Miltown Ladies Claim Minor C title with victory over Clooney Quin
Heart stopping stuff in this Minor C meeting between Clooney-Quin and Miltown Malbay. Clooney-Quin were well in control in the first half when Maeve Clune opened with a point and Emma Deegan tacked on a goal and a point before Eimear Keane pointed a free for the Westerners first score on 12 minutes gone. the remainder of the half was fast paced but didn’t yield many scores as Jennifer O’Neill pointed for Clooney-Quin and Eimear Keane pointed from play but this could have been a goal if taken. 1-3 to 0-2 for the Clooney-Quin girls. On the resumption, Eimear Keane was back and pointed with great support from Caoimhe Carmody, Capt Ash Para Haren, Grainne Meade, Laura Keane and Rosin Flynn. However, Siobhan Halpin took a fantastic goal for CQuin to push them 2-3 to 0-3 ahead, no real threat. When Para Haren started to lead by example she lifted the Miltown squad to a new level of urgency and a massive work-rate had the East Clare girls on the ropes till the end but not without a ferocious fight-back that kept the appreciative attendance on edge till the end. The last quarter had the young but skillful Miltown captain point and then goal on 17 minutes Clooney-Quin still 2 points ahead. More western pressure forced a foot-block which was converted stylishly by Grainne Meade putting her team into the lead by a point. Clooney star Emma Deegan was back to level with 2 minutes to go but her opposite on the Miltown side Eimear Keane edged ahead again. Enthralling play from both sides saw Jennifer O’Neill level again at 2-05 each and when Aoibheann Duggan pushed Clooney-Quin ahead in injury time the excitement was fever pitch and with the Abbey side nearly all in the Miltown half, a quick break by Carmody, Para Haren, Roisin Flynn and Grainne Meade freed up Eimear Keane who was one on one with Clooney-Quin goalie Ciara O’Reilly from thirty yards out and when she slotted it into the side netting Miltown went two points ahead and a sure win. But one last massive effort saw them swamp Miltown again but only a point by Emma Deegan meant that they were still a point in arrears by the very minimum when the whistle went up. Miltown are Minor C Champions 3-5 to 2-7. A brilliantly entertaining game played with great skill and determination by all players on both sides with in the best of sporting attitude.