*Niamh O’Dea hits the ground during Sunday’s encounter with Kilmihil. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
The race for places in the semi-finals of the Clare ladies senior football championship is heating up and the outcome of a number of fixtures this coming weekend will have a big bearing on who will get through.
Title holders Banner Ladies along with Kilmihil are both safely through but there is a big battle going on involving West Clare Gaels, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Kilmurry Ibrickane, and Burren Gaels for the remaining two semi-final places.
Banner Ladies continued their charge for another Clare ladies football senior title when they proved too strong for Kilmihil at Kilmihil on Sunday.
A strong wind made playing conditions tough for the players but despite playing against this, the title holders led by three points, 2-6 to 2-3, at half time.
Inter county dual star, Niamh O’Dea scored both goals for the Banner who have booked their place in the semi-final.
Kilmihil who are also through to the semi-final, had their goals from Edel McNamara and Becky Mahon who converted from the penalty spot. The final score was 2-14 to 2-3 in favour of the Banner.
Banner play Burren Gaels at the Banner grounds on this Sunday at 12.15p.m. while Kilmihil will take on their neighbours Cooraclare at 10.30am at Kilmihil.
West Clare Gaels kept their hopes of getting to the play offs alive when they overcame the challenge of St. Joseph’s, Doora/Barefield at Cross. The minimum margin separated the sides at the final whistle with the West Clare outfit emerging with a 2-7 to 1-9 victory.
The winners played with the aid of the wind in the first half and were 1-7 to 0-2 in front at the break, the goal coming from Caoimhe Harvey.
The visitors fough back strongly after the break and managed to draw level but a goal from Roisin Brew put the home side back in front and they held on for victory.
Goalkeeper Amy Lenihan scored the St. Joseph’s goal, converting from the penalty spot.
This week West Clare Gaels travel to Quilty to play Kilmurry Ibrickane at 12 noon on Sunday and the outcome of this game will have a big bearing in determing who will go through to the play-offs.
Burren Gaels proved too strong for Cooraclare last week and emerged from that tie with a 5-13 to 0-1 victory.
Meanwhile the race for the intermediate title continued with Miltown, runners up for the last three years, keeping up their strong challenge for victory with a 1-11 to 0-7 win over Liscannor whle Fergus Rovers had a hard esrned 1-9 to 1-7 win over Kilrush.
Elsewhere Doonbeg were 4-5 to 2-11 winners over Clooney/Quin while Éire Óg had a 1-15 to 2-3 victory over Newmarket-on-Fergus.
