones piled on the pressure in the early second half exchanges and it took heroic defending by the Banner’s Shauna Crowley, Sharon Brennan and Orlaith Lynch to keep the Shannon girls at bay. The Tones were not to be denied however and an excellent point from play in the fourth minute of the half saw them within a point of the Banner. The reigning champions then dug deep and defended valiantly and were rewarded for their defensive heroics when team captain Emma Glynn scored a breakaway goal on twelve minutes. This was a devastating blow to the Shannon girls, as they had been dominating the second half up to this. Despite this shattering blow they continued to take the game to The Banner and in fairness the Ennis goal led a charmed existence on occasions. Karen Woods, the Banner keeper, somehow deflected a forty third minute shot out for a forty five to deny the Tones a possible goal. The final five minutes belonged to the ultimate winners and Laoise Talty was again on hand to score a long range point with four minutes remaining. This score sealed The Banner’s first ever three in a row in this competition and scenes of great relief and jubilation greeted referee’s Helen Murphy’s final whistle. Credit to both teams for a truly enthralling and high skilled contest. Following the game Clare Ladies Board Chairman, James Lafferty, presented the cup to Emma Glynn the Banner captain. In her acceptance Emma acknowledged her team mentors of Paul McKenna, James Costello and Patricia Ryan. She was also wholesome in her praise of the Wolfe Tone’s team and their magnificent display. The Banner Ladies: Karen Woods, Shauna Crowley, Sharon Brennan, Rebecca Moore, Orlaith Lynch, Sinéad O’Keeffe, Emma Glynn, Doireann Hennessy, Bebhinn Tuohy, Rebecca Culligan, Laoise Talty, Catherine Dolan, Alison Brogan. Subs: Collette O’Leary for A. Brogan (half-time), Ciara Curtin, Eleanor Carey, Maria Clune, Aislinn Shannon, Gráinne Considine, Aisling Cahill and Orlaith Hennessy. Scorers: The Banner Ladies: Catherine Dolan 1 – 0, Emma Glynn 1 – 0, Laoise Talty 0 – 2, Bebhinn Tuohy 0 – 1. Wolfe Tones: Claire O’Brien 1 – 1. Referee: Helen Murphy. Venue: Clare Abbey Share this Article 0 0