Clare players celebrate with the trophy after the 2026 AirNav Ireland All-Ireland U-16 C Championship final match between Clare and Derry at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
A STRONG first half saw Clare power to glory in the AirNav Ireland All-Ireland U16C final.
Clare 3-14
Derry 1-8
Venue: Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan
By Deniese O’Flaherty
Managed by Kilrush’s Jason Ryan, Clare won the U16C All-Ireland for the first time on Tuesday evening with Cooraclare’s Simone Considine excelling.
Clare kicked kicked three answered points inside the opening five minutes. Derry got their first score in the seventh minute; a free from the boot of Cara Mac Beinéid. MacBeinéid who scored all of Derry’s points in the opening half and all three were from frees.
Derry did have chances to get further scores in the first half but the Clare rearguard held firm. A neat point from Ruby Lillis in the ninth minute restored Clare’s three point advantage.
They were six points ahead in the 18th minute; Caoimhe McMahon (two points) and Simone Considine (free) with the scores for the Banner County.
Things got better for Clare in the 21st minute; a quick free came to Martha Whelan, she played the ball to Lillis who found the back of the net. The lead was now nine points.
MacBeinéid replied with a free in the 22nd minute. McMahon kicked over an excellent point minutes later before MacBeinéid fired over her third free in the 27th minute. Right before the half-time whistle went Considine kicked over a free to give Clare a 1-9 to 0-3 lead going in at the break.
A free from Considine put ten points between the sides in the 33rd minute. Derry keeper Seanin Nic Cathail pulled off an excellent save in the 35th minute but seconds later was beaten by Considine as she scored her side’s second goal.
Derry’s response was great; they went down the field and Féina Kerr found the back of the net. They followed up with three points in a row to cut the gap to seven in the 47th minute. They kicked a number of wides while they enjoyed possession.
McMahon hit over a fine point for Clare in the 51st minute, their first score the 35th minute. Minutes later Considine grabbed her second and Clare’s third. Aoibhin Keane kicked over two points. MacBeinéid added a late free for Derry.
All photographs by Ramsey Cardy / Sportsfile
Scorers – Clare: S Considine 2-4 (0-3fs), C McMahon 0-5 (1f), R Lillis 1-1, A Keane 0-3, C McNamara 0-1.
Scorers Derry: C MacBeinéid 0-5 (5fs), C MacConmidhe 1-0, N Ní Duagáin, F Kerr, C McIlvar 0-1 each.
CLARE: A O’Gorman; R Clark, Z Warren, S McGee; S Griffin, A Donnelly, C McNamara; C McMahon, R McMahon; A Daly, A Keane, S Considine; L Considine, R Lillis, M Walsh. Subs: L Watson for Walsh ht, A Donnelly for Lillis 36, M Sexton for Daly 54, C Healy for R McMahon and C Hassett for L Considine 57
DERRY: S Nic Cathail; L MacÍomhair, E Rafferty, A McElhennon; D Campbell, I Ní Tuathail, N O’Kane; C Ní An Lia, N Ní Duagáin; C MacConmidhe, F Kerr, A Ní Mhaoláin; I Ní Catháin, C MacBeinéid, C Ní Mordha. Subs: C McIlvar for Mac Íomhair ht, A Nic Choncharraige for O’Kane and M Ní Mordha for Ní An Lia, C MacPéice for Campbell 47, M Seách for Ní Tuathail 52
Referee: Angela Gallagher (Meath).
