All Ireland Minor A Championship

Photo credit : Caoline O'Keeffe 

Clare 0-14 Offaly 1-9

St Brendans Park, Birr

A superior second half performance ensured a two point victory on Saturday afternoon for Clare Minors against hosts Offaly in St Brendans Park , Birr. While the hosts started stronger, Clare pegged them back and it was a game of nip and tuck until the fiftieth minute when the Banner girls took the upper hand and finished the stronger and on the right side of the scoreboard.

Right from the throw in Offaly were on the attack, Louise Savage winning possession and feeding the sliotar forward to Becky Bryant in the corner who raised a white flag. Offalys next attack ended in a free out for Clare, however, play returned to the danger area and Dara Hanamy converted from placed ball. Offaly were dominant in the opening ten minutes, winning crucial ball in the middle and playing it forward, a Kate Kenny turn saw her move down the wing and pass to Louise Savage who split the posts for the hosts third point. Clares first point came courtesy of Bridin Dinan free, Offaly having been penalised for fouling Siobhan Lenihan. Offaly were on the attack from the puckout, and Susan Dalys timely interception saw her clear from the danger area, with Caoimhe Carmody collecting and playing forward to Aoife Power who found the unmarked Becky Foley who fired over to narrow the deficit to a point. Mannion won the battle for possession from the puckout and passed to Kate Kenny who slipped through the Clare defence to finish to the net. Clare responded well moving play to the other and with Dinan converting twice in succession from placed ball before Foley added from play, the deficit was again reduced to a point. Bryant extended the home sides lead back to two points with her next effort. Clares next effort was wide of the mark and with Offaly using the space on wing to their advantage play moved to the other end, resulting in Hanamy again pointing from placed ball . The closing five minutes of the first half saw Clare up the ante, winning their own puckout and when Dinan went on the run, Conway provided the support and duly split the posts having collected Dinans pass. Conway was on target again just two minutes later having been supplied by Lynda Daly this time. Offaly had the chance to add a free, however Laoise Ryan went high to gather and cleared the sliotar back down the wing. Dinan converted from placed ball for the last score of the half to leave the sides level at half time, Clare 0-8 Offaly 1-5.

Offaly started the second half as they did the first, on the attack, winning a free which Bryant sent towards goal only for her shot to come off the upright, in the ensuing scramble for possession the ball was sent wide. Offalys next effort was deflected out for a  which Hanamy converted to give the home side a one point advantage. Offaly pushed forward over the next ten minutes in the hunt for another green flag, however the Clare backs stood firm, Chloe Neylon and Laoise Ryan making some timely interceptions and clearing from danger. The sides were level again mid way through the half, Power having gone on a run down the wing crossed the sliotar to the oncoming Caoimhe Carmody who popped over to draw the sides level. Dinnan followed this up with a converted free two minutes later to put Clare ahead for the first time. A well worked bal between the Faithulls Kate Bergin and Kaitlyn Kennedy saw the Drumcullen player level the sides in the fiftieth minute. Offaly won possession from the puckout and sent the sliotar in high only for Ryan to go high to make the catch, passing forward to Conway who drove forward to split the posts and edge Clare back in front. The sides were deadlocked again two minutes later when Hanamy converted from placed ball. With ten minutes of time remaining, Clare upped the ante, Ryan was again to the fore in Clares next attack winning the ball and sending down the wing where Lynda Daly gathered and from an awkward angle split the posts. Clare were now hunting in packs and when Kelly sent a free from her own back line down to the danger area, Clare drove forward in hunt for a goal only for the Offaly keeper Jane Lowry to block the first attempt and then deflect the rebound out to the wing before the sliotar ended up being sent wide. From the puckout Shauna Canny won possession and fed Conway who fired over to give clare a two point advantage. Offaly had one more attack which saw Hanamy point from play to make it a one point game as play entered injury time. Clare went on the attack again, and a foul on Susan Daly saw Dinan convert her sixth free of the day leaving Clare winners by a margin of two points, Clare 0-14 Offaly 1-9.

Clare play host to Waterford next Saturday in their final Group game, with Tipperary top of the Group the outcome of Saturdays clash will decide who joins the Premier county in the semi final stage.

Clare: Rachel Daly Scariff Ogonnelloe; Chloe Neylon Kilmaley, Roisin Minogue Bodyke, Michelle Mescall Inagh Kilnamona; Susan Daly Scariff Ogonnelloe, Laoise Ryan Inagh Kilnamlona, Caoimhe Kelly Kilkishen; Caoimhe Carmody Kilmaley 0-1, Robyn Conway Feakle 0-4; Aoife Power Scariff Ogonnelloe, Becky Foley Truagh Clonlara 0-2, Lynda Daly Scariff Ogonnelloe 0-1; Siobhan Lenihan Kilkishen, Shauna Canny Killanena, Bridin Dinan Tulla 0-6F

Subs: Sinead Ryan Truagh Clonlara for Minogue, Greta Hickey Whitegate for Lenihan

Offaly: Jane Lowry Kilcormac/Killoughey; Sharon Shanahan Shinrone, Roisin Daly St Rynaghs, Eilish Gleeson Shinrone; Eileen Bracken Kilcormac/Killoughey, Amy Byrne Lusmagh, Eadaoin Kilmartin Kilcormac/Killoughey; Kaitlyn Kennedy Drumcullen 0-1, Louise Mannion St Rynaghs; Louise Savage Tullamore 0-1, Kate Kenny St Rynaghs 1-0, Kate Bergin Shinrone; Michelle Carroll Kinnitty, Dara Hanamy St Cillians 0-4 3F 1’45, Becky Bryant Tullamore 0-2

Subs: Orla Maher Shinrone for Shanahan, Brooke Whelehan Birr for Carroll

Referee: Conor Quinlan, Galway