Munster U16B Sharon O’ Keeffe Tournament.

Clare v Tipperary

Sunday 11/02/2024

12pm

Clarecastle GAA

With the U16’s on the road for their first encounter, the sun and blue skies guided us down to Clarecastle on this bright February morning.

Action got underway at 12 noon with Tipperary looking to set the pace from early with a delivered ball to Gemma Hayes that saw her bearing down on goal only to be denied by a brilliant save from the Clare keeper.

It took until the 7^th minute of play to get a score on the board - Clare registering their opener with a Susan McGrath point from play. This score seemed to drive on the Clare outfit and Tipperary were forced into a very defensive formation with some great defending from Lily O’Donoghue and Erin O’Donnell. Some remarkable skill from Lucy Moloney kept the score board static until the 13^th minute when Clare’s Susan McGrath found the back of the net.

Although Tipp started to regain their shape and settle again, a turn over ball found the foot of Susan McGrath for another Clare point from play in the 19^th minute.

From the resulting kick out Tipperary maintained possession and launched a sustained attack on the Clare goals with Aoibhinn Casey and Zara Hennessy very unfortunate to not get on the score sheet  but the consistent attacking play paid off in the 24^th minute when a Chloe O’Neill shot split the post to register Tipperary’s first score.

Clare were reduced to 14 on the 26^th minute and the resultant Tipperary free found the back of the net off Chloe O’Neills boot and with this momentum they continued to pile on the pressure and found the equalising score on 28 minutes through Gemma Hayes.

Tipperary overcame a very tough and challenging first half, where their defensive discipline and decision making brought both teams to half time with a tied score board.

HALF TIME SCORE                       CLARE 1 - 2                         TIPPERARY 1 - 2

Tipperary, who finished the first half in the ascendency, returned to the field with a sting in their tail and the breeze favouring them. Within 3 minutes Elena Cody found the back of the net following a marvellous passage of play to put Tipp in the lead for the first time in this contest.

The 5^th minute saw Clare returned to 15 players and make great use of a free, slotted safely over the bar from Hazel Conway’s boot. Tipp were not going to lie back and let this happen though, their forwards came out in force to launch an attack and found Aoibhinn Casey who would register a point in the 9^th minute and again added further to the scoreboard in the 15th minute following a well sustained attacking period from Clare who seem to be struggling to convert scores.

Tipperary’s forward work rate and focus on turn overs starts to pay off and Chloe O’Neill’s goal on the 18^th minute is testament to that, a delightful chip in from a free.

Tipperary’s tackling and ball winning ability is proving to be a very positive factor of their playing style and the resultant points from Elena Cody on 23 mins followed by another Chloe O’Neill point on 25 mins are evidence of a very well-structured team effort.

Clare registered the last score of the game with a point from play by Erika Wynne to end this contest and see Tipperary home victorious.

FULL TIME SCORE                    CLARE   1-4                             TIPPERARY 3-6

TIPPERARY

Lucy Moloney, Sophie McGowan, Erin O’Donnell, Lily O’Donoghue, Amy Cahill, Zara McCarthy, Casey Butler, Sadhbh Hannafin©, Elena Cody (1-1), Chloe O’Neill (2-2), Aoibhinn Casey (0-2), Meabh Leahy, Gemma Hayes (0-1), Alice Butler, Zara Hennessy.

SUBS USED

Kate O’Shea for Zara Hennessy (Half Time), Katie Ryan Corcoran for Meabh Leahy (40 mins), Sarah Rose Meehan for Amy Cahill  (43 mins),Eva Gunne for Alice Butler (48 mins), Aoibhin McCarra for Chloe O’Neill (58 mins), Aoife Browne for Aoibhinn Casey (59 mins), Katie Fox for Sophie McGowan (59 mins), Rea Hayes for Sadhbh Hannafin (59 mins), Stella Carr for Lucy Moloney (59 mins), Brid Delaney for Lily O’Donoghue (59 mins)