Laois 2-12
Clare 2-7
Ivan Smyth
Eight minutes in to this Lidl Ladies National Football League opening round encounter it would have taken a brave punter to predict this final score line.

Clare led by 2-2 to no score with Fidelma Marrinan running riot in the opening exchanges. However, Laois slowly worked their way in to the contest as they began to turn the screw on a Clare side who were unable to handle their opponents front foot pressure.

Last year’s Division Three champions outscored their opponents by 2-12 to 0-5 for the remainder of the contest as their pressure from the front stopped the quality supply of ball to the Clare forward unit.

Laois fired over 2-8 without reply either side of half time. Fidelma Marrinan, who finished with 2-6 to her name, was starved of possession for much of the final three quarters of this game.
Clare may point to three spurned goal chances in the second half with Caitriona Callinan and Fidelma Marrinan both denied by exceptional stops from Laois ‘keeper Eimear Barry as the latter also seeing an effort fly past the posts.

However, those chances came when Laois had built up a healthy lead with Mo Nerney starring up front as she finished with 2-5 to her name. Livewire wing forward Erone Fitzpatrick fired over four points from play for the winners.

Evan Talty’s side won’t panic after this defeat as they seek to build depth come Championship time. With Clare only playing two more group games, the Clare manager rung the changes in the second half with unlimited substitutions allowed in the league campaign.

After Marrinan’s well taken brace of goals in the opening eight minutes, Clare looked in complete control. The Leinster side refused to panic as they gradually chipped away at the lead with Nerney’s 26th minute goal just reward for Laois’ persistence. The corner forward levelled the game moments later before Laura-Marie Maher gave Laois a 1-7 to 2-3 half time lead.

The interval did little to stem the Laois tide with Fitzpatrick pointing before Nerney put the contest beyond Clare. Emily Corbett powered through the heart of the Clare defence before offloading to Shifra Havill. The corner forward in turn found Nerney who dispatched the ball to the net.

Nerney’s brace and a Fitzpatrick strike gave Laois an insurmountable 2-11 to 2-3 lead and although Clare showed heart to fire four of the last five points, they fell to an opening round defeat.

Clare are now scheduled to face Kerry next Saturday at home with the pressure on to pick up points as they seek to avoid a relegation battle.

Clare

: Micaela Glynn (Kilmihil), Orla Devitt (Éire Óg), Tara Kelly (Cúil Gaels), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Lauren Griffin (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (Banner), Roisin Looney (Cooraclare), Ellie O’Gorman (Kilmihil), Aisling Reidy (St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Aoife Keane (Banner), Amy Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Caitriona Callinan (Kilmihil), Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels). Subs Used: Sinead O’Keeffe (Banner), Lizzy Roche (Burren Gaels), Gráinne Nolan (Banner), Emma McMahon (Cúil Gaels), Ciara McCarthy (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Aoibheann Malone (Banner), Louise Griffin (Fergus Rovers), Sinead Considine (Liscannor).
Scorers: Fidelma Marrinan (2-6, 1f), Ellie O’Gorman (0-1)
Laois

: Eimear Barry, Clodagh Dunne, Amy Potts, Aimee Kelly, Anna Healy, Ellen Healy, Rachel Williams, Orla Hennessy, Jane Moore, Emma Lawlor, Emily Corbett, Erone Fitzpatrick, Mo Nerney, Laura-Marie Maher, Shifra Havill. Subs Used: Fiona Dooley, Sarah Anne Fitzgerald, Alanna Havill, Sarah Quigley. Scorers

: Mo Nerney (2-5, 2f), Erone Fitzpatrick (0-4), Rachel Williams, Emma Lawlor and Laura-Marie Maher (0-1 each),
Referee: Paul Burke (Louth).