Clare U16 Path to All-Ireland Semi-Final 2012

 U16C Championship All-Ireland Final

 Sat 25th August, 2:30 at Banagher. Referee Jason Mullins.

Clare 3-8   V   3-9 Leitrim 

U16C Championship All-Ireland Semi-Final

Sat. August 11th 2012. 2pm at St. Brendans Park, Birr Referee Mags Doherty

Clare 10-13   V   1-7 Meath

(Senior match Clare V Meath follows at 4:15pm)

Munster U16C Championship Final

May 19th Adare. Referee Derek Carroll

Clare 2-09 Limerick 2-07

Munster U16B Championship Round 3

April 28th Wolfe Tones. Referee Jimmy Butler.

Clare 5-20 Limerick 2-05

Munster U16B Championship Round 2

April 11th Coolmeen. Referee Eamonn Phelan

Clare 1-06 Waterford 2-10

Munster U16B Championship Round 1

April 4th Doonbeg. Referee Eamonn Phelan

Clare 0-05 Tipperary 5-12

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 U16C All-Ireland Final

 Clare 3-8                              Leitrim 3-9

Clare lost out to Leitrim in the U16C All-Ireland final by a single point in Banagher last Saturday in a thrilling down to the wire encounter. The Banner girls were in control up to the twentieth minute but a first half stoppage time blitz by Leitrim saw them take a lead they would not relinquish.

Clare started spritely and Carla Behan was on the board on three minutes with a fine individual goal taken under pressure. A lovely passage from Behan and Aine Browne then set up Aoibheann Malone for Clare’s second point in two minutes. Aine Browne worked tirelessly in the half forward line and she set up Laura Rynne soon after to take Clare’s third point. Some good defending by Rachel O’Toole, Sinead Considine and Joann Howley damped a lot of the Leitrim vigour but Emma Guckian pointed their first on eleven minutes. Things were looking good when midfielder Laura Rynne’s effort came back off the cross bar but sustained pressure by the Banner county attack saw Carla Behan fouled in the goalmouth. Grainne Nolan netted the resulting penalty to make it 1-3 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. When Leitrim had a player sin-binned  Clare didn’t handle the advantage well. Leitrim pressure forced a good save from Aoife O’Neill as she palmed over a certain goal. However, referee Jason Mullins disallowed it for a previous infringement but they returned to take the goal a minute later, a sign of a determined streak developing in the Leitrim side. When a harsh decision reduced the Clare side to ten players, The Ridge County levelled with two points on twenty eight minutes. In the next four minutes of stoppage time, a full Leitrim side also added 2-1 in a spell that had the Clare defence reeling and they went in at half time leading 3-4 to 1-3.

With a daunting task ahead, Clare leaked another point on the resumption to go down eight points. As has been the case in several minor games this year, Orla Devitt would be the catalyst to spark the Clare reaction and her fifth minute goal would be followed by points from herself and Roisin Considine. A Leitrim point in the same period brought the gap to four points. Substitutes Katie Connolle goaled on ten minutes gone but the Ridge County pulled one back before Jenny Ryan pointed soon after to leave the minimum between the teams 3-6 to 3-7. After Clare’s Grainne Nolan free came off the crossbar with seven minutes to go, Leitrim broke out to point themselves two ahead. Great work by Sinead Consdine, Rosin Considine and Grainne Harvey had the ball back in the opponents side and Devitt was over the bar to reduce it to the minimum again. In fairness to Leitrim they wanted the win just as badly and they pulled away to a two point margin with twenty eight minutes gone. Again, Clare were back in the last minute, via Eva O’Dea and Aine Browne who released Aoibheann Malone for the last score of the game but it was too late and Leitrim weathered a blistering second half to take the title by a whisker.

All credit to the Clare girls who did everything asked of them in the second half and were just inspirational to watch as they outscored their opponents by six points in the second half. However, they paid a heavy price for letting their opponents do just that to them in first half stoppage time.

Clare Panel: Aoife O'Neil (Eire Og), Rachel O'Toole (Wolfe Tones), Sinead Considine (Liscannor), Joanne Howley                (Burren Gaels), Sinead Quinn (Banner Ladies), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Roisin Considine (Liscannor), Marie Foran (West Clare Gaels), Laura Rynne (Miltown), Aine Browne (Kilrush),  Orla Devitt (Eire Og), Nollaig Blake (Doonbeg),  Aoibhainn Malone (Banner Ladies), Grainne Nolan (Banner Ladies) Carla Behan (Shannon Gaels) Subs Used:Katie Connolle (Burren Gaels) (Capt), Jenny Ryan (Kilrush), Eva O'Dea (Banner Ladies), Chloe Normoyle (Coolmeen), Aoife Keane (Banner Ladies). Subs: Amy O'Brien (Burren Gaels), Emer Casey (Doora- Barefield), Amy Keane (West Clare Gaels), Sophie Devanny (Coolmeen), Gillian Finnucane (Coolmeen),  Fionnula Nagle (Fergus Rovers), Aisling McMahon (Doora Barefield),  Susie Williams (Kilrush), Kay Walsh (Kilrush),Tara Comber (Kilmurry Ibrickane). Mgmt: Joe Downes (Cooraclare), Martin Nolan (Banner Ladies), Roisin Garry (Kilmihil), Edel Malone (Fergus Rovers),Sharon Malone (Eire Og), Physio; Bernie Reagan.

 U16C All-Ireland Semi-Final

Clare 10-13         Meath 1-7

In a great year for ladies football, Clare’s third underage team to take to the national stage this season will play in the U16C All-Ireland Final having taken a comprehensive win over Meath last Saturday in the opening match of the Clare/Meath double header in Birr. The seniors also had a successful outing in their All-Ireland qualifier.

The Clare juveniles were never in any danger as they despatched Meath in a one sided affair that produced twenty three scores for the Saffron and Blue (including ten goals) to Meath’s one goal and seven points. Meath opened from the throw-in with a Sarah O’Brien point but in the intervening twenty minutes to their next score, Clare would clock up 3-6 starting with a penalty foul on Orla Devitt which Grainne Nolan converted. Devitt and Nolan would dominate the Banner attack, distributing as much as scoring. Contributions to the board from midfielder Laura Rynne, wing back Roisin Considine and forwards  Aine Browne and Jenny Ryan were sparked from midfield dominance in the opening twenty minutes by Rynne and captain Katie Connolle. The Royals clawed back 1-3 before the break but a good defence that included Rachel O’Toole, Sinead Quinn, Joanne Howley, Sinead Considine  and Marie Foran soon cut off supply but not before Aoife O’Neill pulled off another point blank save preventing a certain Meath goal.  Before Mags Doherty (Wexford) blew up the first half, Orla Devitt had goaled, followed up by a Jenny Ryan point restoring a twelve point advantage to the Banner County. 4-7 to 1-4

The Royals resumed with vigour and had three points scored in the first quarter but that was the extent of their efforts. Aoibheann Malone enjoyed a four point run that saw the Saffron and Blue swarm the Meath end for the remainder of the game. Orla Devitt then began the 6-3 frenzy for the last nine minutes that saw her and Chloe Normoyle take two each. Carla Behan and Malone finished with 1-1 each and Laura Rynne pointed her second of the game.

A strong Clare panel that includes recent minor All-Ireland Champions Aoife O’Neill, Orla Devitt (Minor Munster Final Player of the Final), Grainne Harvey and Marie Foran proved too much for a Meath side that did not perform as expected. Roisin Considine, Aine Bowne and Marie Foran worked very hard to push Clare forward from the middle third while Sinead Considine was very steady at full back.   

The Clare U16s will now endeavour to bring home Clare third underage title of the year as they face Leitrim on Saturday August 25^th in the U16C All-Ireland Final. Leitrim recorded a 6-17 to 2-12 win over Down in their semi-final.

U-16 munster final v Limerick 

The Clare Ladies U-16 Football team had a narrow 2-9 to 2-7 win over Limerick on Saturday in the Munster C Final which took place in Adare, Co. Limerick. It was clear from the throw in that this was not going to be a repeat of the Clare ladies easy win over Limerick in the preliminary rounds of the Championship.

From the off it was end to end stuff and after 14 minutes only two points had been registered on the scoreboard and they were in Clare's favour. In the Clare half, Player of the Match, Aoife O Neill was having a great game in the Clare goals, pulling off save after save to keep Limerick at bay. She was well assisted by her defenders in the full back line who despite being put under huge pressure managed to keep the Limerick attackers, particularly Deborah Murphy and Megan Kelliher at bay. Clare had a purple patch just before half time with two Clare goals coming from Orla Devitt and Aoife Keane. It could have been more but Aoife Keane's other attempt on goal went just wide of the mark and Captain Katie Connole, was unfortunate to have her shot on goal hit the upright and came back into play. Marie Foran playing in the centre half back position was outstanding and as a whole, the combined defensive unit was having a great game. At half time the score was Clare 2-3 to Limerick's 0-2.

In the second half, Limerick came out full of intent but the Clare girls added another three points to their scores before Limerick finally breached the Clare defence and scored a goal and a point. After 14 minutes of the second half the score was now Clare 2-6 and Limerick 1-3 but the momentum had swung in Limericks favour and they were pushing forward picking off their points and also adding another goal. A few chances not taken by the Clare girls left the teams level on 2-7 apiece with 5 minutes remaining. Clare had a chance to regroup when an injury to full back Clodagh Kirby from Limerick caused a stoppage of 7 or 8 minutes while she received attention. When the game restarted Clare substitute Grainne Harvey settled the Clare girls with a fine point from play and another point from Aoife Keane stretched the lead to two points when the ref blew the whistle for full time much to the relief of the Clare team, mentors and supporters. All in all a well-deserved team victory for this panel of girls who have trained very hard over the past few months.

Aoife O Neill was presented with the Player of the match trophy and Captain Katie Connole received the Munster U-16 C trophy on behalf of her team colleagues from Munster President Brian Enright.

Clare: Aoife O Neill (Eire Og), Rachel O Toole (Wolfe Tones), Sinead Considine (Liscannor), Joanne Howley (Burren Gaels), Amy O Brien (Burren Gaels), Marie Foran (West Clare Gaels), Roisin Considine (Liscannor), Laura Rynne (Miltown), Aine Browne (Kilrush), Orla Devitt (Eire Og) (1-1), Katie Connole (Burren Gaels) Captain, Tara Comber (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Aoibhainn Malone (Banner Ladies), (0-1), Aoife Keane (Banner Ladies),(1-2), Grainne Nolan ( Banner Ladies), (0-4)

Substitutes: Eva O Dea (Banner Ladies) for Aine Browne (Kilrush), Carla Behan (Shannon Gaels) for Tara Comber and Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), (0-1) for Laura Rynne Amy Keane (West Clare Gaels), Chloe Normoyle (Coolmeen), Sophie Devenney (Coolmeen), Gillian Finucane (Coolmeen), Fionnuala Nagle (Fergus Rovers), Eimer Casey (Doora Barefield), Aisling McMahon (Doora Barefield), Nollaig Blake (Doonbeg), Ciara Davenport (Doora Barefield), Emma Neylon (Banner Ladies), Kay Walsh (Kilrush), Sinead Quinn (Banner Ladies)

Team Management: Joe Downes, Roisin Garry, Edel Malone and Sharon Malone.

Clare U16 V Limerick Rnd 3 Munster Champs 

The Clare Ladies U -16's took on Limerick on Saturday in Wolfe Tones Pitch in Shannon. This was the final game of the Munster Championship and it had already been established that both teams would play each other again in the Munster 'C' Final.

Clare started well and after a couple of minutes were up by four points to no score. A quick break by Limerick and a mix up in the Clare defence meant that Limerick were right back in it with a goal. Not to be deterred the Banner ladies kept their cool and soon they were putting points over from almost impossible angles. Another goal from
Limerick Forward Leanne Hartnett kept them in touch for a short while but great work
by the forwards had the Clare Ladies leading at half time by 3 - 12 to Limericks 2 - 2.
Grainne Nolan (Banner Ladies) who was having a great game had a personal tally of 2-5 at half time.
Clare Ladies kept the pressure on in the second half and goals from Captain Katie Connole (Burren Gaels) and Aoife Keane (Banner Ladies) helped put the game beyond doubt for the Clare Ladies. An overall good team performance, the final score ended up 5-20 to 2-5. Good performances on the day from Clare's Grainne Nolan, Orla Devitt, Katie Connole, Laura Rynne, Sinead Quinn and Marie Foran.

Clare: Aoife O Neill (Eire Og), Rachel O Toole (Wolfe Tones), Sinead Considine
(Liscannor), Joanne Howley (Burren Gaels), Marie Foran (West Clare Gaels), Sinead
Quinn (Banner Ladies), Roisin Considine (Liscannor), Laura Rynne (Miltown) (0-2),
Aine Browne (Kilrush)(0-1),Tara Comber (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Katie Connole (Burren
Gaels)(2-1), Orla Devitt (Eire Og)(0-6), Grainne Nolan (Baner Ladies) (2-6), Aoife
Keane (Banner Ladies)(0-3), Aoibheann Malone (Banner Ladies)(1-2).

Subs: Eva O Dea (Banner Ladies) for Rachel O Toole, Sophie Devenny(Coolmeen) for
Sinead Considine, Gillian Finucane (Coolmeen) for Joanne Howley, Emer Casey (Doora Barefield) for Laura Rynne and Amy O Brien (Burren Gaels) for Grainne Nolan.
Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Rebecca Devine (Doora Barefield), Amy Keane
(West Clare Gaels), Emma Neylon (Banner Ladies), Chloe Normoyle (Coolmeen),
Fionnuala Nagle (Fergus Rovers), Nollaig Blake (Doonbeg), Aisling McMahon (Doora
Barefield), Ciara Davenport (Doora Barefield), Carla Behan (Shannon Gaels), Susie
Williams (Kilrush), Kay Walsh (Kilrush)