Munster U-16 B Championship Final Match Report

Date: July 25th

Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis.

Referee: Mike Meade (Limerick)

Clare 4 – 11 Tipperary 4 – 4

Pride of place this week must go to the U-16 ladies footballers of Clare for their thrilling victory in a wonderfully contested Munster final played on the hallowed turf of Cusack Park on Wednesday evening. Rarely has such a complete footballing performance been witnessed in any Clare jersey as that of the second half come-back from the Banner County representatives in this game. Turning an eight point half time deficit into a winning margin of seven points tells but some of the story of their epic performance however the team’s level of sheer intensity and exquisite football ability after the break left this reporter and many in the vocal attendance short of superlatives to describe their play.

That Clare were shell-shocked after the opening minutes of play is an understatement. Tipperary started in whirlwind fashion and had the Clare defence at sixes and sevens from the throw in. Storming forward runs from their powerful midfielders Samantha Lambert and Freda Casey saw Tipperary crash home two great goals before Clare realised the game had started. Referee Mike Meade had barely noted Tipperary’s first goal from the boot of Ann Marie O’Gorman after ninety seconds before Clare keeper Rebecca Smyth was again picking the ball from her net following a cracking second goal from Marie Murray. Clare responded with points from Niamh O’Dea (free) and Rachel Garry and Emer Considine before Tipperary again raised another green flag again from the boot of Murray. Sinéad Moloney for Clare and Murray for the Premier girls swapped points before Tipp swooped for their fourth goal on the quarter hour. This appeared to be a devastating blow for Clare as it gave Tipperary, who were playing against the wind, a 4 – 1 to 0 – 4 advantage after just fifteen minutes of play. There seemed no way back for Clare at this stage as Tipperary were rampant and panic ensued in the Clare defence each time they sortied forward.

A significant move at this stage of the game steadied the Clare ship with the introduction of Roisín McMahon at centre back. While not immediately dominant Roisín did stem the Tipperary dominance through the middle. Clare added three points before the break to Tipperary’s two to leave the half time score 4 – 3 to 0 – 7 in favour of the visitors. A shocked and subdued Clare team raced for their dressing room at the short whistle hoping for words of inspiration from their mentors as things had gone horribly wrong for them in this first half.

Whatever words were said or whatever potion administered in the Clare dressing room at half time should be patented as the team were a transformed outfit in the second half. Playing into the breeze they took the game to Tipperary right from the throw in. Gone was the lethargy and hesitancy that punctuated their first half display and in their stead was a tremendous self belief and confidence that powered a tremendous comeback performance. Eimear O’Connor was switched to mid-field in a swap with Shonagh Enright and this move was to pay huge dividends as both girls had tremendous second half performances. Roisín McMahon was a revelation during this second period a posted a commanding performance at centre back and was the fulcrum of many Clare attacks during this period. On the rare occasion when Roisín was by passed in this second half any Tipperary attacks were efficiently dealt with by the Clare full back line that was a transformed unit in this second period. Laurie Ryan, Niamh Martin and Niamh Cavanagh exerted total dominance over their Tipp opponents in this half and the Premier county girls were restricted to just a single point for the whole thirty minutes. Wing backs Louise Woods and Ciara Harvey also found their form with Louise chasing and harassing like a busy bee and Ciara producing her best ever thirty minutes of football in a Clare jersey.

With their defence outstanding the Clare mid-field and forwards set about dismantling Tipperary’s lead. This they did with patience and precision. Good fast ball was now coming from McMahon, Sally Glynn and Eimear O’Connor and Clare’s quicksilver forward unit simply cut loose and in the process cut Tipperary’s defensive unit to shreds. Emer Considine had an inspirational point from play in the thirty second minute and three minutes later Niamh O’Dea split open the Tipperary rearguard to blast an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to send the home fans into whoops of delight. Further great points were added by Considine in the forty third and forty fourth minute to reduce Tipp’s lead even more following a Premier county point in reply on thirty seven minutes. Thus the scoreboard read Tipp 4 – 4 Clare 1 – 10 after forty five minutes of play.

Clare were dominant in all sectors now and the large home support could sense victory. The Saffron & Blue team further rose to the vociferous urgings of the crowd (about 350 in attendance but it felt like 35,000 such was the din) and when Niamh O’Dea cracked home her second goal from an acute angle in the 49th minute to level affairs there was only going to be one result. Clare were now playing like the champions that they are and substitute (the world handballing ace from Clooney) Lisa Loughnane announced her arrival on the pitch by cracking home the lead goal for the Banner county on fifty two minutes. Clare continued to attack relentlessly with Shonagh Enright and Naomi Carroll playing outstanding games. Both wing forwards constantly tormented the Tipperary defence with blinding attacking runs. From one such run Clare’s Emer Considine was fouled in the Tipperary square and Naomi Carroll dispatched to resulting penalty confidently to the right corner of the net. The home crowd were now in a fever of excitement as the Holy Grail of a Munster championship title now beckoned. Substitute Megan Hough contrived to hit the crossbar twice in the closing minutes as Clare continued to push forward. The final word in Clare’s magnificent comeback was left to Cratloe’s Naomi Carroll who pointed a magnificent effort from thirty metres in the final minute.

Such was their supporters appreciation of this performance the victors got a prolonged standing ovation from all in attendance following the final whistle. Spare a thought though for Tipperary who played no small part in this hugely entertaining and sporting game of football. Against lesser willed teams their first half performance would surely have seen them crowned victorious – however this Clare team is something special and playing in a final for the first time on the hallowed sod of Cusack Park they were just not going to let their county down. Clare now proceed to the All Ireland Series as Munster champions and they deserve the fullest support of all who have and interest in ladies football within the county. Mark my words this is a great Clare team and I predict even greater glory for them not just in the months but in the years ahead. They are as athletically and as intellectually gifted a bunch of girls that you are ever likely to encounter and they have the will, the skill and the passion to bring ultimate All Ireland glory to the county in the years ahead. Watch this space.

Teams: Clare: Rebecca Smyth (Cooraclare), Laurie Ryan (The Banner), Niamh Martin (The Banner), Niamh Cavanagh (The Banner), Louise Woods (The Banner), Catherine Danaher (Wolfe Tones), Ciara Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Sally Glynn (Cooraclare), Shonagh Enright (The Banner), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Sinéad Moloney (Coolmeen), Niamh O’Dea (The Banner), Rachel Garry (Coolmeen), Emer Considine (Kilmihil), Naomi Carroll (The Banner).

Subs: Roisín McMahon (Newmarket) for Catherine Danaher, Lisa Loughnane (Clooney/Quin) for Rachel Garry, Megan Hough (The Banner) for Sinéad Moloney, Ailish Considine (Kilmihil) for Niamh O’Dea, Caoimhe O’Dea (The Banner) for Eimear O’Connor.

Scorers: Niamh O’Dea 2-3, Emer Considine 0-5, Naomi Carroll 1-1, Lisa Loughnane 1-0, Rachel Garry 0-1, Sinéad Moloney 0-1

Tipperary: Nicola Armitage (Cahir), Rachel Kennelly (Aherlow), Aoife Casey (Cahir), Geraldine O’Donnell (Cahir), Julie O’Meara (Aherlow), Jane O’Donnell (Cahir), Aisling Molloy (Moyle Rovers), Samantha Lambert (Ardfinnan), Freda Casey (Cahir), Shauna Ryan (Clonmel Óg), Marie Murray (Upperchurch), Ann Marie O’Gorman (Cahir), Ann Marie Fahey (Aherlow), Sinéad Corcoran (Upperchurch), Claire Mullins (Aherlow).

Dr. Paul McKenna, PRO, Clare Ladies Football Board

086-6036385 www.bannerladiesfootball.com