LGFA All-Ireland U-16C Final
Clare 3-18
Wicklow 4-7
JASON Ryan’s Banner charges can now set their sights on the promised land of an All-Ireland final after a second-half performance that matched their first-half dominance. Clare were the better team throughout the opening 30 minutes, but profligacy cost them — 10 wides to Wicklow’s three left them trailing 1-5 to 0-5 at the break despite doing most of the attacking. The scoreline flattered Wicklow, but it was a wake-up call Ryan’s side answered in emphatic fashion, writes Derek Dormer.
Championship matches are won on the bench as much as on the pitch. Ryan rolled the dice early in the second-half and it paid off spectacularly. The introductions of Ali Donnelly, Ciara Healy and Lucy Watson changed the entire complexion of the game. Donnelly took control from centre-back with a display full of poise and authority, Healy’s pace tore holes in the Wicklow defence, and Watson brought a clinical edge in front of goal. Between them, Watson and Healy combined for 2-5, but the influence of Donnelly from deep was just as crucial.
Wicklow did land the first score after the restart to push their lead out to four points. For a moment it looked like they might pull away. Instead, Clare responded with a blitz of 1-7 without reply. The Banner were flying by the second water break, six points clear and on course for the final. Nothing is ever that easy though and incredibly two Wicklow majors inside sixty seconds, thunderbolt finishes from Mellon and Nuzam, dragged the Garden County level for the fifth time.
The Banner wouldn’t be denied though and from the restart Ali Donnelly collected possession, transferred it to Caoimhe McMahon who popped it to Healy who showed ice-cold composure to soccer style the ball to the net past the advancing Hazel Prendergast. You could see the belief drain from Wicklow. McMahon won the next restart and pointed immediately, and when Watson added a third Clare goal the result was settled. A late Wicklow goal gave the scoreline respectability, but it couldn’t spoil the mood among the Banner faithful.
Clare now look forward to an All-Ireland final in two weeks’ time against Northern opposition in the form of Derry. Best for the Banner were Caoimhe McMahon, Aoibhin Keane, Zoey Warren and the game-changing impact of the three substitutes Donnelly, Healy and Watson who lit up the Annacough venue.
Moving the goalposts head off their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
The Clare team in a huddle before their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhín Daly of Clare in action against Clodagh McKeon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhín Daly of Clare in action against Clodagh McKeon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Anna Donnelly of Clare in action against X Kate Healy of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhín Daly of Clare in action against Katie Nuzam of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Sophie Hurley of Wicklow in action against Chloe McNamara of Clare during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Róisín McMahon of Clare in action against Nessa Clancy of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Caoimhe McMahon of Clare in action against Sophie Hurley of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhín Daly of Clare in action against Laoise Mellon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Chloe McNamara of Clare in action against Laoise Mellon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Chloe McNamara of Clare in action against Laoise Mellon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Eoghan O’Neill, Referee, during the All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Caoimhe McMahon of Clare in action against Sophie Hurley of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Ruby Lillis of Clare in action against Mary Corrigan of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Caoimhe McMahon of Clare in action against Laoise Mellon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
A stuck ball is dislodged from the top of the goal net during the All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Clodagh McKeon of Wicklow in action against Aoibhín Daly of Clare during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Caoimhe McMahon of Clare in action against Clodagh McKeon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Caoimhe McMahon of Clare in action against Clodagh McKeon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Ruby Lillis of Clare in action against Clodagh McKeon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Ciara Healy of Clare in action against Alessia Snell of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Ciara Healy of Clare in action against Clodagh McKeon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhin Keane of Clare scores a goal despite Hazel Prendergast of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Ciara Healy of Clare in action against Kate Healy of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhin Keane of Clare in action against X3w during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhin Keane of Clare in action against Nessa Clancy of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Caoimhe McMahon of Clare in action against Laoise Mellon of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Lucy Watson of Clare in action against Leah Fox of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Lucy Watson of Clare in action against Mary Corrigan of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhín Daly of Clare in action against Leah Fox of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Ciara Healy of Clare about to score a goal during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhín Daly of Clare in action against Niamh Carpenter of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Aoibhín Daly of Clare in action against Nessa Clancy of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Ciara Healy of Clare in action against Alessia Snell of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Michaela Sexton of Clare in action against Mary Corrigan of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Michaela Sexton of Clare in action against Mary Corrigan of Wicklow during their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Clare players celebrate the following their All-Ireland Under 16C Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final at Annanough GAA, Co. Laois. Photograph by John Kelly
Clare: Abbie O’Gorman (Wolfe Tones), Rachel Clark (Cúl Gaels), Zoey Warren (Fergus Rovers), Sarah McGee (Cúl Gaels), Sinéad Griffin (West Clare Gaels), Aoife Considine (Liscannor), Chloe McNamara (Burren Gaels), Caoimhe McMahon (Fergus Rovers), Róisín McMahon (Doonbeg), Aoibhín Daly (Doora Barefield), Aoibhin Keane (Fergus Rovers), Anna Donnelly (Fergus Rovers), Lily Considine (Banner), Martha Walsh (Banner), Ruby Lillis (Cooraclare)
Subs: Ciara Healy (Clarecastle) for A Donnelly (HT), Ali Donnelly (Clarecastle) for A Considine (HT), Lucy Watson (Wolfe Tones) for M Walsh (HT), Michaela Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for R Lillis (45), Croidha Hassett (Banner) for R McMahon (56)
Scorers: Aoibhin Keane 1-4, Caoimhe McMahon 0-6, Lucy Watson 1-3, Ciara Healy 1-2, Ruby Lillis 0-2, Aoibhin Daly 0-1
Wicklow: Hazel Prendergast (Clan na Gael), Alessia Snell (St. Patrick’s), Niamh Carpenter (An Tóchar), Lucy Weld (Annacurra), Kate Healy (Annacurra), Nessa Clancy (Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney), Mary Corrigan (St. Nicholas’), Katie Nuzam (Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney), Lily Stapleton (Tinahely), Grace Finnegan (Kilcoole), Laoise Mellon (Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney), Eireann O’Reilly (Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney), Lucy Keely (Kilbride), Kitty O’Beirne (Éire Óg), Sophie Hurley (Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney)
Subs: Leah Fox (Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney) for E O’Reilly (40), Kate McElheny (Tinahely) for G Finnegan (43), Ailbhe Coffey (Rathnew) for K O’Beirne (52)
Scorers: Lucy Keely 1-4 (4 F), Laoise Mellon, Katie Nuzam, Kate McElheny 1-0 each, Eireann O’Reilly 0-2, Lily Stapleton 0-1 each
Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare)