Moloney leads way as Clare reach All-Ireland final

Clare 7-16
Roscommon 4 -12

Clare booked a place in the All-Ireland Minor B Ladies’ Football final when they overcame the challenge of Roscommon in a high-scoring tie at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe on Saturday.

 

In searing heat and high humidity, the side trained by John Burke and managed by Davy Browne deservingly captured the honours with an impressive display.

Clare were comfortable enough winners in the end but an improved display will be needed if they are to lift the All-Ireland trophy in early August. Clare struggled at midfield throughout Saturday’s game, which resulted in the defence having a busy time coping with the waves of possession that the Roscommon attack was gaining. Clare full-back Amy O’Brien was in fine form and was well supported by Orlaith Lynch, Marie Foran and Emer Hillary in keeping the opposition at bay. Conceding 4 -12 will be a worry for the Clare management as they prepare for the final.

The ability of the Clare forwards to find the target was key to victory. In this department, Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s Chloe Moloney was particularly impressive. She contributed 3-5 of her team’s tally and she also played a key part in setting up many of the remaining scores.

The arrival of Éire Óg’s Orla Devitt into the action in the second half was also important and she struck for a brace of goals in the space of a few minutes, which was a big blow to Roscommon hopes. These goals were critical and swung the game firmly in Clare’s favour.

Few could have predicted the final high scoreline after 10 minutes when each side had just 0-1 to their credit.

Clare lived dangerously during this opening period and were fortunate that the Roscommon forward-line missed several gilt-edged scoring opportunities to open up a substantial lead. Clare settled however, and Moloney fired them into the lead with an 11th minute point. Gráinne Nolan extended this two minutes later when raising another white flag from a free. Clare then had a lucky escape when Roscommon’s most dangerous forward, Saoirse McManus, broke through the Clare rearguard but the Clann na nGael player blasted the ball over the bar when a goal was at her mercy. McManus had already had another great goal chance blocked by Aoife O’Neill in the ninth minute.

Nolan and Roscommon’s Joan Geoghegan swapped points before Nolan again was at the end of a superb move involving Shauna Harvey and Chloe Moloney to score the best point of the game on 23 minutes. Clare’s first goal came a minute later when a high ball into the Roscommon danger area was poorly dealt with by the defence and Moloney pounced on the loose ball, rounded the last defender and shot to the net. Clare looked to be in total control when Aoife O’Gorman found the net with three minutes left to the break.

Roscommon thundered back and two goals in a minute from McManus and Lisa Flynn could have upset Clare but Moloney scored an invaluable settling point just after the second Roscommon goal. The Kilmurry-Ibrickane youngster wasn’t finished and deep in injury time she again found the net to give her team a huge boost and leave them leading by 3 -7 to 2 -3 at the break.

Laura Egan was replaced at half-time by Orla Devitt and this switch was to yield significant dividends in the second half. Niki Kaiser also got on the ball much more when switched to centre-field for the second period. Still Roscommon continued to dominate in this vital area and put significant pressure on Clare for the first 10 minutes of the second half, outscoring the winners by four points to one to narrow the gap to four points.

Moloney lifted the siege again for Clare with a point on 40 minutes, which was quickly followed by an excellent score from wing-back, Orlaith Lynch. Then came the first of Devitt’s two goals on 41 minutes. Roscommon replied with a point but Devitt was on hand again on 45 minutes to receive a peach of a pass from Moloney before shooting to the net.

Roscommon’s challenge wilted in following Devitt’s second goal and while they did score 2-4 before the match ended, Clare were in control and tagged on 2-6 of their own, with the goals coming from Doonbeg’s Nollaig Blake and Moloney. Niki Kaiser also got herself on the score-sheet and second half substitute Carla Behan helped herself to a brace of points.

Clare: Aoife O’Neill; Joanne Howley, Amy O’Brien, Shauna Harvey; Emer Hillary, Marie Foran, Orlaith Lynch (0-1); Aisling Corbett, Laura Egan; Katie Connole (0-1), Niki Kaiser (0-1), Nollaig Blake (1-0); Aoife O’Gorman (1-0), Chloe Moloney (3-5), Grainne Nolan (0-6).
Subs: Orla Devitt (2-0), Carla Behan (0-2), Aoife Keane, Eva O’Dea, Sinéad Considine.
Roscommon: Rachel Timothy; Megan Kelly, Aoife Jones, Natasha Regan; Sorcha Bruen, Orla O’Neill, Aisling McAuliffe; Emer Wallace, Aisling Hanley; Lisa Flynn (3-3), Joan Geoghegan (0-1), Kayleigh Dunning (0-1); Saoirse McManus (1-3), Saffron Cull (0-1), Triona Kelly.
Subs: Lea Lavin (0-1), Judy McDermott (0-1), Áine Ryan (0-1).
Referee: PJ Rabbitte, Galway.