Munster U16A Championship

Shield Final

Clare 3-8 Tipperary 0-11

Clare U16A panel retained the Munster U16 Shield with a six point victory over Tipperary in LIT, the Clare goals coming at crucial points in the game to nullify any Tipp comeback.

Tipperary were first on the scoreboard, when Leah Heffernan pointed from play, Ciara Dwan and Eimear Heffernan both having been involved in the build-up. Becky Foley responded in kind to get Clare on the scoreboard just a minute later. Eimear Heffernan converted a free to edge the Tipp girls ahead and again Clare responded with a like score from Foley. Tipps next effort drifted wide of the post, and it was Dervla Heffernan who won the battle in the middle for Shauna Doyles puckout, when she forward to the corner with Roseanna Kiely gathering and slotting between the posts. Clare won the next midfield battle, with Foley going high and sending play down field to Lorna McNamara in the corner. Tipps Ellen Gantley won back possession but McNamara stood her ground and resulting in Gantley conceding a ’45 which Foley converted to level the sides. Again Tipp proved stronger in midfield and drove forward however Eilis Cahill dealt with the threat well and cleared from danger. Tipp were now driving forward in search of green flags, a free from Sarah Hennessy

Had the distance to reach Eimear Heffernan who gathered and struck for goal, only to be denied by Tierna Hegarty. Eimear Heffernan and Kiely followed up with a brace of points to have Tipp ahead by two points with twenty minutes on the clock. Caoimhe Kelly converted Clares next chance from placed ball, before tipp again moved forward only to be denied again by Cahill who was proving to be very strong in the Clare full back position. Aoibhin Ryan was well set up by Lorna McNamara to send her shot between the posts levelling the sides for the fourth time. Kelly set up the next Clare attack when she sent play forward from the middle to Lorna McNamara, with the young Killanena player being fouled as she drove forwards to goal. Foley stood over the free to the right of a Tipp goal that was lined by the Tipp goalie and the six backs. Displaying an intuition beyond her years, Foley struck her shot over their heads and under the crossbar to put Clare ahead for the first time. Tip went on the attack immediately, Hennessy sending play into the Clare danger area only for Cahill to collect and play out to Zi Yan Spillane who cleared back down the field. Tipp had one last attack which was wide leaving the half time score Clare 1-5 Tipperary 0-5.

Jennifer Daly added a point for the Banner girls at the restart, swiftly followed by two quick points in succession from Quirke and Eimear Heffernan. Tipps next attack saw Leah Heffernan feed forward to Quirke whose strike was blocked by Cahill. Daly added from play for Clare to keep a goal between the sides. With ten minutes played in ethe second half Quirke sent a free forward and Eva O’Dwyer gathered to send over the bar. Hennessy converted a free to make it a one point game. Tipp had the opportunity to level with their next effort but the shot was wide. Doyles puck out was inch perfect to Kelly in the middle who sent play forward to the corner with Lorna McNamara gathering before crossing to Aoibhin Ryan. With Ryan being dispossessed by a crowded Tipp defence the Inagh Kilnamona player sent a ground shot to the oncoming Foley who connected perfectly to send the sliothar to the back of the Tipp net. Clare were now in the driving seat and drove forward at every chance, the deployment of a sweeper by the Tipp management did little to stop the Clare attack. Tip pulled a point back with five minutes of play remaining when Hennessy converted a free, again however Foley responded in kind at the other end. Hennessy again converted a free in the fifty seventh minute to narrow the deficit to a goal. With time almost up, Clare were fouled in possession as they drove forward, Kelly sent her free to Foley who in turn played forward to the corner with Ailise Roche gathering and turning to crash her shot to the back of the net for the last score of the game, to see Clare take the win Clare 3-8 Tipperary 0-11. Zi Yan Spillane accepted the Shield From Munster Councils James Moynihan with Eilis Cahill presented with the Player of the Game award from Munster PRO Brid MacNamara.

Clare: Shauna Doyle, Bodyke; Sarah Hall Parteen, Eilish Cahill Kilmaley, Tierna Hegarty Inagh Kilnamona; Zi Yan Spillane Killanena-Capt, Caoimhe Kelly Kilkishen 0-1, Claire McNamara Killanena; Hannah Shannon Inagh Kilnamona, Sarah ni Cheallaigh Kilmaley; Becky Foley Truagh Clonlara 2-4, Aoibhin Ryan Inagh Kilnamona 0-1, Jennifer Daly Scariff Ogonnelloe 0-2; Leah Talty The Banner, Ailise Roche Sixmilebridge 1-0, Lorna McNamara Killanena

Subs: Derinn Finnerrty The Banner for ni Cheallaigh, Muireann Daffy Inagh Kilnamona for Talty

Tipperary: Aine Slattery Shannon Rovers; Nadine Stokes Newport, Ellen Gantley Eire Og Annacarthy, Sarah Lane Ballina; Maria Connolly Drom Inch, Sarah Hennessy Newport 0-3, Caoimhe McCarthy Knockavilla; Jill Ann Quirke Toomervara 0-1, Dervla Heffernan; Roseanna Kiely Cahir 0-2, Ciara Dwan Boherlahan, Leah Heffernan Eire Og Annacarthy 0-1; Ciara Connolly Newport, Eimear Heffernan Knockavilla 0-3, Eva O’Dwyer Eire Og Annacarthy 0-1

Referee: Alec Morrissey, Cork