LADIES| Clann Defeat Neighbours.

Monday 26.10.2015

Club

Clann na Gael 2-13 Glenelly 2-9

In a repeat of the Intermediate Championship Final Clann na Gael prevailed over Championship winners Glenelly in the League decider played in Glenmornan on Saturday.

In front of a large crowd Glenelly started sharply with Fiona Marie Devlin easing them into a two point lead. Anne Daly responded from play for Clann na Gael with an impressive individual score before Aisling O’Kane restored Glenelly’s two point advantage. After recording a couple of wides Clann na Gael’s Mairead Conwell found her range and levelled the game for the first time with one point from play and one from a free.

After twenty minutes Glenelly’s Grace Donnelly scored the game’s first major to open up a clear advantage for the Plum girls. Siobhan Sheerin added to the lead with a point. Glenelly were now dominating the game and enjoying a player advantage with Clann na Gael’s Shannon O’Neill having been dismissed to the sin bin. Anne Daly then displayed all her experience and skill to score a goal and a point to drag the Clanns back into the game. Sheerin edged Glenelly ahead before Mairead Conwell levelled again from a free. Fiona Marie Devlin gave Glenelly the narrowest of leads going in at half-time from a free kick.

Glenelly were once again quick out of the blocks from the throw-in but Clann na Gael cleared the danger after Ellen McCullough’s blistering shot rebounded off the crossbar. Mairead Conwell levelled the game for a third time with a long range point before Siobhan Sheerin restored Glenelly’s lead with two points from play. Angie McShane clawed one back for Clann na Gael before Sheerin struck the net for Glenelly’s second goal to give them a four point advantage for the second time in the game.

Clann na Gael reduced the deficit with a point from Mairead Conwell before Carol Dooher once again levelled the game with a goal after the hard working Angie McShane had unlocked the Glenelly defence. Conwell then gave the Clanns the lead for the first time in the game. While Glenelly appeared to be tiring Clann na Gael were now playing with confidence and pushed forward in numbers. Mairead Conwell added three more points to extend the lead to four with only two minutes left to play. Sheerin got another point for Glenelly to give them some hope but when Susan McShane slotted over a point in the dying seconds it was the Clann girls’ day.

Following the game Clann na Gael manager Conor McAleer paid credit to his players, “after the disappointment of the Championship Final the girls worked hard to prepare for this game. To come back into the game today twice after being down by four points and a player down for ten minutes showed great belief and perseverance. They never gave up and Brian (Dooher) and myself are so proud of them”.

Clann na Gael: Maureen Dooher, Niamh Browne, Susan McShane (0-1), Orla Kerlin, Eimear O’Kane, Tracey Donaghey, Fionnula Conwell, Carol Dooher (1-0), Angelina McShane (0-1), Joanna McShane, Anne Daly (1-2), Aislinn O’Neill, Shannon O’Neill, Mairead Conwell (0-9), Aideen Traynor.

Glenelly: Kellie Morris, Aoife McConnell, Michaela Morris, Cairmeal McBride, Catherine Morris, Edel O’Kane, Orla Harkin, Aisling O’Kane (0-1), Ellen McCullagh, Grace Donnelly (1-0), Nicola Bradley, Lucy McCullagh, Fiona Marie Devlin (0-3), Patricia Morris, Siobhan Sheerin (1-6). Subs: Mairead O’Hagan for Catherine Morris; Siobhan Kirk for Patricia Morris