Clare’s intermediate ladies footballers suffered their first defeat of the year losing out to Cavan.
Cavan 1-10
Clare 1-08
Venue: Templeport, Bawnboy
Entering the final ten minutes Clare held a one point advantage but unfortunately for them their lead vanished as Cavan took charge at the crucial stage to send the visitors home empty handed.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Clare led for the majority of the contest and will be disappointed with their overall display for the second week in succession.
Ciara Hickey and Niamh O’Dea pointed inside the first three minutes to put Clare in front. Just like last weekend against Waterford, the first score the Banner County conceded was a goal, this time it was Caitriona Smith that beat Ciara Harvey on the ninth minute.
In the next attack Smith’s strike was cancelled out as an Ailish Considine free dropped around the square and was palmed to the back of the net by Niamh O’Dea to restore Clare’s two point lead.
Aisling Doonan opened her account on the twelfth minute but two white flags from Grainne Nolan increased the distance to three points. Both corner forwards then traded efforts before Amy Rooney and Niamh O’Dea did likewise. Doonan kicked the final score of the half to leave the visitors two points clear at the interval.
Crucially for Clare they would only kick two scores in the second half as Cavan found their stride outscoring their counterparts 6-2 to claim the win. The influence of Aisling Doonan was central to their win as their scorer in chief added scores at times when they were badly required.
While they may have been behind for most of the tie, Cavan were always at arm’s length and knew to keep going and they pounced when the opportunity presented itself.
Only three players registered on the scoresheet for Neil Moynihan’s side; Grainne Nolan, Niamh O’Dea and Ciara Hickey all of whom were in the full-forward line. This highlights that the loss of Niamh Keane and Louise Henchy is being felt in the middle third and Clare will need to begin scoring from more angles if they’re to test any opposition.
Out of two games, Clare now have one point on the board when it could just as easily be four points. If they can learn from their first two outings and begin powering ahead when they take the lead it may prove to have been a worthwhile exercise, if not they will be fighting relegation in the league.
Cavan: Elaine Walsh (Killygarry); Rachel Doonan (Templeport), Ailish Cornyn (St Francis), Shauna Lynch (Crosserlough), Amy Wharton (Cornafean), Laura Fitzpatrick (St Finbarrs), Sheila Reilly (Mullahoran); Sinead McKenna (Killygarry), Sinead O’Sullivan (Lacken); Caitriona Smith (Killygarry) (1-00), Amy Rooney (Kingscourt Stars) (0-01), Claragh O’Reilly (Lurgan) (0-01); Rachel Talbot (Killygarry), Grainne Smith (Killygarry), Aisling Doonan (Templeport) (0-07).
Clare: Ciara Harvey (West Clare Gaels); Nicole O’Doherty (Killmurry Ibrickane), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels); Roisin Considine (Burren Gaels), Ellie O’Gorman (Kilmihil), Amanda Mulcair (St.Josephs Doora/Barefield); Kayleigh McCormack (Burren Gaels), Becky Mahon (Kilmihil), Lizzie Roche (Burren Gaels), Ailish Considine (Kilmihil), Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels); Ciara Hickey (Killmurry Ibrickane) (0-01), Niamh O’Dea (Banner Ladies) (1-03), Grainne Nolan (Banner Ladies) (0-04). Subs: Roisin Looney (Cooraclare) for Roche (45)