An Clochan Liath find Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe too strong in Comórtas decider

An Clochan Liath’s hopes of taking the senior Comórtas Peile All-Ireland title were well and truly dashed as Galway champions Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe eased to victory in Ráth Chairn.

The Rosses Park girls might have found the going too tough over the hour, but never threw in the towel in a gutsy Comórtas Peile decider display.  

Ciara Ní Chearnaigh had opened the scoring for the Galway girls on three minutes while up the other side, Patrice Ni Bhaoill passed up on a chance for goal when she got inside the opposition’s defence. 

M Ní Dhomhaill levelled matters up for An Clochan Liath nearing the ten-minute mark with a well-struck free.

But just when it looked like An Clochan Liath had settled, disaster struck up the other side when Cáit Ní Shléibhín bundled to the back of the net. 

And thing got gradually worse as Baile Chláir na Gaillmhe went seven clear with another green flag being raised by Andrea Trill. 

With Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe taking a real stranglehold on possession, she bagged her second and her side’s third goal of the opening half, on 21 minutes, to open up an 11-point deficit at 3-2 to 0-1. 

Saskia Boyle did land a second over for An Clochan Liath but just before half-time Ciara Ní Chearnaigh got up from wing-back to ram in a fourth goal for the leaders to leave it 4-3 to 0-2 at the changeover. 

Ava Ní Chathmhaoil and Cáit Ní Shléibhín were both on the mark at either end when things got going once more.

An Clochan Liath then cut three points off the 13-point gap when Mia O’Donnell’s speculative effort from distance fell into the back of the net. 

Trill then brought her tally out to 2-2 with her second point and the same player then completed her hattrick on 40 minutes to leave it 5-6 to 1-3. 

Rhianna Ní Riada’s free from distance again caused bother for the Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe goalkeeper as An Clochan Liath grabbed a second goal. 

Cáit Ní Shléibhín responded down the other side twice as Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe held An Clochan Liath at a 5-8 to 2-3 arm’s length. 

And all doubt in this one was extinguished as the Galway girls rammed in a sixth goal thanks to  Cáit Ní Shléibhín.

Ava Ní Chathmhaoi then smashed in a brilliantly worked goal for Tony Boyle’s girls, headed into the last quarter, as they trailed by 14. Mia Ní Dhomhaill then landed another free to take An Clochan Liath to 3-5. 

An Clochan Liath refused to fold and Patrice Ni Bhaoill grabbed a fourth goal for her side. 

Cáit Ní Shléibhín clipped another two up the other side as 4-5 chased 6-10 into the last five minutes. 

But before the end, Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe rattled off late points to comfortably cross the line and lift the title. 

An Clochan Liath scorers: Mia Ní Dhomhaill 1-3, 2f; Patrice Ni Bhaoill  1-0: Rhianna Ní Riada 1-1; Saskia Ní Bhaoill 0-1; Ava Ní Chathmhaoil 1-1.

Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe scorers: Andrea Trill 3-2; Cáit Ní Shléibhín 2-6; Ciara Ní Chearnaigh 1-2; Eimear Ní Ríordáin 0-3 

An Clochan Liath: B Ní Bhaoill; N Nic Giolla Easpuig, E Nic a Bhaird, L Ní Dhochartaigh; A Nic Aoide, S Ní Bhaoill, E Ní Bhaoill; C de Bhailís, A Ní Chathmhaoil; J Ní Ghallchóir, E Bhailís, T Ní Bhaoill; M Ní Dhomhaill, P Ní Bhaoill. R Nic Riada. 

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