*Ailish Considine celebrates. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ROUND TWO of the Clare LGFA senior championship has ended up with all teams in Group 1 level while Banner Ladies put back to back wins together.
Entering the final round, all teams are tied in a hugely competitive Group 1 meaning a fascinating two games lie ahead in a fortnight.
St Joseph’s Miltown punished a poor Fergus Rovers to bounce back from an opening round loss and put themselves firmly in contention for the knockout stages.
Glory for Kilmihil over Doora/Barefield
Kilmihil 4-7
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-9
Venue: Gurteen
In a tense and exciting encounter, for a finish Kilmihil just about shaded it but they were the deserving winners over the hour.
Following contrasting results in round one, both sides may have had different outcomes a fortnight ago but they were equally determined to win, Kilmihil to save their season and Doora/Barefield to guarantee a place in the knockout stages.
With Inagh/Kilnamona and O’Callaghans Mills meeting in Pitch 1 of Gurteen, there was a considerable attendance on the Quin Rd but unfortunately very few of them diverted down to Pitch 2, had they made the short descent they would have been treated to a much more evenly balanced game than the hurling.
Indeed the whistle of Michael Fitzgerald blowing for the ladies football before the hurling had concluded almost resulted in Mills netminder Killian Nugent receiving a sanction as he stopped up the play assuming it was the hurling whistler Kevin Corry calling for play to stop.
Ailish Considine had the first score with a point but Doora/Barefield roared into life thanks to a goal from towering full-forward Eabha O’Driscoll, the young player has emerged as arguably the star for The Parish in their two outings to date.
Quick thinking from Kilmihil allowed them to respond immediately with a Considine green flag but the hosts regained the lead through O’Driscoll and Aoibhinn O’Loughlin.
Trailing by two points at the midway stage, Kilmihil kicked 1-1 without reply to go back in front, Becky Mahon adding a composed point before Áine McNamara raided for goal.
Considine dispatched a penalty to the net before the half-time whistle to have the West Clare side 3-4 1-7 in front.
McNamara and Considine were first on the board on the restart to extend Kilmihil’s advantage but Emer Clune at midfield brought lift to Doora/Barefield with the first of her two goals.
Considine and O’Driscoll traded scores as they were beginning to dry up, Kilmihil opting for a more defensive approach to see out the game. The final score arrived on fifty six minutes, Clune again pouncing for goal to ensure a nervy finish.
Doora/Barefield had three separate chances to equalise but none of them materialised as a relieved Kilmihil hung on for victory.
Scorers Kilmihil: A Considine (2-3 1’Pen 1f), A McNamara (1-1), E McNamara (1-0), C Coughlan (0-1), B Mahon (0-1), K O’Halloran (0-1).
Scorers St Joseph’s E Clune (2-0), Doora/Barefield: E O’Driscoll (1-4 1f), A O’Loughlin (0-2), A Reidy (0-1), R Fowley (0-2 1f).
Kilmihil: Emily Anglim, Megan Downes Rigney, Ellie O’Gorman, Rosie Currane; Aoife McNamara; Katie O’Halloran, Kaitriona O’Gorman, Una Downes; Dervla Higgins, Becky Mahon; Edel McNamara, Ailish Considine, Katie Mullen; Ciara Coughlan, Aine McNamara.
Subs: Siobhan Carr for Coughlan
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Amy Lenihan; Anna Courtney, Siofra Ní Chonaill, Aisling McMahon; Aisling Hannan, Hannah Doyle, Shauna Moloney; Aisling Reidy, Eimear Clune; Katie Callaghan, Roisin Fowley, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin; Sophie Torpey, Eabha O’Driscoll, Fiona Tuohy.
Subs: Roisin Cahill for Hannan (HT), Lucy Power for Callaghan (45), Meadhbh O’Connor for Tuohy (51).
Referee: Michael Fitzgerald (Clondegad)
Kilmurry Ibrickane back in contention
Kilmurry Ibrickane 3-8
West Clare Gaels 1-7
Venue: Páirc Eoin, Cross
A powerful opening quarter brought Kilmurry Ibrickane back into the race for the Clare Credit Unions senior ladies football championship.
They impressed with a seven point victory against hosts West Clare Gaels to tee up a fascinating final round in Group 1.
Karen Galvin had the first goal of the game with three minutes on the clock, a suckerpunch that West Clare Gaels were never able to bounce back from.
After Chloe Moloney added the first of her four scores it was Galvin once more who struck for goal number two as a high ball sent in was not controlled and the alert corner forward got the vital touch on the ball to make it 2-1 to 0-0 after twelve minutes.
Fidelma Marrinan opened the account of West Clare Gaels on sixteen minutes but the Bricks responded with scores from Ciara McCarthy, Kayla Darcy and Chloe Moloney to lead by seven.
Marrinan kept the account ticking for her side who by half-time were 2-5 0-4 in arrears.
Rebecca Doohan made two vital goal-line clearances on the restart from Marrinan and Sorcha Griffin.
With thirty five minutes played, Kilmurry Ibrickane struck for their killer blow when Amy Sexton rifled to the net following a thundering run from Chloe Moloney.
Scorers Kilmurry Ibrickane: Karen Galvin (2-0), Chloe Moloney (0-4), Amy Sexton (1-0), Ciara McCarthy (0-1), Kayla Darcy (0-1), Johanna Doohan (0-1), Ellie Hanrahan (0-1)
Scorers West Clare Gaels: Fidlema Marrinan (1-3), Shauna Harvey (0-1), Roisin Brew (0-1), Siobhan Keane (0-1), Caoimhe Harvey (0-1)
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Katie McMahon, Rachael Tubridy, Aoife Martin, Rebecca Doohan, Kayla Darcy, Joanna Doohan, Niamh Millar, Ciara McCarthy, Sophie Daly, Ciara Hickey, Amy Sexton, Dympna Garrahy, Ellie Hanrahan, Chloe Moloney, Karen Galvin.
Subs: Emma Scullion for Darcy, Siofra O’ Dea for Garrahy, Garrahy for O’ Dea,
West Clare Gaels: Ciara Harvey, Clodagh Keane, Sarah Marrinan, Amber Thompson Keane, Grace Marrinan, Grainne Harvey, Niamh Morrissey, Caoimhe Harvey, Siobhan Keane, Aine Maloney, Shauna Harvey, Kate Roche, Roisin Brew, Fidelma Marrinan, Sorcha Griffin.
Subs: Aoife Keane for Morrissey, Laura McNamara for Brew, Amy Hogan for Keane, Colette Keniry for McNamara, Clara Keogh for Roche.
Referee: John McDonagh (Liscannor)
Back to back wins for Banner
Banner 2-11
Burren Gaels 1-6
Venue: Banner GAA Grounds, Ennis
Banner Ladies sealed their place in the knockout stages by recording successive wins and an eight point win over Burren Gaels.
Without a win in two outings, Burren Gaels face a crucial tie with St Joseph’s Miltown in the final round. They entered this game under a new management following the exit of Corofin’s Eoin Keane in the aftermath of their first round loss to Fergus Rovers, due to work commitments.
This was an improved showing from Burren Gaels who made the Banner work for their victory but were guilty of coughing up three goal chances inside the first ten minutes.
Despite a stint travelling Niamh O’Dea showed no signs of rustiness with the former county dual-player amassing a personal tally of 0-7 over the hour. JJ O’Dea’s side also welcomed Naomi Carroll back to action with the international hockey player as ever a hive of activity at centre forward.
Lizzy Roche goaled for the North Clare side before the half time whistle but O’Dea responded with two flags to keep nine points between them.
Reigning champions Banner kicked on in the second half and underlined once more that they are the team to beat.
Scorers Banner: N O’Dea (0-7), A Ryan (1-3), C Ryan (1-0), AM Meenaghan (0-1).
Scorers Burren Gaels: L Roche (1-4 4f), E O’Dwyer (0-1), T Collins (0-1).
Banner: Emma O’Driscoll; Niamh Beirne, Clare Hehir, Sinead O’Keeffe; Laoise Ryan, Emer Burke, Aine Long; Niamh O’Dea, Keelin Fitzgerald; Louise Woods, Naomi Carroll, Caoimhe Cahill; Caoimhe Ryan, Aoibhinn Ryan, Louise Henchy.
Subs: Ann Marie Meenaghan for Fitzgerald
Burren Gaels: Niamh O’Loughlin; Sadhbh Blood, Aoife Forde, Áine Hegarty; Shannon McCormack, Ailbhe McGann, Fiona Loughman; Norah O’Dwyer, Theresa Lillis; Ellie O’Dwyer, Sarah Leigh, Laura Griffey; Aisling O’Brien, Lizzy Roche, Lisa Murphy.
Subs: Tara Connolly for L Griffey (inj), Caoimhe Byrne O’Connell for Connolly (inj), Aileen O’Reilly for Murphy, Ciara Mai O’Dwyer for Blood
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Miltown get off the mark
St Joseph’s Miltown 4-8
Fergus Rovers 0-4
Venue: Lissycasey
St Joseph’s Miltown announced their arrival on the senior scene with a commanding sixteen point win over Fergus Rovers.
Given that Fergus Rovers got the edge over Burren Gaels in round one and Miltown were the victims to a hammering at the hands of the Banner, an ever contest was at least expected but there would have been very few predictions favouring such a one-sided scoreline for Miltown.
Aisling Costelloe and Hannah Mai Neylon got Fergus Rovers on the board first but once Miltown settled with scores from Caoimhe Carmody and Rachel Healy they began to grow into the game.
Miltown kicked 1-3 without reply to put themselves in a very positive place at half time. Led by Abi Kelly and Áine Keane they kicked on in the second half to run out as deserving winners.
Scorers St Joseph’s Miltown: A Kelly (2-3), A Keane (2-1), C Carmody (0-2), R Healy (0-1), E Keane (0-1)
Scorers Fergus Rovers: A Costelloe (0-3), HM Neylon (0-1)
St Joseph’s Miltown: Siobhan Talty; Leah Darcy, Eabha O’Malley, Hannah Shannon; Cliodhna Queally, Áine Keane, Grainne Lynch; Caoimhe Carmody, Catriona Byrne; Elisha Twomey, Eimear Keane, Abi Kelly; Grace Carmody, Emma Hickey, Rachel Healy.
Subs: Ciara Hayes for G Carmody, Sarah Looney for Twomey, Lucy Flanagan for Hickey, Elisha Twomey for Kelly, Grace Carmody for Healy.
Fergus Rovers: Aoife Griffin, Emma Keating, Ava Cotter, Eimear Burke, Shauna Melican, Orla Hogan, Hazel Keating, Lauren Griffin, Louise Griffin, Sophie Culleton, Hannah Mai Neylon, Ellen Griffin, Maeve Ryan, Aisling Costelloe, Ria Meaney
Sub: Clara Meaney for Maeve Ryan, Fiona Breen for Ellen Griffin, Aine Slattery for Keating, Andrea Moloney for Sophie Culleton
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
