The Clare Champion U16 Championship

U16B Final

Clarecastle/Ballyea  4-7  Sixmilebridge 2-4

Clarecastle/Ballyea superior eye for goals saw them claim the U16B Camogie Title in Shannon Camogie Pitch on Sunday afternoon after a 4-7 to 2-4 final victory over Sixmilebridge. With great skill and effort shown by both teams it was no easy victory as Sixmilebridge began the scoring with 1-1 from Ailise Roche inside the opening 5 minutes. Clarecastle/Ballyea soon settled when Emma O’Donoghue pointed from a free. A brace of goals from Rachel Costello (2) and Aoibhin Donnelly (2) help Clarecastle/Ballyea  hold a 4-2 to 1-2 interval lead.  In the second period Sixmilebridge were first on the scoreboard, Michelle Sheedy with a pointed free from a placed ball.  Clarecastle/Ballyea hit the next four scores from frees to stretch their lead. The Bridge were unable to make a full recovery and they remain scoreless for 25 minutes thanks to the work rate of Ciara O’Dell, Laura Mullen, Aileen O’Reilly and goalkeeper Sarah McNamara.  In the final minutes a goal for the Bridge from the stick of Alanna Swire came too late as the amalgamation emerged as deserving winners. Afterwards Captain Grace Russell accepted the cup on behalf of her team from Clare County Board Chairperson Joe Robbins.

Clarecastle/Ballyea: Sarah McNamara; Niamh Enright, Laura Mullen, Orla Commons; Ciara O’Dell, Emma O’Donoghue (0-4), Laura Hogan; Aileen O’Reilly, Laura Carmody; Grace Russell, Dearbhile McMahon, Kate Murphy; Rachel Costelloe (2-0), Caroline Enright, Aoibhin Donnelly (2-3)

Subs: Sarah Kearney for Costelloe, Aisling Phelan for Kate Murphy, Kirsty O’Hara for Commons, Sarah Butler for Russell & Moya Sheehan for Enright

Sixmilebridge: Kate Fitzgerald; Zoe Merriman, Cliodhna Ryan, Caoilfhionn Nic Giolla Cearra; Rachel Kennedy, Áine Healy, Sinead Cahill; Finia O’Brien, Elizabeth Quinn; Jessica Williams, Michelle Sheedy, Rosie Young; Rachel Murray, Ailise Roche, Megan Gaule

Referee: Flan O’Reilly, Cratloe