*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Four rounds into the Clare ladies football senior championship, champions Banner Ladies and their predecessors Kilmihil remain unbeaten.
They meet in the fifth and final round in the round robin stage this weekend. The top four teams after this weekend’s series of games will go through to the semi-finals with the top placed team facing the side that finishes fourth with the clubs finishing in second and third meeting in the other semi-final. Banner and Kilmihil will fill the top two spots with the outcome of their game this week deciding who will get the top spot.
Champions record another win
Banner Ladies 4-21
Cooraclare 2-3
Venue: Banner GAA Grounds, Ennis
Banner Ladies made it four wins from four outings when they proved too strong for Cooraclare.
The champions were in control from an early stage on a day when their goalscorers were Aoibheann Malone, Aoibhin Ryan, Grainne Nolan and Aoife Keane.
Megan Downes scored both goals for Cooraclare converting from the penalty spot on each occasion and she also added a point to her tally.
Banner: Emma O’Driscoll; Siobhan McMahon, Claire Hehir, Sinead O’Keeffe; Laoise Ryan, Eva O’Dea, Sarah Ni Ceallaigh; Louise Woods, Laurie Ryan; Shonagh Enright, Aoife Keane, Grainne Nolan; Aoibhin Ryan, Aoibheann Malone, Louise Henchy.
Subs used: Emily Cahill, Shannon Donovan, Leah Talty, Helena Hehir, Sinead Power, Mary Tierney, Alannah McNamara.
Cooraclare: Anne Marie Callinan; Aoibhe Hehir, Laura Quinlivan, Saskia Morrissey; Chloe Lillis, Aisling Morrissey, Katie Lillis; Orlaith Lillis, Roisin Looney; Anna Mae Killeen, Nicola Keating, Megan Downes; Aimee McNamara, Katie Cronin, Aoibhe Hehir.
Subs: Sadhbh O’Brien for Katie Cronin; Maeve Fennell for Chloe Lillis; Ashling Hehir for Aoibhe Hehir.
Referee: Pat Byrne O’Connell
Kilmihil edge hard fought battle
Kilmihil 1-9
West Clare Gaels 1-8
Venue: Pairc Eoin, Cross
Kilmihil were made to battle all the way for their latest victory as they had a single point to spare over West Clare Gaels.
The sides were level on a number of occasions throughout the hour and for much of the game a share of the spoils looked the likely outcome.
Catriona O’Gorman was the winner’s goalscorer while Becky Mahon landed 0-4 with Edel McNamara and Katie Mullen each shooting two points while Ellie O’Gorman completed the Kilmihil outfit’s tally.
Having played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half, Kilmihil led at half time, 0-7 to 1-2, the home side’s goal coming from Caoimhe Harvey.
Kilmihil goaled early in the second half, a score that pushed them five points clear. West Clare took control after this and they landed the next six points to go one clear with less than ten minutes remaining. Kilmihil rallied and scored the last two points.
West Clare Gaels had a couple of chance in the closing minutes but failed to hit the target. In their final game this week they must beat St. Josephs Doora/Barefield to have any chance of making the play offs.
Kilmihil: Micaela Glynn; Cathy Keating, Megan Downes-Rigney, Rosie Currane; Elaine O’Halloran, Aoife McNamara, Kate Coughlan; Laura Egan, Dervla Higgins; Catriona O’Gorman (1-0), Catriona Callinan, Edel McNamara (0-2); Katie Mullen (0-2), Becky Mahon (0-4), Ellie O’Gorman (0-1).
Subs: Chloe Devitt for C. O’Gorman; Sara Browne for E. McNamara; Carol Browne for A. McNamara
West Clare Gaels: Emma McMahon; Sophie O’Callaghan, Sara Marrinan, Ciara McQuaid; Sorracha Griffin, Becky Madigan, Aine Moloney; Grainne Harvey, Siobhan Keane; Caoimhe Harvey (1-3), Roisin Brew, Colette Keniry; Niamh Lardner (0-1), Shauna Harvey, Fidelma Marrinan (0-4).
Subs: Amber Thompson for S. O’Callaghan; Nell Walsh for R. Brew.
Referee: John O’Connell
St. Josephs keep play off hopes alive
St. Josephs Doora/Barefield 1-12
Kilmurry-Ibrickane 1-8
Venue: Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Doora/Barefield kept their hopes of making the play offs in the championship alive when they overcame Kilmurry-Ibrickane in a well contested tie.
Ashling Hannan was the winner’s goalscorer in what was their second win of the campaign. Sophie Daly struck for Kilmurry’s goal inside the opening five minutes and the West Clare outfit had points from Chloe Moloney and Karen Galvin.
St. Josephs Doora/Barefield: Caoifhlinn Ni Chonnaill; Sinead O’Connor, Megan O’Brien, Kate Dillon; Maedhbh O’Connor, Hannah Doyle, Roisin Cahill; Emer Hanrahan, Ciara Cahill; Siofra Ni Chonaill, Ashling Reidy (0-4), Chloe Towey (0-2); Ciara Guilfoyle, Ashling Hannan (1-1), Amy Lenihan (0-4);
Subs: Lyndsey Clarke (0-1) for Emer Hanrahan; Shauna Moloney for Ashling Hannan; Caoimhe Hoey for Amy Lenihan; Aoibhinn O’Loughlin for Chloe Towey; Emily Barry for Roisin Cahill; Muirne Ni Chonaill for Ciara Guilfoyle; Alex Potter for Maedhbh O’Connor;
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Katie McMahon; Jessica Doohan, Rebecca Doohan, Rachel Tubridy; Marie Garvey, Maeve Foley, Ellie Hanrahan; Siofra O’Dea, Joanna Doohan; Chloe Moloney, Sophie Daly, Amy Sexton; Caitlyn O’Connor. Karen Galvin, Karen Coughlan
Subs: Roisin Montgomery for M. Garvey; Aoibhnait O’Dea for Jessica Doohan.
Intermediate:
Liscannor recorded a comprehensive 4-16 2-07 win over Doonbeg while what is tipped to be a potential final pairing saw Burren Gaels collect their third win from as many games. The North Clare side overcame Kilrush 1-11 1-09 in Carron in what was the first defeat suffered by the Shams in this year’s championship.
