Last-minute goal secures semi-final spot

Clare 4-7
Dublin 3-9
CLARE qualified for the All-Ireland U-16 semi-final in the most dramatic of finishes on Saturday afternoon with a win over Dublin by the narrowest of margins.

As the rainclouds gathered over St Vincent’s in the final minutes of the game, Clare’s Gráinne Nolan struck for a goal, which saw Clare take a one-point lead, which Clare vigorously defended until the full-time whistle.
Both sides went into this game having suffered a defeat at the hands of Cork and with a semi-final spot at stake. Dublin opened the scoring with point from Ciara Begley and Maria McGrath had another point for Dublin within five minutes before Niki Kaiser pointed from a free for Clare.
Begley was again on target for Dublin when she converted a 45’. Dublin won the resulting puck-out and with some assured movement the sliotar found its way to the hand of corner-forward Ciara McGuigan, who rifled a shot to the Clare net.
Clare gained a much-needed boost when Kate O’Gorman gathered a lay-off from Kaiser and slotted it past Kate Whyte in the Dublin goals. Both sides traded points for the remainder of the half, leaving the half-time score 1-6 to 1-4 in favour of the Dubs. With such a slender lead, Dublin took to the field in fighting form for the second half and showed their determination to secure their spot in the semi-final, adding two goals and a point to their tally within eight minutes of the restart.
However, the Clare girls showed their composure and, led by their captain, Kaiser, started a determined fight-back. Kaiser pointed from a free for Clare before O’Gorman raised two successive green flags within four minutes of each other. Dublin responded with a pointed 45’ in the 20th minute, before the switch of Kaiser from corner-forward to midfield saw her give Clare an edge. She pointed twice more to reduce the deficit to two points with two minutes remaining. Dublin had the opportunity to stretch their lead to three points but Begley was wide of the mark.
Goalkeeper Pauline McNamara landed the puck-out to Kaiser, who laid off a pass to the full-forward line, and substitute Gráinne Nolan deftly flicked the sliotar to the net on the stroke of full-time, putting Clare in front by a point. The Banner girls showed immense determination and grit during the three minutes of added time, defending superbly.
“The girls gave it their all and showed great determination to fight back from nine points down early in the second half,” said manager Francis Browne.
Clare will face Kilkenny in the semi-final on April 23, while the other semi-final will be contested by Cork and Tipperary.
Clare: Pauline McNamara; Jane Flanagan, Ellen Roche, Shauna Fleming; Aislinn Keogh, Clodagh Lawlor, Eimear Casey; Aisling Corbett, Orla Devitt; Lauren Guilfoyle, Fiona Murphy (0-1), Ali Quinlan; Kate O’Gorman (3-2), Clodagh O’Halloran, Niki Kaiser (capt, 0-4).
Subs: Sinéad Kelly for Quinlan and Gráinne Nolan (1-0) for Guilfoyle.
Dublin: Kate Whyte; Laura Smith, Rachel Kenny, Elaine O’Leary; Ailise Dowling (1-0), Eva Marie Elliott, Claire Rigney; Sarah Murray (0-1), Maria McGrath (0-2); Orla Began (0-1), Ciara Berkeley (0-5), Doireann Mullaney; Ciara McGuigan (1-0), Ailsih O’Neill, Aishling Maher (capt, 1-0).
Referee: Alan Lagrue, Kildare.