Munster U - 16 Championship 1st Round

Press Release Clare Ladies Football Board

Munster U – 16 Championship 1st Round

Clare 3 – 4 Waterford 2 – 13

 

Clare succumbed to a superior Waterford side in
this first round match played in a sultry Tipperary Town on Monday
evening. In a game of moderate standard the Waterford trio of Sinéad
Ryan, Lenny Kirvan and Shona Curran was the difference between the
two teams. These girls were class acts and their enterprising and
committed play brightened up an otherwise drab game for the neutral
spectator. 

Waterford were dominant throughout the game and once they opened
up an early 1 – 2 to no score lead Clare were chasing the game.
In fairness Clare never gave up the chase and in their first meaningful
attack of the evening on twelve minutes Niamh Coyle of Miltown
planted the ball in the Waterford net. Waterford were dominant
however at midfield despite the best efforts of Roisín
McMahon and Eimear Considine. Indeed Considine did win some great
aerial balls but her distribution let her down on the night as
did her shooting at goal. Clare failed to capitalise on their
goal and Waterford remained dominant and extended their lead further
with some good points. Clare were kept in touch at this stage
by their keeper Sharon Bradley who brought off several good saves
to keep Waterford at bay.

Leading 1 – 7 to 1 – 1 entering the final minutes of the half
Waterford were rocked when Eimear Considine scored a goal direct
from a forty five. This score was quickly followed by a Clare
point to leave the half time score reading Clare 2 – 2 to Waterford’s
1 – 7.

On the resumption Waterford continued to dominate and tacked
on some very good points. However referee John Philips gave Clare
a lifeline after 41 minutes when he awarded the Banner a very
dubious penalty. Roisín McMahon stepped up to the mark
and scored with an excellently placed shot. Clare briefly rallied
after this score but they just did not seem to have the appetite
to really threaten Waterford. The Déise girls continued
to dominate the match and had a second goal from Lenny Kirvan
to completely seal their victory. The final score read Clare 3
– 4 Waterford 2 – 13.

Clare will be disappointed with this result but will acknowledge
that Waterford were the more committed team on the night. Commitment
and the previously named trio were the differences between the
two teams and the Clare management certainly have plenty to think
about before their next game.

Clare: Sharon Bradley (Banner Ladies), Elaine Coffey (Fergus
Rovers), Aoife Griffin (Banner Ladies), Niamh Cavanagh (Banner
Ladies), Ciara Cleary (Coolmeen), Jennifer Barker (Miltown), Orla
reidy (Cooraclare), Emer Considine (Kilmihil), Roisín McMahon
(Newmarket), Sinéad Moloney (Coolmeen) Rachel Garry (Cooraclare),
Ciara Hannon (Wolfe Tones), Niamh Coyle (Miltown), Roisín
Crowe (Burren Gaels), Clodagh McNeilus (Fergus Rovers).

Referee: John Philips (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick)

Dr. Paul McKenna,

PRO Clare Ladies Football Board.