Clare Ladies Football

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Minor U18 Path To The All-Ireland Final 2012

U18B Championship All-Ireland Final

Clare 4-16 3-12 Roscommon

August 6th 2012 Venue Birr, Referee Des McEnery

U18B Championship All-Ireland Semi-Final

July 21st 2012 Venue Nenagh. Referee Michael Duffy

Clare 4-13 2-10 Kildare

U18B Munster Final

May 2nd 2012 Cooraclare. Referee Paddy Russell

Clare 4-14 Limerick 1-9

U18B Munster Semi-Final

April 21st 2012 Tipperary Town. Referee Ritchie O'Connor

Clare 5-6 Waterford 5-5

U18B Munster Championships Round 1

April 7th 2012 Bruff. Referee Michael Duffy

Clare 2-12 Limerick 0-10

Minors Bring Home Gold

To use the terminology of the moment, itâs another gold for Clare as the U18s take the second All-Ireland title of the season. The Clare minors have bridged a twenty two year gap when they produced another last quarter killer performance to defeat Roscommon in Birr last Saturday.

A hesitant start by the Banner County, who played in the blue of Munster, led to cat and mouse football up to the twentieth minute as the lead changed sides five times. The Rossies scored from the throw in through Kayleigh Dunning but captain Roisin Looney led the way by opening with Clare's first point. However continued pressure would yield five first half frees which Caoilionn Beirne would convert for Roscommon. Points from Aisling Torpey and a thirty yarder from Roisin Howley for Clare were cancelled by another Beirne free and a Gillian Dufficy point as they exploited a loose Banner midfield. Signs of the Clare potential came in the shape of an Ellie OâGorman run from half backs as she pointed to level at four points apiece and the hard working Howley put her third over on seventeen minutes to push Clare ahead for the second time. When the Rossies came back for two more points from Dufficy and a third Beirne converted free, it seemed the pattern was set to continue as Niki Kaiser stepped up to draw for the fifth time at six points each. When a Beirne goal dipped under the bar and two points from the Roscommon girls rattled the Banner it seemed like a major turning point had been reached especially when a penalty opportunity on thirty two minutes went a begging, after another Torpey pointed free. Never the less there was only four points between the teams at half time 0-7 to 1-8 when Des McEnery of Westmeath called for the ball, not least owing to an outstanding display of one on one goalkeeping by Aoife OâNeill.

Roscommon were in control on the resumption when they pointed and Orla OâNeill goaled after six minutes, seperated by another penetrating run from Clareâs Munster skills champion, Ellie OâGorman on the thirty yard line. A seven point gulf had somehow opened up and Clare had to find that same belief that brought them back from the nine point precipice of the Munster semi-final. The resurgence started with Looney pass picking out Aoife O'Gorman, resulting in a stunning goal from Orla Devitt, player of the match in the Munster final. Captain Roisin Looney and four time all-Ireland boxing champion, Kayleigh McCormack, regained composure in midfield and a few shrewd changes from the sideline started to pin in the Rossieâs in their own half. The depth of talent that has brought Clare to this final stage started to contribute one by one and improved performances from Roisin Rouine, Edel McMahon, Rebecca Culligan and Emer Hillery absorbed a lot of pressure in defence. Looneyâs forty yard soloing efforts released a lot of attacking play and poachers Nikki Kaiser, Aoife OâGorman and Kayleigh McCormack were over in a flurry of points. Now Clare were playing and Hillery, OâGorman and Alanna OâBrien were launching wave after wave into the opponents end and they had nothing to hold back the re-vitalised Banner. Some marvellous play from the tireless Roisin Howley and Aoife OâGorman produced more points before Aisling Hanley pointed for Roscommon. Player of the match Nikki Kaiser lifted the stand when she was in the net for Clareâs second goal to go two points ahead and was denied another goal by the upright a minute later. Shauna OâBrien was sprang from the bench and made an immediate impact as she was picked out time and again, pointing. Defender Laura Egan was moved up and goaled on twenty nine minutes sending Clare seven points ahead 3-14 to 2-10 but there was six minutes of injury time that was just was filled with action. A third Aoife OâGorman point was answered with an O'Neill Roscommon goal on thirty four minutes but OâGorman would not be out done and promptly goaled herself in response, the result of some beautiful flowing football that arrived to her via Edel McMahon, Emer Hillery and Roisin Looney. An obstinate Roscommon side were back for their last point but when Nikki Kaiser pointed Clareâs last score of the game, she sealed another astounding win for this incredible Clare minor team. 4-16 to 3-12.

When Clare finally got the measure of Roscommonâs midfield and half forward section, it forced positional changes on them that Roscommon would rue. A remarkable Banner county team took another difficult opponent and in the face of daunting pressure dismantled their ability to attack and turned the tables on them by putting eight different Clare players on the board in the second half alone.

Much credit to Roisin Howley, Aisling Torpey, Rebecca Culligan, Edel McMahon and the outstanding Aoife OâNeill in the difficult opening half. An inspirational second half team performance saw improved contributions across the board with Captain Looney leading the charge and Aoife O'Gorman's impeccable distribution up front.. Player of the match was Niki Kaiser.

Clare Panel: Aoife OâNeill (Eire Og), Roisin Rouine (Liscannor,) Edel McMahon (Kilimhil) (Vice Capt),Rebecca Culligan (Banner),Emer Hillery (Liscannor), Shauna Harvey (West Clare Gaels),Eille OâGorman (Kilmihil) (0-2), Roisin Looney (Coorclare) Captain (0-1),Laura Egan (Kilmihil)(1-0), Kayleigh McCormack (Burren Gaels)(0-1), Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels)(0-3), Niki Kaiser (Newmarket)(1-3), Aisling Torpey (Liscannor)(0-2), Aoife OâGorman (Coorclare)(1-3), Orla Devitt (Eire Og)(1-0) Subs Used: Alana OâBrien (Eire Og),Shaunagh OâBrien (Eire Og)(0-1). Panelists Molly Brannock (Doora Barefield),Sinead OâKeefe (Banner),Orlaith Lynch (Banner),Shauna Crowley (Miltown),SiobhÃ¡n Behan (Doonbeg),Niamh Reidy (Doora Barefield),GrÃ¡inne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Mary Kate Moloney (Clooney Quinn),Lauren McMahon (Newmarket),Mary Williams (Kilrush), Aoife Sheehan (Eire Og), Sophie Hanna (Eire Og),Marie Foran (West Clare Gaels),Nicole Burke (Kilrush Ladies) ,Roisin Considine (Liscannor). Mgmt : Kieran Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Edel Conway (Doonbeg), Linda Russell (Doonbeg), Johnny Hayes (Fergus Rovers), Marie Louise Kaiser (Newmarket).

Clare Defeat Kildare To Go Into All-Ireland Final

Clareâs ladies footballers qualified for their second All-Ireland final of the season when the minors defeated Leinster champions Kildare last Saturday in McDonagh Park, Nenagh. A tentative start by the Clare attack, despite good forward pressure, took twenty minutes to pull away from the Garden County but they were never to relinquish their lead thereafter.

Kildare won the throw-in and pointed immediately through a Roisin Byrne free. On the counter attack, a smooth passage involving Roisin Howley and Aoife OâGorman ended with Orla Devitt who was brought down in the Kildare danger area and Aisling Torpey goaled from the resulting penalty. Despite being down a player, Kildareâs Emer Fogarty pointed and they also capitalised on a rebounded ball to goal. Aisling Torpey pulled a point back from play for the Banner County but this was cancelled by Eadaoin Connolly on twelve minutes. As the Clare defence settled, Emer Hillary, Laura Egan and Ellie OâGorman would snuff out a lot of ball as Kildare were limited to one more point before the break compared to Clareâs 1-5. When Torpey pointed again, Aoife OâGorman followed suit to level but Kildareâs Emer Fogarty pointed to go ahead again. However, some great attacking play from Clareâs Nikki Kaiser, Roisin Howley, Orlaith Devitt and Alana OâBrien yielded a free on Devitt which Torpey converted. Growing in confidence a united forward section released Torpey and OâGorman to point again to go two points up after twenty seven minutes. Nikki Kaiserâs characteristic searing run from twenty yards out a minute later finished with her netting to push Clare ahead by five points at the break. Some great covering by Emer Hillary, Laura Egan, captain Roisin Looney with Kayleigh McCormack transformed a sedate first quarter into more unified attack. Michael Duffy called for the half time break at 2-6 to 1-4 to Clare.

Aisling Torpey resumed by increasing the Clare tally within a minute but Kildareâs Fogarty was back with 2 quick points on seven minutes and two more Kildare points left only two points between the sides at 2-7 to 1-8 for Clare. Torpey was over for another score to bring her current tally to 1-5 and Nikki Kaiser was in for her second goal on eighteen minutes but two more breakouts yielded two points for the Garden County with the ball being cleared off the Clare goal-line on more than one occasion, drawing some top performances from Edel McMahon, Rebecca Culligan and Roisin Rouine on the full back line. The final quarter witnessed a more cohesive Clare effort where Culligan, Hilliary, Ellie OâGorman, OâLooney and McCormack fenced in the Garden County. Up front, some outstanding off the ball running split the Kildare defence time and again as Aoife OâGorman pointed her third, Devitt goaled and pointed twice and Kaiser added two points to her two goals. Roisin Howley and Alana OâBrien also played a key part in dismantling the Kildare defence for a comprehensive win that sent Clare through to the All-Ireland final against Roscommon on August 6^th.

Clare: Aoife OâNeill (Eire Og), Roisin Rouine (Liscannor), Edel McMahon (Kilimhil) Vice Capt, Rebecca Culligan (Banner), Emer Hillery (Liscannor), Shauna Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Kayleigh McCormack (Burren Gaels), Eille OâGorman (Kilmihil), Roisin Looney (Coorclare) (Capt), Laura Egan (Kilmihil), Alana OâBrien (Eire Og), Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels), Niki Kaiser (Newmarket) (2-2), Aisling Torpey (Liscannor) 1-6 (f1-1), Aoife OâGorman (Coorclare) (0-3), Orla Devitt (Eire Og) (1-2), Subs used Marie Foran (West Clare Gaels), Sinead OâKeefe (Banner), Orlaith Lynch (Banner). Shaunagh OâBrien (Eire Og), Nicole Burke (Kilrush), Shauna Crowley (Miltown), SiobhÃ¡n Behan ( Doonbeg), Niamh Reidy (Doora Barefield),GrÃ¡inne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Mary Kate Moloney (Clooney Quinn), Lauren McMahon (Newmarket), Mary Williams (Kilrush), Aoife Sheehan (Eire Og), Sophie Hanna (Eire Og), Molly Brannock (Doora Barefield). Management: Kieran Harvey , Linda Russell, Edel Conway, Johnny Hayes, Marie Louise Kaiser.

Kildare: Rebecca McGuirk (Suncroft), Rachel Corrigan (Naas), Michaela Nolan (castledermot), Ciara Conaty (Moorefield), Leah Early (Celbridge), Aisling Curley (Capt) (Moorefield), Michelle Curley (Moorefield), Eadaoin Connolly (Rathangan), Caoimhe Hayes (Kilcock), Shannon Doheny (Naas), Triana Duggan (Suncroft), Roisin Byrne (Sarsfield), Clare Fox (Sarsfield), Orla Gowran (Celbridge), Emer Fogarty (St. Laurences) Subs Aoife Hederman, Grace Clifford (Eadestown), Niamh Touhy (Eadestown), Orla Keoghegan (Cappagh), Clare Fox (Sarsfield), Niamh Hederman (Naas), Erica Burke (Balyna). Management Davy Burke, Kim Turner.

Referee: Michael Duffy (Tipperary)

Clare Minors Defeat Limerick in Munster Title

Snatched from the jaws of a possible nine point semi-final defeat, Clare's minor ladies footballers, sponsored by Ennis Electrical, have taken the Munster title against Limerick with style in Cooraclare last Wednesday. Sharpshooters, Orla Devitt, Aoife O'Gorman, Aisling Torpey and Alanna O'Brien were to repeat sterling performances in the Clare attack to dominate the Green and White from the outset.

Claire O'Riordan pointed for the visitors from the throw-in but by the third minute both O'Gorman and Torpey had announced their intentions by rattling the Limerick net. O'Riordan was back for her second Limerick point but Ellie O'Gorman had quickly negated that and a great Torpey spell had her convert a free and take a top drawer individual point from play. Kerrie Dillon worked hard for the opposition and pointed but a characteristic fifty metre run from Shauna Harvey from the depths of the Clare defence, yielded a point in the fifteenth minute to take the wind out of the visitor's
sails until the last kick of the first half. The presence of Ellie O'Gorman, Roisin Howley and Shauna O'Brien (back from injury) in this game was both timely and vital as they were immersed in the Saffron & Blue attack, releasing the scorers again and again. The second quarter was Orla Devitt's who could not be marshalled and she delivered a close range goal plus another from a twenty metre darting run. The impeccable timing and prowess of all the forwards was evident as O'Gorman returned to take a point and Nikki Kaiser's hard fought point signalled five of the six forwards on the board. Stephanie Carroll pulled a point back for Limerick just before the break but as Paddy Russell blew for the break it was 4-7 to 0-4 for the Saffron & Blue.

Limerick were to outscore Clare in the second half and they started with two points from Stephanie Carroll putting the back line of Rebecca Culligan, vice captain Edel McMahon and Roisin Rouine under pressure. However, they snuffed out a lot of play together with half backs Emer Hillery, Shauna Harvey and Munster skills champion Ellie O'Gorman. Two Torpey points (1 free) were interspersed by a Jackie Lynch score for Limerick. Attacking midfielder Alanna O'Brien, always involved now stepped up and contributed two rapid points recycling through Laura Egan and sister Shaunagh on the way. Limerick had a better second half and two points from Claire O'Riodan and
Jack Lynch kept them going all the way to the end. Clare custodian Aoife O'Neill took several balls off the goal-line and her clearances and distribution under pressure was her best performance of the campaign so far. Sensing the inevitable outcome, Limerick leaked three points from Devitt, Torpey and Kaiser in the closing five minutes a good indication of the veracity of this Clare panel. When Paddy Russell (Tipperary) concluded proceedings at 4-14 to 1-9 Clare had defied the odds and taken their first Munster Minor title since 2009 when they beat Cork, Dublin in the semi and were unlucky when Donegal beat them in the All-Ireland Final.

Clare: Aoife O'Neill (Eire Og), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Edel McMahon (Vice Capt) (Kilmihil), Roisin Rouine (Liscannor), Laura Egan (Kilmihil), Shauna Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Emer Hillery (Liscannor), , Alanna O'Brien (Eire Og), Shaunagh O'Brien (Eire Og), Orla Devitt (Eire Og), Aoife O'Gorman (Cooraclare), Rebecca Culligan (Banner Ladies), Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels), Aisling Torpey (Liscannor), Niki Kaiser (Newmarket-On-Fergus), Siobhan Behan (Doonbeg). Orlaith
Lynch (Banner Ladies), Shauna Crowley (Miltown) Sinead O'Keeffe (Banner Ladies), Niamh Reidy (Doorabarefield), Mary Kate Moloney (Clooney Quin), Molly Brannock (Doorabarefield), Aoife Sheehan (Eire Og), Sophie Hanna (Eire Og), Mary Williams (Kilrush), Ellie O'Gorman (Kilmihil), Fiona Loughman (Burren Gaels), Kayleigh McCormack (Burren Gaels).

Team Management: Kieran Harvey, Linda Russell, Edel Conway, Johnny Hayes. Physio Bernie Reagan, Marie Louise Kaiser.

Clare Minors Defeat Waterford in Munster Semi

Clare 5-8 Waterford 5-7

An epic Munster ladies minor football semi-final resurgence saw a fourteen player Clare team erode a nine point deficit to snatch victory by a point over a distraught Waterford team two minutes into injury time in Sean Tracey Park in Tipperary town. The Deise started spritely and had two points on the boards by the fourth minute from the strong Fiona Morrissey. An Aoife O'Gorman goal in response kept them in check but Hannah Landers and Clodagh Walsh were back with two more to go a point ahead. Clare had a good grip on the game and O'Gorman registered a Clare point as did Orla Devitt and Nikki Kaiser. When Devitt netted to send Clare five points ahead on twenty three minutes all seemed to be going well.
However, a straight red for a mistimed tackle by captain Roisin Looney rattled the saffron & blue and the resultant converted penalty was followed by another three pointer by Landers two minutes later. The remaining five minutes saw sisters Grainne & Shauna Harvey, Edel McMahon, Roisin Rouine, Laura Egan, Rebecca Culligan and Emer Hillery absorb a lot of pressure but one more foray into the Deise's danger zone saw Nikki Kaiser level the game at 2-4 a piece at the break.

On the restart Orlaith Lynch replaced the injured O'Gorman. Waterford's Hannah Landers had goaled and pointed within three minutes of the restart but when Aisling Torpey pulled back a pointed free there were signs of defiance despite the one player discrepancy. The Clare backs found the additional attacker hard to marshall and two rapid goals by the Deise to go nine points clear should have knocked the wind out the Clare sails but a marvelous spell of play began when Aisling Torpey goaled for Clare.
Alanna O'Brien was equally inspirational as she followed suit to close it to three. A very steady Torpey pointed two frees from massive Clare pressure by Orla Devitt, Nikki Kaiser and Orlaith Lynch who were covered by Grainne Harvey, Laura Egan, Edel McMahon and Emer Hillery who had a great game, as they held the middle ground. Torpey took another point from play to bring it to the minimum but Waterford managed to break out to point their last score and go two points up on full time. One last huge effort saw Hillery take Aoife O'Neills kickout and lay it off to the indefatigable Shauna Harvey who recycled it via Alanna O'Brien and Nikki Kaiser only to rocket it herself to the deepest part of the Waterford net to take the game 5-8 to 5-7. Ritchie O'Connor blew it up on the kickout and an ecstatic Clare were catapulted into the Munster Minor final against Limerick on May 5th.

This was a massive team performance as every player took responsibility in the final quarter when highlights were Aisling Torpey who chipped away at the nine point deficit, midfielder Alanna O'Brien who put herself constantly in the Waterford danger area, backs Edel McMahon & Laura Egan attacking the opposite full back line and Shauna Harvey's final surge in the thirty second minute to deliver the final result for Clare.

Clare: Aoife O'Neill (Eire Og), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Edel McMahon (Kilmihil), Roisin Rouine (Liscannor), Laura Egan (Kilmihil), Shauna Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Emer Hillery (Liscannor), Roisin Looney (Capt.) (Cooraclare), Alanna O'Brien (Eire Og), Orla Devitt (Eire Og), Aoife O'Gorman (Cooraclare), Rebecca Culligan (Banner Ladies), Aisling Torpey (Liscannor), Niki Kaiser (Newmarket-On-
Fergus), Siobhan Behan (Doonbeg). Subs Orlaith Lynch (Banner Ladies) for O'Gorman, Sinead O'Keeffe (Banner Ladies) for Siobhan Behan, Mary Kate Moloney (Clooney Quin), Aoife Sheehan (Eire Og), Sophie Hanna (Eire Og), Mary Williams (Kilrush), Nicole Burke (Kilrush).

Team Management: Kieran Harvey, Linda Russell, Edel Conway, Johnny Hayes. Physio Bernie Reagan, Marie Louise Kaiser.

Clare Ladies Gaelic Football