Match report Clare Ladies U - 12 A Championship Football Final

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