All-Ireland U18 Championship Round 3

A sluggish start was well shaken off by the Clare girls who with eight minutes gone trailed the visitors by 1-02 to 0-02. Clare had leveled matters by the 16th and while Galway tagged on two more by the 24th this was all they would muster for the first half while Clare hit a purple patch and added 1-05 to their account. Clare were dominating center back and mid-field and with the plentiful supply of ball to the forwards Clare continued to dominate in the second half and added a further 1-07 to Galway’s 0-02 both coming of placed balls.

Carina Roseingrave was a constant thorn in the Galway side and was first on the score sheet with a point from play. Tara Rutledge added a brace for the Tribeswomen before Shona Enright, who was deadly accurate from the placed ball all night, leveled matters. A moment of hesitation in the Clare defense led to the Galway goal as the defense failed to clear the lines and Tara Connelly snuck in behind for goal. Clare added to next four scores as they leveled and went one clear through Roseingrave and three Enright points with one from play. Clare were dominating in most sectors of the field by this stage and were unlucky on two occasions for goal as a power shot from Roseingrave hit the upright and Aine O’Brien was also denied. Fionnla Keely and Tara Rutledge added points for Galway before Enright converted a æ45 to level matters again. Clare never let their guard down from here on as Stephanie Moloney set up Roseingrave on her way to a point and from the puck out a through ball from Aine O’Brien set Roseingrave up for her first goal of the evening. The Clare half forward line were well on top now with Stephanie Moloney particularly strong. Niamh Corry set up Moloney for the first of two first half points from the Broadford girl just before the break. This gave Clare a half time lead of 1-10 to 1-06.
Clare took up in the second period just where they left of in the first and Shona Enright with a free and a converted æ45 with a Moloney point from a Chloe Morey delivered free had Clare well on their way. Galway were trying hard through Tara Rutledge and Noreen Coen to get back into the game but the Clare girls were much fitter and stronger and the Galway resurgence never go going. Noreen Coen pointed from a free, when Roisin McMahon was yellow carded. Enright replied with the first of three frees for the Banner though as they continued to press home their advantage. Rosiengrave had the last of the Clare scores as Corry put her through for a point and good work from Moloney sent her through for the games last score and Roseingrave’s second goal.

The first 10 minutes a-side this was a very clinical Clare performance. This now sees them qualify for an All-Ireland semi-final spot the hope will be to top the group and hope to see the Banner avoid Kilkenny in that semi-final. While the first step of qualifying has been achieved it is acknowledged that Clare will need to keep improving to get on the way to wining that semi-final. A win over Dublin in ten days time will certainly be another step on the way.

Chloe Morey, Carol Kaiser, Roisin McMahon, Stephanie Moloney, Carina Roseingrave, Aine O’Brien and Shona Enright did very well on an evening when the defense was not really tested.

Clare: Susan Vaughan, Niamh Martin, Kate Lynch, Carol O’Leary, Sarah Reidy, Roisin McMahon, Carol Kaiser, Aine O’Brien, Chloe Morey, Stephanie Moloney(0-03), Shona Enright(0-10, 7 fr, 2-45′), Niamh Corry, Carina Roseingrave(c)(2-04), Roisin O’Brien, Aoife Griffin Subs: Mary Clune for R O’Brien, Michelle Caulfield for Reidy, Aisling Hannon for Martin, Sinead O’Halloran for A O’Brien and Aine McNamara for Vaughan.

Galway: Adelle Grealish, Marie Duane, Aisling Hobbins, Aisling Keane, Claire Killeen, Katie O’Dwyer, Ciara Kennedy, Christina Brennan, Caoimhe Staunton, Catriona Lee, Noreen Coen, Becky McCafferty, Fionula Keely, Tara Connelly, Tara Rutledge
Ref: Eamon Browne, Tipperary
Player of the Game: Carina Roseingrave

– Orla Considine, Clare PRO

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