*Amy Lenihan. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
CLARE’s ladies footballers collected their second win of the National League, edging out Offaly by a single point.
Clare 2-11
Offaly 1-13
Venue: Clara, Offaly
With only a win over Sligo to their name, coming into this round four clash, Clare were in need of a victory. Although a much improved performance against Kildare ended in a narrow two point defeat this is a results business so although there was another poor second half showing a one point victory keeps promotion hopes alive.
Clare can be thankful to Chloe Moloney and Amy Lenihan for superb individual performances making it two wins from four outings.
An extremely open fast paced opening half with seventeen scores in total finished with Clare in the ascendancy by seven on an interval scoreline of 2-8 to 0-7. Some of the scores were fantastic but the highlight of the opening period was most certainly an incredible one handed point blank Amy Lenihan save.
Offaly midfielder Ann Gavin Mangan broke through the centre before rounding the last Clare defender. Mangan fired low and hard with Lenihan who was diving in the opposite direction miraculously showed incredible reflexes to somehow get a right hand finger tip touch to what seemed a certain goal.
Clare were far too open defensively wise and Offaly were gaining joy when running down the centre. However this Clare side are extremely efficient on the counter attack and any time they broke up an Offaly attack they swept from defence to attack at pace through the hands resulting in scoring opportunities on almost every occasion.
Burren Gaels’ Lizzy Roche had the game’s opening goal in the sixth minute after such a move but it was Fidelma Marrinan’s goal moments later that highlighted how ruthless this Clare side have the potential to be. Breaking out of defence with pace several handpasses involving four players finding Lizzy Roche in space. Roche arrowed a magnificent cross field pass to Marrinan who coolly slotted home.
At the beginning of the second half nobody envisaged what was about to unfold. Offaly began with two rapid fire points from the hugely impressive Emma Hand and another well taken point by midfielder Amy Gavin Mangan. This reduced the lead to five but when Chloe Moloney who was majestic throughout kicked two beauties from distance sixty seconds apart Clare’s lead was back to seven and an away victory looked the only outcome.
However 1-4 without reply turned this contest on its head. Sarah Doyle pointed in the 40th minute before centre forward Emma Hand sensationally kicked a devastating 1-3 in six minutes with the goal a rocket that came off the underside of the crossbar and in. Clare were all at sea but powerhouse Chloe Moloney restored their leaf in the 49th minute.
This turned out incredibly to be the last score of the contest as a further eleven minutes of normal time and six of additional time saw Clare drop efforts short and Offaly kick a series of wides when under pressure from Clare defenders. We still had time though for one more moment of magic as deep into injury time Emma Hand broke through. She could have tapped over the equaliser but went for goal unleashing a rocket that seemed destined for the top corner only to see Doora Barefield’s Amy Lenihan pull off what can only be described as a world class save. Moments later the final whistle blew and a relieved Clare will now face Down in Cusack park hoping to keep promotion hopes alive.
Overall as the old cliche goes this was most certainly a game of two halves. Clare had superb performances from Chloe Moloney, Siofra Ni Chonaill, Fidelma Marrinan and Lizzy Roche but it’s keeper Lenihan who must take the plaudits with two incredible saves ensuring a Banner victory.
Scorers for Clare: Fidelma Marrinan 1-5(2f), Lizzy Roche 1-2, Chloe Moloney 0-4
Scorers for Offaly: Emma Hand 1-4(1f),Saohra Doyle 0-3(2f),Emily Bailey 0-2, Ciara Walsh, Nicole Farrelly, Amy Gavin Mangan, Roisin Ennis 0-1 each
TEAMS
CLARE
1: Amy Lenihan (Doora Barefield)
2: Rebecca Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
3: Siofra Ni Chonaill (Doora Barefield)
4: Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
5: Louise Griffin (Fergus Rovers)
6: Caoimhe Harvey ( Miltown Malbay)
7: Aine Keane (Miltown Malbay)
8: Sinead Considine (Liscannor)
9: Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
10: Eimear Keane ( Miltown Malbay)
11: Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels)
12: Amy Sexton ( Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Lizzy Roche (Burren Gaels)
14: Cliodhna Blake ( Doonbeg)
15: Laura Griffey (Burren Gaels)
Subs:
29: Megan Downes (Cooraclare) for C Blake inj 35 mins
26: Ciara McCarthy ( Kilmurry Ibrickane) for L Griffey 41 mins
25: Joanna Doohan ( Kilmurry Ibrickane) for A Sexton 45 mins
20: Lauren Griffin (Fergus Rovers) for L Griffin 49 mins
22: Emma Healy ( Burren Gaels) for E Keane 52 mins
17: Aisling Morrissey ( Cooraclare) for R Doohan 60 mins
OFFALY
1: Kelley Cunningham ( Tullamore)
2: Kaydin Flynn ( St. Manchans)
3: Ava Dolan ( Shamrocks)
4: Anna Grehan ( Naomh Ciaran)
5: Nicole Farrelly ( Edenderry)
6: Emer Nally ( Naomh Ciaran)
7: Roisin Ennis Capt.( Naomh Ciaran)
8: Emma Maher ( Naomh Ciaran)
9: Amy Gavin Mangan ( Naomh Ciaran)
10: Michelle Mann ( Naomh Molaoise)
11: Emma Hand ( Ballinamere/Durrow)
12: Marie Byrne ( St. Conleths)
13: Emily Bailey ( Tullamore)
14: Ciara Walsh ( Naomh Molaoise)
21: Saorah Doyle ( Ballinamere/Durrow)
Subs:
15: Annie Heavan (St. Manchans) for C Walsh 39 mins,
24: Eve Kelly (Clara) for S Doyle 53 mins
22: Roisin Mealiff(Ballinamere/Durrow) for M Byrne 54 mins,
18: Becky Bryant ( Tullamore) for E Nally 58 mins
Referee; Aaron Clogher (Roscommon)
