Ladies: Ryan goal key as Clare defeat Sligo for All-Ireland U18 'B' title

Clare 1-8 Sligo 0-7

by Gavin Cawley Clare are this year’s ZuCar All-Ireland B champions after they overcame a battling Sligo side who came into the match as reigning champions at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Mayo.

Both sides were very well matched throughout the course of the game with both teams being made to work for scores during the contest.

Sligo opened the scoring through a free from Ellen Giblin who was their main scoring threat throughout the match. The sides were level for the first time on five minutes with Aiobheann Ryan pointing for Clare. Sligo restored the lead a minute later when Gemma Callaghan was on target after some excellent build-up play from Giblin. Ria Meaney was unlucky not to draw her side level on seven minutes with her effort coming off the crossbar but Meave Clancy had the sides level once again. The sides were level again at the midway point in the half but Sligo retook the lead on 20 minutes with Giblin adding her third free of the half. Ryan had claims for a penalty but after consultation with his umpires match referee Kevin Phelan deemed the Clare forward to be charging. Ryan got the only goal of the match before the half-time break when she cut through the Sligo defence before finding the back of the net. A point after the restart from Sligo’s Giblin left just a point between the sides at 1-3 to 0-5. Sophie Culleton restored a two point for Barry Donnelly’s side after 37 minutes. Sligo looked like they had got a goal on 41 minutes when Rachel McGoldrick set up Kate Smith but the goal was disallowed for a square ball. But Sligo hit back and drew level with points from Kate McDonagh and free from Giblin. Clare went 17 minutes without a score but a point from Culleton edged them back in front.

The Clare defence was impressive in the final five minutes with some key turnovers proving vital and they added three points to seal the win.

Scorers: Clare: A Ryan 1-1; H Keating 0-2, S Culleton 0-2 (1f), A Kelly, M Clancy, C Mescal 0-1 each. Sligo: E Giblin 0-5 (4f), G Callaghan, K McDonagh 0-1 each.

CLARE: N Clark; A Cahill, A Kelly, E Burke; A Kelly, H Keating, L Daly; A Talty, A Crowe; K Darcy, R Meaney, S Culleton; A Ryan, A McNamara, M Clancy. Subs: S Clancy for M Clancy (44), S Cagney for Talty (44), C Mescal for Kelly (60).

SLIGO: C Gallagher; K Feeney, L Galvin, C Morgan; A Durcan, T Hastings, R Killoran; L Henry, L McGuire; A Breheny, G Smith, G Callaghan; K Smith, C Crawley, E Giblin. Subs C Gilligan for McGuire (37), K McDonagh for G Smith (37), R McGoldrick for Breheny (38), S McDaniel for K Smith (47), A Canning for Killoran (60).

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).