Deise Goals sink the Banner

Waterford proved that goals win games and despite a brave second half Clare comback they lost out 0-8 to 4-3 in this Munster U14 B Championship 1^st
Round played at Miltown Malbay 

 

 

The final score-line does no justice to a
courageous Clare display that saw the spirited girls in Saffron and Blue reduce
a 3 – 2 to 0 – 3 half time deficit to 0 – 8 to 3 – 2 with the game entering
five minutes of added time.  Two softly
conceded frees at this stage however handed the initiative back to the Déise
side and they capitalised in converting their placed balls into a 1 – 1 return.

 

Waterford won this game through their first half performance when a nervous
Clare team just could not get to grips with the pace and flow of the game.  All this changed in the second period when
Clare dominated affairs but that little bit of luck needed to dramatically
change things on the scoreboard just never fell their way.  What a goal would have done for home spirits
and confidence we will never know but Pat Hanrahan and his team of mentors
deserve great credit for the efforts his squad of players put in in trying to
turn this game in Clare’s favour.

 

Clare got off to a horrible start when Waterford’s Abbie Dunphy
converted a twenty metre free to the Clare net in the third minute. Clare’s
Megan Downes pointed Clare’s opener, also from a free, on seven minutes.  Waterford
struck for their second goal in the twelfth minute when full forward Kate
Cliffe netted. The excellent Emma McMahon then pointed from play for Clare but
this was quickly cancelled out with a similar Waterford score from a Dunphy free. Emer
Hanrahan scored another point for Clare on 22 minutes but Waterford finished the half strongly and
added 1 – 1 before the break.

 

Clare came out fighting in the second
period and scored 0 – 5 without reply to really bring the game to Waterford.  The home defence also tightened up
significantly with Tara Kelly giving a master class in defending. Points from
McMahon (2), Downes, catriona Callinan and Kiera McGrath saw Clare in with a
great chance as they dominated affairs throughout the field.  A break in play for a blood injury to Waterford’s Abbie Dalton
and an injury to Clare’s own Emma McMahon broke their momentum entering the
vital last five minutes. Waterford
secured two vital frees in this period which they converted into 1 – 1 to put a
gloss on the final score-line that the home side ill deserved. Goals win
matches and unfortunately for Clare they just could not raise a green flag.  Still the team and management will gain both
consolation and confidence from their super second half display.

 

Clare: Niamh O’Keeffe, Shona Power, Tara Kelly, Áine Keane, Laoise Ryan,
Lizzie Roche, Sarah Marrinan, Emer Hanrahan(0-1), Sarah McGann, Aisling Reidy,
Megan Downes (0-2), Emma McMahon(0-3), Eimear Keane, Fidelma Marrinan, Catríona
Callinan(0-1).

 

Subs
Used: Ciara Corbett, Aisling Morrissey, Keiera
McGrath(0-1), Mary Conneally.

 

 

Paul
McKenna, Secretary Clare LGFA

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