Four-midable Clans blow Blues away to clinch title

CLAN NA GAEL NEWTOWN BLUES B 4-12 0-9

CLAN Na Gael cruised to victory over Newtown Blues in Stabanonn on Friday night to clinch the Division 3 League title.

The win sees the Dundalk side make amends for their one point defeat in last year’s decider to Mattock Rangers in Knockbridge. While it was extremely comfortable in the end for Clans, it was the Blues who made the brighter start and raced in a 0.4 to 0.1 lead after only seven minutes with Sarah Dyas getting three of their points.

Shortly afterwards the game swung strongly in Clans favour as they hit two goals in as many minutes , the first coming after nine minutes when Ciara Woods went past a couple of defenders and despite having her jersey pulled she sent a rasping shot high into the net, and just a minute later Woods was unlucky to se her shot kept out by the woodwork but from the resultant play won possession and fired to the net from 15 meters to put Clans in front for the first-time 2.1 to 0.4.

Dyas replied with a fine point from a free but Clans then hit six points without reply to lead by 2.7 to 0.5 at the break.

While Blues had the first score of the second half from Sarah Dyas after Alanna McLoughlin saw her effort hit the woodwork, Clans again put their foot on the gas and added a further 0.4 with Alanna McLoughlin, Lee Lawlor and Ciara Woods (2) all on target. Woods then completed her hat-trick with her third goal in the forty ninth minute extending their lead to 3.11 to 0.6. The Drogheda side created a number of chances as they threw caution to the wind as they flooded into attack but this left gaps at the back which Clans hungry forwards were keen to exploit with sub Michelle McCourt putting the gloss on the scoreline when she tapped home the fourth goal after a flowing attack

After the game County Chairman Dermot Woods presented the trophy to a delighted Clans captain, Gillian O’Reilly

CLAN NA GAEL: Mia Rogers, Geraldine Smyth, Daramay Fitzpatrick, Alanna Tinnelly, Jessica Gaffey, Kathy O’Reilly, Cara McKeever, Shannen McLoughlin, Gillian O’Reilly, Grace Smith, 0.02, Therese Curran,, Lee Lawlor, 0.03, Alannah McLoughlin, 0.01, Donna Conroy, Ciara Woods. 3.06. Subs used: Kellie Hughes, Sinead McGill, Michelle McCourt 1.00

NEWTOWN BLUES: Emma McDonald, Kim O’Hara, Kate Kelly, Catherine Kennedy, Orlaith Nugent, Soso Tshunungwa, Hannah O’Neill, 0.01. Jade Conner, Kaylin Nugent, Niamh McAllister, Louise Rafferty, Zoe Gardiner, Sarah Dyas, 0.08, Eimear Clarke. Subs used: Emma Thompson.

REFEREE: Tommy McEnteggart.