All Ireland U16A Championship

Bellfield, Enniscorthy

Wexford 6-9 Clare 2-5

Clare bowed out of the U16A All Ireland campaign on Sunday afternoon in Bellfield Enniscorthy at the hands of a very determined Wexford side. Though resting in bottom place in the group, the Slaneydsiders put in a performance over the sixty plus minutes to see them finish in second place and a much coveted semi final spot as their reward. Four second half goals cemented victory for the Wexford girls against a valiant Banner outfit.

Clare, with the wind at their backs, had the brighter start to proceedings, the opening attack coming from the visitors only for Finia O’Briens shot to be neatly collected by the Wexford goalie Aoife Mahon and cleared out over the sideline. O’Briens sideline cut was gathered by Emily Cahil who passed to waiting Becky Foley, with Foley striking to the back of the net. With a persistent mist falling, play was scrappy and inevitable rucks were the feature f the game. Cahill came away from one of those rucks with possession and off loaded to Lorna McNamara who split the posts. The home sides opening score came when Ciara O’Connor sent her free short to Megan Cullen who split the posts from thirty yards out. Wexford followed with a goal, O’Connor dropping a placed ball in the square and Anais Curran doubled on the dropping ball to finish to the net and level the sides. Lorna McNamara edged Clare in front when she pointed on the run however from the puckout Wexford were back in possession and on the attack, Curran raising another green flag for the Slaneysiders. With twenty two minutes on the clock, Wexford again found themselves in the Clare danger area, Currans shot on goal was well blocked by Ella McNamara and Amy O’Leary gathered and sent over the bar to put the home side ahead by a goal. Cahill won possession for Clare from the puckout and fed forward to Foley who off loaded to the oncoming Lorna McNamara. With the Wexford defence crowding out young McNamara, the Killanena player handpassed to Aoibhinn Ryan who bore down on the Wexford goals and finished to the net to tie up the game 2-2 apiece. Both sides added a point each, O’Brien for Clare and Curran for the home side to see the sides go in tied level on 2-3 at the break.

While a draw or a loss by seven points or less would have sufficed for Clare to progress to the semi final, Wexford needed a comprehensive win to take second spot and the Wexford management obviously used the hair dryer treatment during the half time break on their charges. Foley added a point for the visitors in the opening minute, Greta Hickey having gone on the run and passing to the waiting Foley. However over the next quarter the home side added 3-2 to their tally, the first of the goals coming from sub Ashling Alouf who with her back to the goal batted to the back of the net. Cullen added another green flag just two minutes later while corner forward Katie Smith and mid fielder Ciara Walsh added a brace of points with Smith goaling to put the home side 5-5 to 2-4 ahead. Foley converted a free for Clare however Wexford hit four points on the bounce to extend their lead 5-9 to 2-5. With time running out for Clare, the home side finished with a flourish adding another green flag and securing their semi final spot 6-9 to 2-5.

Clare: Rachel Daly Scariff Ogonnelloe; Sinead Ryan Truagh Clonlara, Roisin Minogue Bodyke, Caoimhe Kelly Kilkishen; Ella McNamara Killanena Capt, Susan Daly Scariff Ogonnelloe, Ciara Halpin Clooney Quin; Emily Cahill Kilmaley, Siofra nú Chonaill St Josephs; Finia O’Brian Similebridge, Lynda Daly Scariff Ogonnelloe, Siobhan Lenihan Kilkishen; Lorna McNamara Killanena, Becky Foley Truagh Clonlara, Aoibhinn Ryan Inagh Kilnamona

Subs: Greta Hickey Whitegate for ní Chonaill, Aoife Corey Ruan for O’Brien, Aisling Hannon St Josephs for Halpin

Wexford: Aoife Mahon Bunclody; Tara Doyle Cloughbawn, Amy Cahill Rathnure, Laura Doran Craanford; Amy Mitten Buffers Alley, Roisin Parker Horeswood, Lorna Fortune Kilrush; Ciara Walsh St James, Kate Kirwan Bunclody; Megan Cullen Castletwon, Ciara O’Connor St Martins, Amy O’Leary St Martins; Emma Dempsey St Martins, Anais Curran Oulart the Ballagh, Katie Smith Craanford

Subs: Shauna O’Leary Rathnure for Parker, Molly Summers Castletown for O’Leary, Ashling Alouf St Martins for Walsh

Referee: Ray Kelly, Kildare

Player of the Game: Roisin Parker, Wexford