Clann na nGael goal-den girls claim under-16 county title

Clann U-16 girls captured the third county title for the ladies with a superb victory over a gallant Strokestown in Kiltoom on Sunday. After being comprehensively beaten by Strokestown in the group stages in early August, determination and hard work saw the girls succeed in the end. Clann got off to a good start with a pointed free from Blana Gately and, when the same girl lobbed a high ball to the roof of the net, it gave Clann the confidence to take the game to Strokestown. Another point from Blana and a goal from Niamh O"Brien put Clann in the driving seat. But Strokestown came back with their half-forward line putting tremendous pressure on the Clann defence. Strokestown scored three points in a row, before Michelle Harney-Nolan fisted the ball to the back of the net. Strokestown"s pressure continued and they struck for a superb goal to leave just four points in it, before another Blana Gately point and a Michelle Harney-Nolan goal gave Clann a lead of 4-3 to 1-4 at half-time. The second half was seconds on when Kayleigh Dunning won a great ball and was fouled and Blana Gately put the resultant free over the bar. Michelle Harney-Nolan then completed her hat-trick of goals before a point from play from Blana Gately. Strokestown tried hard for goals but had to settle for pointed frees as Ciara Galvin and Rosa Shine made some great saves on the Clann line, with Amy Curley, in particular, constantly blocking the ball down. Half-way through the second half Strokestown got their goal but their joy was shortlived as Gillian Egan and Blana Gately struck for two more goals to make the game safe for Clann. This was a good as team performance as one would see with some equally good subs introduced in the second half, but the half-back, midfield and the half-forward lines get special mention to the amount of running required to keep this Strokestown team at bay. Team: Ciara Galvin, Deirdre O"Neill (c), Rosa Shine, Sorcha McManus, Gillian Wall, Amy Curley, Eva Coyle, Blana Gately 2-5, Kim Finlass, Rebecca Naughton, Orla O"Neill, Kayleigh Dunning, Michelle Harney-Nolan 3-0, Niamh O"Brien 1-0, Gillian Egan 1-1. Subs: Aisling Lennon, Karen Nicholson, Keeva Dunning, Michelle Dunning, Amy Shine, Aoife McManus, Amy Rooney, Katie Ward, Zoe Shine, Jennifer Duignan, Anna Shine, Katie Rock, Leanne O"Connor, Louise Curley, Aileen McEvilly, Martina O"Brien, Edel Flynn.