Clare Ladies Lose Out Despite Late Rally

Clare LGFA PRO Kay Considine travelled to
Ashbourne to see Clare go down to Meath 3-13 to 2-11 but there are plenty positives for Clare.

 

 

Clare Ladies made the long journey to
Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA field on Sunday to take on Meath ladies in Round 5 of
the Tesco Division 2 League.  Following a
heavy defeat to Galway last week-end Clare needed to get a result in Ashbourne
to keep them in contention for a place in the top four.  However, Meath, having won two games and lost
two, were not willing to takes Clare’s challenge lightly and had a panel of
thirty players at their disposal.  Clare
were under strength with the loss, through injury, of Burren Gaels Roisin
Howley, who has been an inspiration this year, and experienced defender Laurie
Ryan. 

 

 

Meath were first off the mark with a point
from full forward Katie O’Brien.  On the
five minute mark she was on target again from a free before Eimear Considine
laid on a fine pass to Emer Hillary who raised a white flag for the Banner
girls.  Katie O’Brien then kicked a
sideline ball which dipped viciously under the crossbar.  Meath midfielder Shauna Bennett added a
point.  Aoife Keane had Clare’s second
point before Meath went on the attack forcing a great save from Emma
O’Driscoll.  However, the Clare backs
were deemed to have fouled Meath’s corner forward and a penalty was
awarded. 

 

 Katie
O’Brien gave Emma O’Drioscall no chance when she finished clinically. Meath’s
midfielder Shauna Bennett tacked on another point from the kick out.  Alice Davis forced another great save from
Emma O’Drioscall and this was deflected over the bar.  This was followed by a point from Katie
O’Brien.  During this time Clare were
creating chances but poor shooting let them down.  With twenty minutes gone Clare began to come more
into the game and Eimear Considine, who was beginning to run at the Meath
defence, scored a point.  Minutes later
she was taken down unceremoniously and Aine Kelly converted the resulting free.   Meath were the happier side going to the
dressing rooms at half time with 2.08 on the board to Clare’s 4 points. 

 

 

From the throw in Meath went on the attack
and had points from Shauna Bennett and Kate Byrne.  Aine Kelly converted a free following a foul
on Aoife Keane.  This was followed by a
point from Eimear Considine and another pointed free from Aine Kelly for a
further foul on Aoife Keane.  Shauna
Bennett and Geraldine Doherty had two further points for Meath before Vivienne
McCormack, who was just on the field of play, scored Meath’s third goal.  Roisin Looney went on a solo run down the
right side of the field and kicked a fine point.   Twenty minutes into the half Eimear
Considine laid on a beautiful pass to Aoife Keane who forced a great save from
Irene Munnelly.  Aoife made no mistake
when she volleyed the rebound to the back of the Meath net.   Meath’s Geraldine Doherty and Clare’s Eimear
Considine exchanged points with Geraldine Doherty adding another to Meath’s
tally.  Clare lost Niamh Keane to injury
with six minutes left in the game but Clare had the wind up their sails and
Louise Henchy added two points.  She was
instrumental in the next score for Clare when she laid on a great pass to
Eimear Considine.  Eimear cut through the
Meath defence and placed the ball in the bottom left corner of the Meath net.

 

 

This was a much improved performance from
Clare when, though guilty at times of some poor shooting, created a lot of
chances.  They played some wonderful
football with excellent movement and great team awareness.  Clare were well served by experienced players
Niamh Keane, Eimear Considine, Louise Henchy, Marie Considine and Louise Woods,
as well as minor player Aoife Keane. 
This performance will in no small way give great hope as the Clare
Ladies team go in search of full points from their next outing against Kildare
next week-end.

  

 

Clare
:  Emma
O’Drioscall (Banner Ladies), Amy O’Brien (Burren Gaels), Eimear O’Connor
(Coolmeen), Clare Hestor (Fergus Rovers), Shauna Harvey (West Clare Gaels),
Louise Woods (Banner Ladies), Marie Considine (Liscannor), Niamh Keane (Banner
Ladies), Roisin Looney (Cooraclare) 0.01, Eimear Considine (Naomh Mearnog)
1.03, Louise Henchy (Banner Ladies) 0.02, Emer Hillary (Liscannor) 0.01,
Grainne Nolan (Banner Ladies), Aine Kelly (Fergus Rovers) 0.03 2F, Aoife Keane
(Banner Ladies) 1.01. Therese Hartley (East Clare Gaels).

 

 

 

Meath: Irene Munnelly, Mary Coyne, Michelle Peel, Sarah Powderly, Siofra
Cleary, Maire O’Shaughnessy, Emma Troy, Shauna Bennett (0.04), Kate Byrne
(0.01), Alice Davis, Bridgetta Lynch, Meabh Downey, Geraldine Doherty (0.04),
Katie O’Brien (2 .03 2F 1P), Laura Dempsey (0.01), Emily Davis (1.00)

 

 

 

Referee: Yvonne Duffy (Cavan)

 

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