Pics credit: R.McMahon

Electric Ireland Minor A Shield Championship 2023

Clare v Meath

Sunday, 19th March @ 2pm @ Fr McNamara Park, Ennis

Referee: Mike Ryan, Tipperary

A spirited second half resurgence paved the way to a 4-10 to 2-05 victory over Meath for Eleanor Walshs’ side in round 2 of the Electric Ireland Minor A All Ireland Championship on Sunday afternoon at Fr McNamara Park, Ennis

Just two points separated the teams at the half time break with Clare ahead by 2-04 to 2-02. The visitors got off to a flying start with Ella O’Brien raising the first green flag of the day in the 3rd minute of play. Kerrie Cole added a point to Meaths tally before Clare got the scoreboard ticking with a pointed free from Sophie Conway. A 12th minute Maeve Milea goal levelled the match. Two further Sophie Conway points from placed balls followed by a Maeve Milea point from play gave Clare a three point lead. The lead was short lived, however as goalmouth scuffle culminated in Meath raising their second green flag of the day. The Banner girls pulled ahead once again when a Sophie Conway free was driven in low, blocked down by Sarah Pierce in the Meath goal with the rebound driven to the net by Elisha Rynne. A Katie Connolly free just before the half time whistle reduced Meaths deficit to just two points.

Incessant rain greeted the teams at the restart, but this Clare side was in no way daunted by the conditions. Two goals in two minutes, from Aoibhinn McNamara and Elisha Rynne, propelled Clare into an 8 point lead. Cliodhna Queally was next on the scoreboard for the home side with a well taken point. Play ebbed and flowed from end to end, but the Clare defence never panicked and dealt well with every Meath attack. Clare scored 5 points in the closing quarter to Meaths 3 to seal the win.

Serious credit is due to both sets of players for serving up such a highly entertaining and high scoring encounter in the wet and wintry conditions.

Clare:Eva O'Halloran (Inagh Kilnamona); Lauren Slater(Truagh Clonlara), Gráinne McMahon (Newmarket on Fergus), Áine Longe (Inagh Kilnamona); Caoimhe Ryan (Banner), Clíodhna Queally (Inagh Kilnamona)(0-01), Neasa ni Lachtnáin (Ruan); Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley)(0-01), Aisling Moloney (Ruan) ( captain); Aine Lenihan, Sophie Conway(Feakle Killanena)(0-05 3f 1’45), Elisha Rynne (Inagh Kilnamona) (2-00) ; Maeve Milea ( Parteen Meelick) (1-01), Sophie Torpey (St Josephs DB), Aoibhín McNamara ( Sixmilebridge) (1-02 1f)

Subs: Danielle Beston (Scariff Ogonnelloe) for Áine Lenihan (HT) ‘; Alison Collins(Scariff Ogonnelloe) for Caoimhe Ryan (40 mins); Charlotte Chaplin (Sixmilebridge) for Sophie Conway ( 49mins); Roisin O’Grady (Sixmilebridge) for Maeve Milea ( 52mins); Sarah Meade ( Truagh Clonlara) for Elisha Rynne(55mins); Clodagh Quinn (Clooney-Quin) for Aoibhín McNamara ( 56mins)

Meath: Sarah Pierce( Dunderry); Sarah Brien( Kiltale), Grace Grehan( Na Fianna), Alannah Brady( Navan O’Mahonys); Roisin Heaney( Clann nan Gael), Grace Connolly(Killyon), Michelle Brien (Kiltale); Kerrie Cole ( Na Fianna), Aoife Carey ( Na Fianna); Jorja Keogh (Navan O’Mahonys), Katie Connolly ( Killyon), Órlaith Reilly ( Dunderry); Izzy Kinsella ( Navan O’Mahonys), Anna Kane (Dunboyne), Ella O’Brien( Kilmessan)

Subs: Anna Keogh ( Kildalkey) for Alannah Brady ( 37mins);

Remaining Clare Fixtures:

26/03/2023 - Round 3: Clare v Offaly

02/04/2023 - Round 4: Wexford v Clare

15 or 16 April - Round 5: Limerick v Clare