Cleary is thrilled with final success
LADIES FOOTBALL
Daire Walsh
IT was a family affair for the Cleary clan at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford on Bank Holiday Monday, as manager John was joined by his daughter Laura – who captained Cork to their second consecutive All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Ladies Football Championship title against Dublin.
Speaking after their four-point success (2-19 to 4-9) over the Metropolitans, John was thrilled that he was able to share this memorable moment with his daughter, but also took time to acknowledge the parents of all the players on the panel.
“It does [make it special having Laura involved]. Laura has been involved there a few years now.
“I suppose sometimes she doesn’t get it easy at home! In fairness, it’s great for any parent to have a daughter involved here today,” Cleary remarked.
“It’s the same with all the other parents and Laura is just another one.
“Look, we’re delighted to be going home with the cup this evening.”
With 2-5 to her name, Saoirse Noonan was the scorer-in-chief for Cork on the day.
It has been a busy 2016 for Noonan – who has been a key player for the Republic of Ireland U17 women’s soccer team – and Cleary feels she has the ability to be a top-level performer in Ladies Football.
“Saoirse Noonan, particularly, was at the end of a lot of movements.
“Saoirse is a class act, she did a lot of our finishing today, and we were grateful. Saoirse was always a class gaelic footballer,” said the manager.
“I think she’d go right to the top if that’s her choice. She played there at underage level in football for Cork, and I think today was her stage, but in fairness the other girls gave great ball into her and she was able to work off that.
“When she gets that, she showed what she was able to do today.”
Although they led by nine points (2-17 to 2-8) moving into the final stages of the contest, Dublin registered 2-1 without reply to set-up a nail-biting conclusion.
Given how much ladies football can ebb and flow, Cleary was not surprised that the Sky Blues cut into their lead, but he was glad that Cork’s experience told in the end.
“The nature of ladies football is that it’s very ebb and flow, and even when we were ahead, ladies football doesn’t close down and it’s not mass defences,” said John Cleary.
“They came at us and got a few scores, but I think our experience got us over the line in the end.
“I think that told. Because of that, we won it,” Cleary added.