Press Release Clare Ladies Football Board

31/05/2006

U – 16 A Co. Championship Final Match Report

The Banner 3 – 6 Cooraclare 1 – 5

Old rivals The Banner and Cooraclare were pitted against each other in this eagerly awaited County U – 16 A Final played in Miltown on Wednesday last. A large crowd was in attendance for what promised to be a thrilling encounter and in fairness to both teams they didn’t disappoint.

An epic final ensued and the game developed into a battle of two contrasting styles namely the strength and direct football of the Cooraclare girls versus the skill and speed of The Banner. In the end the more skilful side on the day won but this was a game that could have gone either way and Cooraclare will rue some wayward shooting as well as bemoaning the excellence of The Banner keeper Sharon Bradley.

Bradley came to the Ennis girl’s rescue early in the game with an excellent point blank save after just two minutes of play when Cooraclare were dominating the early exchanges. From the throw in Cooraclare were dominant at midfield with Sally Glynn and Rachel Garry getting the better of the early exchanges. The Banner had to defend staunchly during this period and Niamh Martin, Louise Woods and team captain Rachel McGann were excellent in defence in weathering the Cooraclare onslaught. The Cooraclare forwards it must be said shot several wides from scorable positions during this period and they were to rue these misses as the game evolved.

The Banner were first on the scoresheet in the eleventh minute when their wing forward Niamh O’Dea scored an opportunistic goal against the run of play. This score settled the Ennis girls and when Catriona Connellan had another goal on thirteen minutes Cooraclare looked in deep trouble. However the girls from the west were not going down without a fight and Áine Pyne had their opening score with a fine point on fourteen minutes. Cooraclare again began to dominate but just could not find their scoring boots in front of goals. Sharon Bradley made another fantastic save in the Banner goal on eighteen minutes when full forward Kate O’Gorman was put through for what seemed a certain score.

The play was now swinging from end to end and no quarter was being asked or given by either side as each team strove to exert their game on the other. Aoife Griffin dealt Cooraclare another bodyblow on twenty one minutes when she palmed a loose ball to the sky blue’s net. Amazingly Cooraclare just would not give in and Áine Pyne scored their second point of the evening on twenty four minutes and just on the stroke of half time Katie O’Gorman took advantage of some hesitancy in The Banner defence to crack a low shot to the corner of the net. This was no more than Cooraclare deserved and indeed The Banner were very fortunate to have an interval lead of 3 – 0 to 1 – 2. The second half opened just as the first with Sally Glynn and Rachel Garry launching wave after wave of Cooraclare attacks. Again The Banner defence stood firm conceding just a single point to Áine Pyne in the thirty first minute. Slowly but surely the Ennis girls began to dominate the exchanges and Eimear O’Connor and Shona Enright began to gain the upper hand in the pivotal midfield area. Louise Woods was now playing a stormer at wing back for the eventual winners and her dashing forays up the right wing was causing consternation for the Cooraclare defence. The Banner’s introduction of Laurie Ryan at wing forward was also beginning to pay dividends as the Turnpike lady was winning vital half forward possession for the Ennis team. Indeed a brilliant intercept by Ryan set up Niamh O’Dea for their first score of the second half, a point after thirty seven minutes. Now dominant The Banner attacked in waves and drew close in frees from a Cooraclare backline desperate to keep the onslaught at bay. The Banner had points from Haugh (2) and Connellan between the forty third and forty fifth minutes and looked to be home and dry when Catriona Connellan was put through on goal in the forty eight minute. However just as The Banner keeper had made excellent saves in the first half Cooraclare’s Rebecca Smyth produced a magnificent point blank save to deny the Ennis girl.

This save gave Cooraclare renewed energy and when Rachel Garry scored a point after fifty minutes it was game on again. Megan Hough and Áine Pyne exchanged points on fifty two and fifty five minutes before player of the match, The Banner’s Niamh O’Dea, finished the scoring with an excellent point a minute from time.

To the victors the spoils and there is no doubt but that the better overall team won on the night. Skill just about prevailed over strength. Both teams must be praised however for the high standard of the game and for how both sides gave it their all right to the end. Cooraclare lost nothing in defeat and will know that they have many fine players who will be a match for any team in the years ahead. Especially talented for the losers were Sally Glynn, Rachel Garry, Aoife Donnellan, Áine Pyne, Aifric O’Neill and goalkeeper Rebecca Smyth. Outstanding for the Banner were Niamh Martin, Niamh O’Dea, Louise Woods, Laurie Ryan and Sharon Bradley. Though well held for parts of the game Eimear O’Connor and Shonagh Enright gave very good second half displays as did Niamh Cavanagh, Rachel McGann, Catriona Connellan and Aoife Griffin.

Following the match Clare Ladies Board Chairman, James Lafferty presented the County Championship trophy to winning captain Rachel McGann. The match was refereed by Michael Bohannon and credit to St. Joseph’s Miltown for having the pitch in excellent order for the game and for providing umpire officials.

The Banner: Sharon Bradley, Aoife O’Neill, Rachel McGann, Aoife Griffin, Louise Woods, Niamh Martin, Niamh Cavanagh, Eimear O’Connor, Shonagh Enright, Niamh O’Dea, Amanda Carmody, Sarah Barrett, Megan Hough, Catriona Connellan, Caoimhe O’Dea. Subs: Laura Brennan for Amanda Carmody (21 min), Laurie Ryan for Sarah Barrett (27 min), Victoria Krechun, Katie McKenna, Finnuala O’Dea, Aisling Daly, Ciara McCarthy, Rebecca McNamara. Scorers: Niamh O’Dea 1 – 2, Catriona Connellan 1 – 1, Megan Hough 0 – 3, Aoife Griffin 1 -0

Cooraclare: Rebecca Smyth, Orla Reidy, Sinéad Donnellan, Leanne Aisling Keane, Aoife Donnellan, Aifric O’Neill, Sally Glynn, Rachel garry, Susui Glynn, Síle Callinan, Noelle Hassett, Áine Pyne, Katie O’Gorrman, Aoife Clancy. Subs: Ellen Donovan for Noelle Hassett, Niamh Donnellan for Aoife Clancy, Siobhán Lyons for Aisling Keane.

Scorers: Áine Pyne 0 – 4, Katie O’Gorman 1 – 0, Rachel Garry 0 – 1.

Referee: Michael Bohannon (Shannon Gaels).

Dr. Paul McKenna, PRO Clare Ladies Football Board

086 - 6036385