Flexibility the key for Clontibret success

Clontibret secured the NWP Bridie McMenamin Shield title in Lurgan on Sunday after defeating Loughgiel Shamrocks with a strong second half display. Clontibret manager Geraldine Clarke wasn’t overly impressed with her sides first half performance and took the opportunity at the break to instil a bit of calmness in her squad.

‘I am delighted and relieved to get the win. The first half was touch and go and at half time we got the girls settled. They were very nervous going into the game and it was simple things that were letting us down. Once we got the simple things right we were able to improve. We struggled to get ball into our forward line in the first half and that was due to the strong Loughgiel defence although I think we were playing too deep and making those errors’.

Changes in the Clontibret team meant a good number of positional changes seemed to do the trick for Clontibret as the emerged out like a different team for the second half . ‘One thing we have had all year is that the players must be versatile and we have been starting with the traditional 15 at the beginning but we always have the ability to change things around. Catherine Tomany going to full forward to and she made a great impact in there. We have been flexible and doing whatever it took to get across the line’ said primary school teacher Clarke.

In 2012 rivals Castleblayney secured the NWP Bridie McMenamin Shield and Geraldine is glad that her side came out determined to succeed in 2013 and also was proud of her players and what it meant to some of her pupils watching on.

It was a motivating factor for us to go and win the competition after Castleblayney won it last year. Last year we got caught and didn’t even make the Monaghan Final due to various factors. The players sat down at the start of the year and focused on winning the Monaghan title and an Ulster title. We would be looking to go to the next level and we have a young panel with some at only 15. We have great support from our underage teams and it is great for them to see us winning an Ulster title and hopefully this will have a real positive impact on these young girls.