Clare GAA – O’Sullivan and Hansbury U14 B Final Replay

O’Sullivan and Hansbury U14 B Final Replay
Clooney 2-03 v 1-04 Kilkishen
Just as the first game had done this game also enthralled all supporters until the final whistle. Kilkishen had again lead for most of this game having played with the strong wind in the first half. Kilkishen looked the stronger team and had some fine outfield displays along with Pauline McNamara in goals who had denied Clooney a way back into the game on several occasions. Clooney never gave up the chase though and were sheer proof that every game has to be played to its last. Scores were few in the game as both sides worked very hard and Clooney got their break just as full time was approaching. The game having had a number of stoppages went into injury time and Kilkishen were just unable to pull back the one point difference and Clooney with renewed energy added a further point for that bit of breathing space.
Kilkishen’s Kate O’Gorman lining out at full forward was first on the score board with a fine point after five minutes. Clooney were working against the wind and were strong on the ball as this didn’t prevent them from having their own attacks and one of these gave Nicole O’Riordan goal opportunity which was gladly converted after eight minutes to put Clooney into the lead. Kilkishen were piling on the pressure in this first half but the Clooney defence was holding firm, with Sarah Radford and Emma Sheehy particularly strong. Kilkishen forced a free and Kate O’Gorman converted. Continued pressure put Amy Philpott in on goal and Shauna Ryan who also had a good game in between the Clooney posts was beaten. Aine Cooney had the last score of the half when she converted a free for Kilkishen five minutes before the break and Kilkishen went in at half time leading 1-03 to 1-00.
Clooney had the wind advantage in the second period and opened brightly with a point from Kate McCarthy after just four minutes. There were very few scores to the end of the game and with many stoppages it was the 23rd minute before the next score was registered with Kate O’Gorman of Kilkishen the provider. During this period Kilkishen’s Antoinette Keane, Shauna Fleming, Amy Heffernan and Aine Cooney were pressing hard for the advantage while holding out the Clooney attacks. Pauline McNamara in goals for Kilkishen had many fine saves to make as the Clooney contingent wondered what they would have to do to breach her line. This they managed though when a ball broke loose and for once the Kilkishen backs had been pulled out of position and Hannah O’Sullivan was first onto the breaking ball and with a sharp strike had McNamara beaten. Aisling Corbett who had been the Clooney engine at mid-field had converted a free just before this and Clooney were now a point to the good with time very definitely running out. Kilkishen did have one last chance at attacking but this chance was cleared by a Clooney full back line of Lorraine Ryan, Emma Sheehy and Lorraine Conheady who had been strong throughout. Clooney had new energy for the closing minutes as it was sapped from their opponents and Aisling Corbett pointed tp seal victory to the delight of the Clooney girls.
Aisling Corbett, Emma Sheedy, Sarah Radford, Kate McCarthy and Rebecca Kennedy were best for Clooney while Shauna Fleming, Pauline McNamara, Michelle Canny, Antoinette Keane, Amy Heffernan, Aine Cooney and Kate O’Gorman were best for Kilkishen.
County Secretary Mary Hogan along with Raymond Ryan representing O’Sullivan and Hansbury presented the cup afterwards as Mary commended both sides on two wonderful games of camogie where it had looked that extra time was going to be needed to separate the sides. She also paid tribute to Vera Loughnane who was present on her All-Ireland Feile Skills win the previous weekend. And the cup was presented to Sarah Radford of Clooney.
Clooney: Shauna Ryan, Lorraine Ryan, Emma Sheehy, Lorraine Conheady, Jennifer Leamy, Sarah Radford, Laura Costello, Aisling Corbett, Jennifer Costello, Cora O’Grady, Kate McCarthy, Nicole O’Riordan, Siobhan McCarthy, Hannah O’Sullivan, Rebecca Kennedy Subs: Maria Hehir, Rebecca Dicks, Ciara McMahon, Marissa Corbett, Emma Barry, Cathy Halpin, Haley Kitson, Lena O’Halloran, Kate Daffy, Maggie Nihill, Bernadette McNamara, Marie Duffy, Hannah O’Brien, Shauna Duggan, Jessica Leamy
Kilkishen: Pauline McNamara, Megan Ryan, Michelle Canny, Niamh Lenihan, Claudia Loughnane, Antoinette Keane, Shauna Fleming, Aine Cooney, Amy Heffernan, Kate O’Gorman, Deirdre Minogue, Breda Cooney, AnneMarie Cotter, Amy Philpott, Clodagh O’Halloran Subs: Fionula Cotter, Emma Dillon, Tara McLoughlin, Emma Vaughan, Donna Kierse
Ref: Fergal Gray, Feakle

-Orla Considine, Clare PRO

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