*Banner Ladies celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Banner Ladies led by Niamh O’Dea, captained by Eva O’Dea and managed by JJ O’Dea claimed the Clare LGFA senior title for the thirteenth time.
Banner Ladies 0-09
Kilmihil 0-06
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
In most aspects of life familiarity breeds contempt but despite a sixth championship final meeting in seven years there was no such contempt in Doonbeg as a tremendous sporting contest went the way of the now thirteen time champions after a sensational performance from dual star Niamh O’Dea kicking four points and dominating possession when the need was the greatest.
The first half saw Kilmihil playing with the elements. In what was a windswept rain engulfed venue, the first thirty minutes was a stop start affair. Becky Mahon opened the scoring in the fifth minute before two frees converted by Niamh O’Dea off her left and Grainne Nolan off her right gave the Banner a 0-2 to 0-1 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
For the remainder of the first half Kilmihil took over proceedings. Aided by the huge wind they pinned the Banner back in their own half. Centre back Ellie O’Gorman landed an absolute peach of a score off the outside of her right peg from distance to level the contest. Two converted frees from Mahon and Catriona Callinan followed before we had a superb save from Emma O’Driscoll in the Banner goal.
A long delivery found Edel McNamara who cut inside the 21 and unleashed a rocket that seemed destined for the top corner. O’Driscoll dived full length and somehow got a fingertip to deny McNamara with the rebound falling to Catriona Callinan who kicked over to give Kilmihil a half time lead of three on a 0-5 to 0-2 scoreline.
On the resumption another Callinan free extended the lead to four before O’Dea took over proceedings. Denied a point by a strange umpiring decision this only angered her into action as she kicked a monster score immediately following this. Speaking to The Clare Echo afterwards O’Dea said in jest, “I made sure that point went over the second net so there could be no denying it”.
O’Dea then turned provider with a wonder fifty yard pass to Keelin Fitzgerald who popped it to Sarah Ní Cheallaigh for a great team score. Try as they did Kilmihil could just not penetrate the Banner defence who held firm late in before O’Dea fittingly kicked another majestic score just before the final whistle.
Scorers Banner Ladies: Gráinne Nolan (0-4 4f),Niamh O’Dea (0-4 f), Sarah Ní Cheallaigh
Scorers Kilmihil: Catriona Callinan (0-3 2f), Becky Mahon 0-2(f),Ellie O’Gorman 0-1
Banner Ladies:
1: Emma O’Driscoll
2: Sinead O’Keefe
3: Clare Hehir
4: Eva O’Dea
5: Sarah Ní Cheallaigh
6: Laurie Ryan
7: Laoise Ryan
23: Keelin Fitzgerald
9: Emer Burke
10: Caoimhe Cahill
11: Gráinne Nolan
12: Naomi Carroll
13: Shannen O’Donovan
14: Niamh O’Dea
15: Aoibhin Ryan
Subs:
Louise Henchy for E Burke (36)
Grainne Burke for S O’Donovan (37)
Kilmihil:
1: Micaela Glynn
2: Rosie Currane
3: Dervla Higgins
4: Aoife McNamara
5: Kate Coughlan
6: Ellie O’Gorman
7: Ailish Kenny
8: Tara Kelly
9: Laura Egan
18: Megan Downes Rigney
11: Catriona Callinan
24: Sharon Egan
13: Áine McNamara
14: Becky Mahon
15: Edel McNamara
Subs:
Sarah Browne for E McNamara (54)
Sharon Egan for A McNamara (58)
Referee: Frank Culleton
