Cork ladies footballers retain Munster minor crown with stylish display against Clare

Cork 4-11 Clare 1-6

Cork retained their Munster Minor Ladies Football A title after a comprehensive win over Clare at Banteer on Saturday.

From start to finish the Rebels never looked like losing despite the best efforts of a Clare side that battled all the way to the finish.

The reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions were in no mood to give up their titles easily as they took the game to Clare, led by their captain Laura Walsh, just one of many impressive displays for the winners.

Walsh opened the scoring for Cork after three minutes and from the restart they went close to scoring a goal.

Roisin Ni Liatháin picked up the ball but her shot went just past the post.

With five minutes gone Cork increased their lead when Laura Walsh scored from a free, with Lauren Finnegan making it 0-3 to after nine minutes played.

Cork took a grip on the game when Ellen Connolly set up Autumn Devereaux for their first goal, to make it 1-3 to 0-1.

Clare got off the mark when Aoibheann Ryan pointed from a free, their only score of the half.

From the restart the same player went close to scoring a goal, with her effort hitting the side netting.

Ellen Connolly increased Cork’s lead after 21 minutes, with Walsh getting her second from a free.

Ni Liatháin increased Cork’s lead before they thought they had a penalty.

Walsh and Devereaux combined to put Ni Liatháin in, and it looked like she was fouled. But the referee deemed she had overcarried the ball and gave a free out.

Just before half time Cork got their second goal, when a high ball in from Finnegan deceived the Clare defence to find the back of the net, to see them lead by 2-6 to 0-1 at the break.

Sophie Leahy got the first score of the second half, Clare’s first from play, with Cork responding through Walsh, Aoife Treacy and Sarah O’Connor.

Ryan pointed a free for Clare but when Devereaux got Cork’s third goal it was effectively over as a contest, as she made it 3-10 to 0-3.

Ryan pulled a goal back for Clare and Ella Healy added a point to make it 1-4 to 3-10.

Healy and Ryan added scores for Clare, but fittingly Walsh got the last score of the half as Cork ran out deserving winners.

Scorers for Cork: L Walsh 1-5 (0-3 f), A Devereaux 2-0, L Finnegan 1-1, E Connolly, R Ni Liatháin, A Treacy, S O’Connor, C O’Donnell 0-1 each.

Clare: Aoibheann Ryan 1-3 (0-3 f), E Leahy 0-2 f, S Leahy 0-1.

CORK: R Duggan; S Fielding, A Collins, M Barrett; E Walsh, A Coughlan, C O’Donnell; C Ni Mhocháin, S O’Connor; A Treacy, L Walsh, E Connolly; A Devereaux, L Finnegan, R Ni Liatháin.

Subs: L O’Connor for E Connolly (46), A Ashman for E Walsh (48), A Kearney for R Ni Liatháin (52), A Kelleher for A Devereaux, E McCarthy for S Fielding (both 56).

CLARE: K Dowling; A Ring, K Markham, L Darcy; A Kelly, S Beirne, H Wynne; A Talty, S Cagney; S Leahy, M Treacy, K O’Shea; Allisha Ryan, Aoibheann Ryan, N Meaney.

Subs: E Healy for Allisha Ryan, N Talty for H Wynne (both 43), J Kennedy for K O’Shea (48), O McGee for A Kelly.

Referee: Billy Cummins (Tipperary).