Louth Ladies Unlucky in Darver

For the second year running, Clare manager Wayne Freeman saw his side prevail against his former employers Louth in division 3, as a quickfire 1-3 down the home straight sealed victory, despite being pushed all the way by a valiant Wee County in a closely fought contest in Darver on Sunday.

In fact, with the aid of a breeze and a vocal support behind them, Louth sub Lucy White had an instant impact when she crashed the ball home via the crossbar to give Paul Hanlon’s side the lead at 1-8 to 0-9 with five minutes remaining, and Louth appeared to be in the ascendency, to take a giant step towards assuring league safety.

However, Clare had other ideas, and talented forward Fidelma Marrinan who had to make do with a place on the bench, latched onto a pinpoint Caoimhe Harvey footpass in behind the Louth defence to slot low to the net to give Clare a three point lead, which ultimately sealed victory for the Munster side, as they closed out victory, with a point from the excellent Aisling Reidy ensuring a four point victory from the jaws of defeat.

Due to several noticeable absentees on the Clare side including Chloe Moloney, an impressive outlet at the edge of the square for the Banner, Clare opted to move the ball through the hands in attack, with players like Aisling Reidy, Caoimhe Harvey, Ciara Hickey, Laurie Ryan and Lousie Griffin impressive in that area,

In a cagey opening 10 minutes, Louth led by 0-2 to 0-1, with Niamh Rice clipping over a fine score to put the Wee County ahead thanks to an accurate Carrie Keenan footpass, after a Kate Flood free had earlier cancelled out an Aisling Reidy white flag from Clare.

However, Louth failed to register again for the next 20 minutes, as Clare rattled off those six unanswered points to take an 0-8 to 0-2 lead, in a half where the Reds managed 0-2 from 9 shots in open play, which included Clare keeper Amy Lenehan bravely diving down on a Kate Flood strike from close range.

With Louth’s kicking game failing to come off in attack with 7 of their 17 forays into the Clare half being turned over, Paul Hanlon will also be frustrated at his side for conceding two identical points via a short 45.

On both occasions, Clare profited, with Laura Griffey firing over the bar from a short Ciara McCarthy 45, and 15 minutes later, another 45 yielded a Clare point, with Louise Griffin profiting, to give Clare a 0-6 to 0-2 just passed the opening quarter. Sandwiched in between were strikes from Griffin, Ailish Considine (f), and Ciara McCarthy.

The ubiquitous Caoimhe Harvey collected a McCarthy pass for 7-2, before another Ailish Considine free stretched Clare’s lead to six, heading into first half stoppage time.

Kate Flood ended Louth’s drought when she collected an Eimear Byrne kick pass from the right flank to leave five between the sides at the break.

Second Half

The second period saw Louth step things up, as the began to put the squeeze on their opponents, pressing from the front, and force the turnover.

By the time the 40th minute had passed, Louth had hauled their way back into contention, cutting the deficit to three, at 0-9 to 0-6, thanks to more fine shooting from Kate Flood from play and placeballs.

In between that was another finely constructed Banner move through the hands involving Teresa Collins, Aisling Reidy, and Aine Keane, which saw Amy Sexton fire over, when there was a possible goal on.

But there were no doubts about who edged things in the second half, as Louth carried the fight to their opponents, epitomised in the performance of Aoife Halligan, who fought tooth and nail to win back possession time and time again, and finished with 18 possessions to her credit, winning several frees in the scoring zone too.

Niamh Rice whose pace would cause havoc to any defender in the country, landed her second score after combing with Flood to leave just two between the sides, as the Louth support smelt blood, with Clare desperate to manage the game, having lost Rosin Considine to the sin bin in that second period.

When Lucy White who brought an energetic feel to Louth’s attack, crashed the ball to net in marvellous fashion, the Wee County were leading 1-8 to 0-9, and a possible shock of sorts was on the cards.

They had the momentum, the breeze, the strong home support behind them. However, credit should go to Clare, who did not panic, having been asked a serious question by Paul Hanlon’s side.
Rosin Considine fired over the bar moments after returning to the field, before an Ailish Considine free levelled things up at 0-11 to 1-8 with three minutes remaining.

They say that in a minute, everything can change, and this was a case in point, as when Eimear Byrne picked up a loose ball in the square, she bore down on goal. However, the Mochtas player was denied by a superb block by Clare’s Ciara Hickey, who impressed as sweeper.

Following this block, Clare worked the ball down the pitch, which led to Fidelma Marrinan latching onto that Caoimhe Harvey footpass, to fire home to all but win it for Clare, with an insurance score from Aisling Reidy breaking Louth hearts, which leaves the Reds with it all to do in the final stages of the league, in a performance they will take a lot of heart from, and with the added impetus of the imminent return of some key players in the coming weeks.

Louth: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Caitlin O’Reilly, Anna Whyte, Caoimhe Boyle; Seoda Mathews, Aine Breen, Claire McDonald; Aoife Halligan, Eimear Byrne; Aoife Russell, Kate Flood (0-6) (4f), Carrie Keenan; Mia Duffy, Niamh Rice (0-2), Ciara Woods.

Subs: Lucy White (1-0) for Woods (37), Katie Murphy for Duffy (44), Rachel O’Connor Leonard for Keenan (50), Katie Doheny for McDonald (52).

Clare: Amy Lenihan; Aine Keane, Grainne Harvey, Laurie Ryan; Roisin Considine (0-1), Joanna Doohan, Louise Griffin (0-2); Caoimhe Harvey (0-1), Aisling Reidy (0-2); Teresa Collins, Ciara Hickey, Ciara McCarthy (0-1); Amy Sexton (0-1), Ailish Considine (0-3) (3f), Laura Griffey (0-1).

Subs: Sinead Considine for Griffey (41), Katie Mullen for McCarthy (44), Fidelma Marrinan (1-0) for Sexton (48), Megan Downes for Collins (48), Hannah Doyle for Ryan (64), Emer Haynes for Griffin (67).

Referee: Barry Redmond