Claregalway take the crown

Claregalway senior ladies Gaelic footballers claimed the 2016 Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé in Kerry at the weekend, defeating two teams from Kerry and one from Kildare to land the title.

They had an easy 9-6 to 1-3 win over an understrength local team, Corca Dhuibhne, in their opening game, but faced a much stiffer test in their second game, when they faced Confey from Leixlip in Kildare.

Claregalway led 0-7 to 1-0 at half-time, but having played with the aid of a gale force wind in the first half, the feeling was the four point cushion might not be enough. However, an outstanding team performance in the second-half kept the Kildare girls scoreless, while at the other end, Claregalway added 1-4 to their first-half tally to run out 1-11 to 1-0 winners, and book a meeting with Southern Gaels of Kerry in the final.

Once again, Claregalway played with the elements at their backs in the first-half to run up an imposing 5-6 to 1-1 lead at the break with the unstoppable Megan Glynn leading the attack in style.

The Kerry side laid siege to the Claregalway goal early in the second half but a brilliant defence marshalled by Hannah Coen in goal, full-back Amy Rohan and the outstanding Fabienne Cooney at centre-back restricted them to just three points, while the Claregalway forward line tagged on a few goals to finish the game on a scoreline of 8-10 to 1-4.

Pádraig Óg Ó Sé presented the cup to the Claregalway captain Charlotte Cooney after the game while Megan Glynn received the Player of the Tournament award.