*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
OPENING ROUND statements were issued as action commenced in the Clare LGFA senior championship.
There may be talk of transition within the Banner Ladies ranks but they dished out a warm welcome to the senior grade to St Joseph’s Miltown.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield made amends for their league final loss to Kilmurry Ibrickane while West Clare Gaels left Kilmihil with a victory in their hands.
Fergus Rovers completed the action with victory over Burren Gaels.
Group A Round 1:
Doora/Barefield do their bit against Kilmurry Ibrickane
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 6-10
Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-13
Venue: Gurteen
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield produced arguably one of their strongest performances in the senior championship to overcome Kilmurry Ibrickane.
Given that the sides clashed in the league final and were tied after extra time, a free taking competition was required to crown Kilmurry Ibrickane as the champions, this was always going to be a keenly contested affair.
Doora/Barefield struck for three goals in each half, their ability to hit the net was a deciding factor in the contest.
Roisin Fowley, Lyndsay Clarke and Aoibhinn McMahon hit their goals in the opening half as they held a 3-5 0-9 advantage having played into the wind.
Following Eabha O’Driscoll’s goal on forty two minutes, the Parish went eight point clear but Kilmurry Ibrickane dug deep to get back on level terms entering the final quarter. Amy Sexton and Karen Galvin both goaled for the visitors as they demonstrated remarkable character to force their way back.
With questions being asked of them, the test was then presented as to what Doora/Barefield do. They came up trumps with the answer and produced a 2-4 rally, the green flags from O’Driscoll and Katie Callaghan to pick up a vital opening round win in a fiercely competitive group.
Siofra Ní Chonaill, Shauna Moloney, Roisin Fowley and Eabha O’Driscoll were standout players for the winners but Paddy Frawley’s side will now need to match this showing to ensure they have a championship to remember.
There was character evident in how Kilmurry Ibrickane managed to get back on level terms and to match that they have the ability but the key task for them is how they will bounce back from an opening round loss.
Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Eabha O’Driscoll (2-4, 1f); Roisin Fowley (1-4, 2f); Lyndsay Clarke, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin, Katie Callaghan (1-0 each); Eimear Clune, Sophie Torpey (0-1 each)
Scorers Kilmurry Ibrickane: Chloe Moloney (0-9, 6f); Amy Sexton, Karen Galvin (1-1 each); Ellie Hanrahan, Ciara McCarthy (0-1 each)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Amy Lenihan; Aisling McMahon, Siofra Ní Chonaill, Anna Courtney; Aisling Hannan, Hannah Doyle, Lyndsay Clarke; Aisling Reidy, Eimear Clune; Shauna Moloney, Sophie Torpey, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin; Fiona Tuohy, Eabha O’Driscoll, Roisin Fowley
Subs: Roisin Cahill for McMahon (36), Katie Callaghan for Hannan (55), Siun McNamara for O’Loughlin (59)
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Katie McMahon; Rachel Tubridy, Rebecca Doohan, Aoife Martin; Kayla Darcy, Joanna Doohan, Niamh Miller; Sophie Daly, Ciara McCarthy; Caitlyn O’Connor, Amy Sexton, Ciara Hickey; Ellie Hanrahan, Chloe Moloney, Karen Galvin
Subs: Dympna Garrahy for O’Connor (HT), Emma Coughlan for Tubridy (55), Abbie Cushen for Galvin (57)
Referee: Noel Quinn (Gort)
West Clare Gaels catch Kilmihil
West Clare Gaels 2-10
Kilmihil 1-10
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
Missed opportunities and missing personnel were lamented by Kilmihil as in their only home game of the championship they fell to a three point loss at the hands of West Clare Gaels.
Dervla Higgins’ involvement in the All-Ireland camogie final with Galway saw her in Croke Park as opposed to St Michael’s Park while a hamstring injury sidelined Eimear Considine and a long-term injury has kept Micaela Glynn out of action, three players with a considerable influence on the Kilmihil team.
Within five minutes, West Clare Gaels had their first goal. Shauna Harvey teed up Roisin Brew who made no mistake with her finish. Fidelma Marrinan who was marshalled by Rosie Currane, added a point to make their four points with eighteen minutes on the clock.
Further scores from Niamh Morrissey and Shauna Harvey opened up a commanding six point gap and Kilmihil were on course to finish the half without a score only for a rally of three points.
Hitting 1-2 without reply saw Kilmihil edge in front on the restart. Katie Mullen intercepted a kickout and found Ailish Considine who finished home from close range, she then followed this with an excellent point to make it 1-7 1-5 in their favour.
Ciara Harvey’s role in goal for West Clare Gaels became very important in the third quarter, she produced some valuable saves but was also relieved to see an effort from Áine McNamara denied by the crossbar.
Caoimhe Harvey narrowed the gap to the minimum and then the Clare captain had the assist for her older sister Shauna to work a goal from close range. This gave the impetus and the lead to West Clare Gaels entering the final ten minutes of the tie.
Fidelma Marrinan added a brace to put them four clear, the gap was halved with scores from Considine and Katie Mullen. Marrinan and Considine traded scores entering injury time but then the insurance point arrived from Shauna Harvey to see West Clare Gaels pick up a valuable three points in a fiercely competitive Group A.
West Clare Gaels scorers: Shauna Harvey (1-2), Fidelma Marrinan (0-4), Roisin Brew (1-0), Aine Moloney (0-2), Niamh Morrissey, Caoimhe Harvey (0-1 each)
Kilmihil scorers: Ailish Considine (1-5), Becky Mahon, Ciara Coughlan (0-2 each), Katie Mullen (0-1)
West Clare Gaels: Ciara Harvey, Ailish Marrinan, Sarah Marrinan, Amber Thompson Keane, Grace Marrinan, Grainne Harvey, Niamh Morrissey, Caoimhe Harvey, Siobhan Keane, Kate Rocke, Shauna Harvey, Aine Moloney, Sorcha Griffin, Fidelma Marrinan, Roisin Brew.
Subs: Clara Keogh for Griffin, Aoife Keane for G Marrinan, Susan McGrath for Brew.
Kilmihil: Emily Anglim, Katie O’ Halloran, Ellie O’ Gorman, Megan Downes- Rigney, Una Downes, Rosie Currane, Caitriona O’ Gorman, Aoife McNamara, Becky Mahon, Katie Mullen, Siobhan Carr, Aine McNamara, Ailish Considine, Ciara Coughlan, Edel McNamara.
Subs: Zoe Ryan for Carr.
Referee; Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill
Group B Round 1
Banner breeze past Miltown
Banner Ladies 9-9
St Joseph’s Miltown 0-7
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
A first game up in the top tier was always going to be a challenge for St Joseph’s Miltown but it became an insurmountable task given that they were facing a side who has won all but two of the senior championships in Clare since 2008.
So it proved as the Banner steamrolled their way to an opening round by a margin of twenty nine points.
Aided by the return of Niamh O’Dea who has been travelling and the decision of Louise Henchy to give it one more year, they possess arguably the most experienced midfield pairing in the county.
Excelling at centre back was Emer Burke who also managed to kick 2-3 while anchoring the defence. JJ O’Dea’s side dominated and despite their absence from the league final, they are a proven championship side and are already on their way back to the knockout stages.
Learnings can be taken and applied by Miltown who will get a better indicator of what level they are at in their remaining group ties with Fergus Rovers and Burren Gaels where a win is certainly within their gift.
Scorers Banner Ladies: A Ryan (2-3 3f), E Burke (2-3), H Hehir (2-0), C Cahill (1-1), A Meeneghan (1-0), A Long (1-0), L Henchy (0-1 1f), N O’Dea (0-1).
Scorers St Joseph’s Miltown: A Downes (0-2), S Looney (0-1), E Keane (0-1), C Carmody (0-1), A Keane (0-1), A Kelly (0-1).
Banner Ladies: Emma O’Driscoll; Niamh Beirne, Clare Hehir, Sinead O’Keeffe; Laoise Ryan, Emer Burke, Siobhan McMahon; Louise Henchy, Niamh O’Dea; Áine Long, Laurie Ryan, Caoimhe Cahill; Ann Marie Meeneghan, Helen Hehir, Aoibhin Ryan.
Subs: Caoimhe Ryan for Long (inj), Laura Chesser for H Hehir (inj)
St Joseph’s Miltown: Siobhan Talty; Leah Darcy, Éabha O’Malley, Emma Hickey, Abbi Kelly, Caitiona Byrne, Cliodhna Queally; Áine Keane, Caoimhe Carmody; Elisha Twomey, Eimear Keane, Hannah Shannon; Sarah Looney, Rachel Healy, Grace Carmody.
Subs: Ciara Hayes, Abby Downes, Grainne Lynch, Ailbhe Devitt, Áine Shannon.
Fergus Rovers take flight
Fergus Rovers 1-12
Burren Gaels 0-13
Venue: Páirc Ciosog, Carron
Mistakes were costly for Burren Gaels as they fell to Fergus Rovers in the opening round of the Clare LGFA senior championship.
Just two points separated the sides in a game which they both fancied their chances of recording a win.
Aisling Costelloe kicked 0-6 for the winners while the all-important goal which proved to be the difference arrived from the boot of Meabh Ryan.
Scorers Fergus Rovers: Aisling Costelloe (0-6), Meabh Ryan (1-0), Louise Griffin (0-2), Sophie Culleton (0-2), Hannah Mai Neylon (0-1), Hazel Keating 0-1.
Fergus Rovers: Aoife Griffin, Emma Keating, Ava Cotter, Shauna Melican, Hannah Mai Neylon, Orla Hogan, Hazel Keating; Lauren Griffin, Louise Griffin; Sophie Culleton, Aine Slattery, Ellen Griffin; Maeve Ryan, Aisling Costelloe, Ria Meaney
Sub Clara Meaney for Aine Slattery
Burren Gaels: Niamh O Loughlin; Tara Connolly, Aoife Forde, Aine Hegarty; Ailbhe McGann, Sarah Leigh, Aisling O Brien; Norah O Dwyer, Fiona Loughman; Ellie O Dwyer, Lisa Murphy, Shannon McCormack; Lizzy Roche, Laura Griffey, Teresa Collins.
Subs: Sadhbh Blood for Connolly (52)
