Champions too strong for Clare

Cork 2-10   Clare 1-5

THE ability of the visitors to convert scoring chances was the difference when Cork proved too strong for Clare in the Munster U-16 Championship semi-final at Feakle on Saturday.

Clare did have periods of dominance but they failed to capitalise on these occasions and this proved costly.
Cork enjoyed early dominance but outstanding play from Clare goalie Lauren Solan prevented them from taking a commanding lead

Hannah Looney, one of Cork’s stars, scored her side’s opening goal at the start of the second quarter but just before half-time, Emma O’Connell struck for a Clare goal after good work by Aoibheann Malone and this left just the minimum between the teams at the break, with the winners leading 1-4 to 1-3.

Cork extended their lead with some good points early in the second half and would surely have gone further ahead but for the heroics of Solan in the Clare goal.

Hopes of a Clare win were finally killed off as the game entered the closing stages. Ailbhe Dowling found the net from close range after Lisa Lynch’s effort from a free was saved.

The win has set up a repeat of last year’s final, with Cork going through to play Tipperary.

Cork: Chloe Casey; Lauren Casserly, Áine Crowley, Cliona O’Callaghan; Chloe Nason, Rebecca Walsh, Kelly Falvey; Erine Ní Dheumnsaigh, Michelle Barry; Lisa Lynch (0-2f), Hannah Looney (1-4), Michella Buckley; Hayley Ryan (0-2), Ailbhe Dowling (1-0), Katie O’Keeffe(0-2).
Subs: Lea McEvoy for O’Callaghan, Laura O’Neill for Buckley, Niamh O’Leary for Ryan and Hayley Fitzgerald for O’Keeffe.
Clare: Lauren Solan (Whitegate); Aoife Tuohy (Feakle), Megan O’Brien (St Joseph’s), Laura Brown (Éire Óg); Ashling McMahon (St Joseph’s), Aoife Keane (Inagh/Kilnamona), Niamh Whyte (Sixmilebridge); Ria Flanagan (Ballyea), Aoibheann Duggan (Clooney/Quin); Jessica Leamy (Clooney/Quin), Aoibheann Malone (Corofin), Lauren Tuohy (Clarecastle, 0-3f); Annemarie Hayes (Newmarket-on-Fergus, 0-1), Emma O’Connell (Ballyea, 1-0), Louise Browne (Corofin, 0-1).
Subs: Keelin Lyons (Sixmilebridge) for Leamy, Saoirse Glynn (Kilmaley) for Whyte, Kealy Power (Scariff/Ogonnelloe) for Duggan and Eva O’Dea (Corofin) for O’Connell.
Referee: Noel Coffey (Tipperary).