Second half heroics just fall short of glorious comeback for Clare Minor Ladies

MUNSTER MINOR A CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
CORK 1-13 CLARE 2-7

If this Munster Final had gone on for another five minutes have no doubt that the Banner would be celebrating after a pulsating incredible fightback when all hope seemed lost. The second half of this unbelievable Munster Final saw Clare take the game to Cork outscoring the Rebels 2-4 to 0-4. Throwing the shackles off Clare pushed up on Cork pinning them back inside their own half. There were heroes all over the field with magical moments and drama aplenty. From keeper Jenna Murphy heroically saving a penalty to Lauren Conway’s brilliant goal these Banner girls gave every ounce of effort they could muster.

In the harsh reality where the winner takes all John O’Malley’s teams journey ends here as there are no second chances in this knock-out format which is extremely disappointing.

There is no doubt the damage was done in that opening twenty minutes where Clare seemed nervous and probably showed the red jersey too much respect.

The Banner did begin on the front foot but two early chances to raise the first flag of this Munster Final were squandered as the Rebels proceeded to put on a scoring masterclass. 1-8 without reply by the seventeenth minute gave these Clare girls a mountain to climb. To their credit though they battled bravely with full forward Abby Downes proving to be potent whenever the opportunity arose.

Some early indiscipline by Clare gave centre forward Deirdre Cronin easy opportunities from placed balls converting four in total in the opening thirty. The first major arrived in the 17th minute when a high delivery was spilled and pounced on by corner forward Amy Shepherd who blasted home. Clare’s best spell of the opening half followed when Downes landed three points in succession including a sublime score off her weaker foot after a jinking run. At the interval though it was the Rebel girls who headed to the dressing rooms in cruise control leading by nine on a 1-9 to 0-3 scoreline.

On the resumption of play, Cork landed the first four points in another ten-minute scoring blitz. At this juncture, one feared for these young Clare girls but throwing caution to the wind and playing with abandonment Clare roared back into this contest. There was only one team in it for the last fifteen minutes as Clare launched wave after wave of attacks. When Caoimhe Cahill goaled with a superb shot it brought the large Clare following to life but when Lauren Conway blasted home a superb individual goal the stands in Mallow erupted. The momentum was now all with Clare and only the crossbar prevented the most incredible of comebacks as midfielder Eimear Clune rattled the bar with a thunderous shot from just outside the 14.

Heartbreak for Clare in the end but there was a palpable sense of pride too as they never gave up, never dropped their heads and in fact showed an incredible spirit that everyone here will remember in as thrilling a finish to a Munster Minor Ladies Final as there has ever been.

Clare: Jenna Murphy (Kilrush), Eabha O’Malley (Miltown Malbay), Ellis O’Flaherty (Doora Barefield), Catriona Byrne (Miltown Malbay), Aine Longe (Banner), Emer Burke (Banner), Caoimhe Ryan (Banner), Cliodhna Queally (Miltown Malbay), Eimear Clune (Doora Barefield), Sophie Torpey (Doora Barefield), Lauren Conway (Doonbeg), Caoimhe Cahill (Banner), Lyndsay Clarke (Doora Barefield), Abby Downes (Miltown Malbay), Lucy Shanahan (Doonbeg) Subs: Keelin Fitzgerald (Banner) for C Ryan (42), Grainne Burke (Banner) for E Burke (45), Maria Wallace (Kilrush) for S Torpey (58)

Scorers: Abby Downes 0-5 (3f), Caoimhe Cahill, Lauren Conway 1-0 each, Lyndsay Clarke, Lucy Shanahan 0-1 each

Cork: Caoimhe Richmond (Glanmire), Molly Burke (Mourneabbey), Amy McKennedy (Tadgh Maccarthaigh), Laura Mahoney (St.Peters), Millie Condone (Clonakillty), Lia Heffernan (Banteer), Ava Fitzgerald (Glanmire), Kate Williamson (Mourneabbey), Lily Murray (Bride Rovers), Brianna Smith (Ath Fhada), Deirdre Cronin (Mourneabbey), Niamh McNabola (St.Valentine’s), Aine Hallahan (Lisgoold), Ciara Morrison (Bride Rovers), Amy Shepherd (St.Valentine’s) Subs: Grace Cronin (Mourneabbey) for M Burke (42), Orlaith Cremmin (Eire Og) for D Cronin (42), Siofra Pattwell Clonakillty for B Smith (49), Amy O’Riordan (Ballinora) for L Heffernan (49), Shauna Sheehan (Eire Og) for C Morrison (56)

Scorers: Deirdre Cronin 0-6 (5f), Amy Shepherd 1-1, Kate Williamson, Ciara Morrison 0-2 each, Niamh McNabola, Aine Hallahan 0-1 each

Referee: Eamon Moran