Clare’s Grainne Harvey with Offaly’s Anita Watkins. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
CLARE RECORDED a merited victory over Offaly in the opening round of the TG4 All-Ireland ladies intermediate football championship on Sunday afternoon.
Clare 5-12
Offaly 2-6
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg, Ennis
The Banner side laid the foundation for the victory in the opening half when they played with the aid of a fresh wind. They dominated the exchanges and when the half time whistle sounded they were 3-9 to 1-1 in front.
Clare had 3-8 on the scoreboard before Offaly opened their account with a goal from Saorah Doyle three minutes from the half time whistle.
Having scored 1-1 in the closing minutes of the opening half, there were concerns that with the aid of the wind Offaly would make life difficult for the home side at half time.
The Banner ladies were determined that that wouldn’t happen and they struck for 2-1 in the opening three minutes of the new half to make Offaly’s task all the greater.
After opening points from Chloe Moloney and Ellie Hanrahan the winners struck for their opening goal, Hanrahan flicking to the net from a Moloney ‘45.
Two from Chloe Moloney and one from Teresa Collins saw Clare stretch their lead to 1-5 to 0-0 by the end of the opening quarter.
Two minutes later Ellie Hanrahan had her second goal and after further points from Moloney, Megan Downes and Joanna Doohan, Downes struck for Clare’s third goal.
Within a minute of the resumption Edel McNamara pointed for Clare and goals followed from Lucy Shanahan and McNamara to put Clare 5-10 to 1-2 ahead with just three minutes of the new half played.
Just before the end of the third quarter Saorah Doyle drilled a 13m free to the roof of the Clare net but despite the introduction of a number of substitutes, they struggled to break down a strong home defence.
This was an all-round solid display from Clare on a day when Grainne and Caoimhe Harvey, Joanna Doohan, Shauna Melican, Teresa Collins, Chloe Moloney and Ellie Hanrahan were prominent.
Clare’s next outing will be in two weeks time when they will be away to Wexford
Scorers Clare: Ellie Hanrahan (2-2, 0-1 f); Chloe Moloney (0-5); Megan Downes, Edel McNamara (1-1) each; Lucy Shanahan (1-0); Joanna Doohan, Teresa Collins, Caoimhe Harvey (0-1) each
Scorers Offaly: Saorah Doylle (2-3, 1-1 frees); Emma Hand (0-2, frees); Eva Kelly (0-1)
Clare;
1: Amy Lenihan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
7: Edel Burke (Banner)
3: Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
4: Rebecca Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
5: Shauna Mellican (Fergus Rovers)
6: Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
8: Teresa Collins (Burren Gaels)
19; Caoimhe Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
9: Roisin Martin (Éire Óg)
10: Megal Downes (Cooraclare)
14: Ellie Hanrahan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
12: Lauren Conway (Doonbeg)
13: Edel McNamara (Kilmihil)
11: Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: Lucy Shanahan (Doonbeg)
Subs:
20: Aine Slattery (Fergus Rovers) for .Shanahan (33);
23: Lauren Flaherty (Liscannor) for C. Harvey (44)
22: Joanna Fogarty (Crusheen) for E. McNamara (54)
24: Katie O’Halloran (Kilmihil) for E. Hanrahan (57)
Offaly;
1: Lauren Dunne (Rhode)
2: Nicole Buckley (Naomh Ciaran)
3: Niamh Glackin (Shamrocks)
4: Jane Maher (Balllinamere/Durrow)
18; Isabel Lyons (Edenderry)
6: Kayrtlin Flynn (St. Manachan’s)
7: Aine Phelan (Tullamore)
8: Anika Watkins (Shamrocks)
9: Dawn Hannon (Rhode)
10; Maria Byrne (St. Conleth’s Laois)
11; Michelle Mann (Naomh Molaoise)
12; Saoirse McGuinness (Balllinamere/Durrow)
13: Enna Hand (Balllinamere/Durrow)
14: Abbi Stafford (Rhode)
15: Saorah Doule (Balllinamere/Durrow)
Subs:
17: Eva Kelly (Clara) for I. Lyons (34)
22: Aoife Minnock, (Shamrocks) for A. Stafford (36)
24: Nicole Merriman (Shamrocks) for G. Mc Guinness (36)
14: Abbi Stafford (Rhode) for N. Gllackin
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork)
