*Clare’s Fidelma Marrinan. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Clare forward Fidelma Marrinan said their 2-14 to 1-13 win over Antrim in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final was the perfect response after losing after extra-time to Laois at the same stage last year.
By John Fallon
Marrinan, who scored five points, two of them from frees, said they will now hope to finish the job when they take on Kildare in the final and that they used last year’s heartbreak to drive them on.
“You have to put that at the back of your mind and keep going. We used it as motivation. There is nothing better to motivate you than a loss”.
“Nothing that can describe this team. It was about time we got to an All-Ireland final. Fair play to Antrim they have been coming; they have showed that they are an unbelievable team in Intermediate but this was a must-win match for us,” she said.
Aisling Reidy got a goal for Clare which helped them lead by 1-9 to 1-7 at the break, with Maria O’Neill fisting home Antrim’s goal.
A stunning goal from Chloe Moloney after 44 minutes put Clare in the driving seat and they pushed on to secure their place in the final against a Kildare side who defeated them in the 2016 final.
A goal from Neasa Dooley was decisive for Kildare as they edged out Wexford by 1-4 to 0-2 at Parnell Park in a clash where scores were at a premium.
Kildare led by 0-3 to 0-2 at the break and held an edge during the second-half before Dooley’s goal secured their place in the final. But manager Diane O’Hora believes they have plenty of room for improvement.
“We’re not going up there to Croke Park just to fulfil a fixture and go give everyone their dream of walking the pitch at Croke Park, and all this kind of thing.
“We have to put our heads down now and focus, look at why we didn’t perform in certain areas and at certain times. We need to go down and win this thing. The only way we can do it is by hard work and we need to all figure out.”
