*Wayne Freeman with Sinead Considine and Chloe Moloney. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
AN AGONONISING ONE POINT extra-time defeat sees Clare’s intermediate ladies football side miss out on promotion to Division 2.
Kildare 2-11
Clare 2-10
Venue: Parnell Park, Dublin
It’s heartbreak for a Clare side who fought back from an early five point deficit to force extra time in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 final. Clare were by far the better team in almost every sector bar the critical one of the scoreboard.
Indeed a Fidelma Marrinan goal in the first period of extra time gave Clare the lead for the one and only time but three second half points by star forward Roisin Byrne ultimately ensured a devastated Banner fell to their knees when the hooter blew in Parnell Park.
A lightning fast start to the match saw the Lillywhites race into a 1-2 to no score lead after two superb Roisin Byrne points and a coolly slotted Neasa Dooley penalty. Clare though responded in style with two Fidelma Marrinan points added to by a superb Aisling Reidy score.
However in that opening half Clare missed two glorious goal chances when firstly Mary Hulgrane saved a point blank Marrinan effort and then corner forward Lizzy Roche had the goal at her mercy but her shot was agonisingly deflected out for a 45. Clare were dominant in possession but four point attempts also dropped short as they trailed by two at the interval on a 1-2 to 0-3 scoreline.
The second half began with the sides trading frees before midfielder Aisling Reidy kicked over to reduce the gap to the bare minimum. However two more Byrne points followed before the star forward then released midfielder Grace Clifford with a superb handpass with Clifford palming to the net.
The response from Wayne Freeman’s charges was magnificent. They kept running straight at the Kildare defence forcing the concession of frees. Clare reduced the lead to a single score game at 0-9 to 2-6 but another Byrne free looked to have secured the title.
In a grandstand finish substitute Laura Griffey palmed to the net to give Clare hope and then cool as you like Fidelma Marrinan landed a pressure laden free to force extra time.
Clare had all the momentum at this stage and one felt if they could just get in front it would be enough. They did just that with Marrinan’s major but star forward Roisin Byrne broke Clare hearts. The Banner did have one last gasp opportunity to force more extra time but Marrinan’s effort sailed just outside the post in what was a cruel defeat for Clare Ladies Football.
Scorers for Kildare: Roisin Byrne 0-10 (5f), Neasa Dooley 1-1 (1 pen), Grace Clifford 1-0
Scorers for Clare: Fidelma Marrinan 1-6 (5f), Laura Griffey 1-0, Aisling Reidy 0-2, Cliodhna Blake, Chloe Moloney (f) 0-1 each
KILDARE
1: Mary Mulgrane (Moorefield)
2: Lauren Burke (Naas)
3: Laoise Lenehan (Kill)
21: Grainne Kenneally (Eadestown)
5: Lara Gilbert (Kildangan Nurney)
6: Ruth Sargent (Eadestown)
7: Sarah Munnelly (Confey)
8: Grace Clifford (Eadestown)
9: Aoife Rattigan (Cappagh)
10: Claire Sullivan (Carbury)
11: Roisin Byrne (Sarsfields)
12: Trina Duggan (Suncroft)
19: Ellen Dowling (Suncroft)
14: Neasa Dooley (Athy)
15: Lara Curran (Milltown)
Subs:
25: Mia Doherty (Leixlip) for T Duggan (37),
13: Ciara Price (Sarsfields) for L Curran (45)
4: Aoife Clifford (Eadestown) for C Sullivan (48)
28: Orlaith Sullivan Carbury for C Price (73)
Clare
1: Aine Lenihan (Doora Barefield)
2: Orla Devitt (Eire Og)
3: Siofra Ni Chonaill (Doora Barefield)
4: Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
5: Louise Griffin (Fergus Rovers)
6: Caoimhe Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
7: Aine Keane (Miltown Malbay)
8: Aisling Reidy (Doora Barefield)
9: Chloe Moloney (Kimurry Ibrickane)
10: Eimear Keane (Miltown Malbay)
11: Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels)
12: Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Lizzy Roche (Burren Gaels)
14: Cliodhna Blake (Doonbeg)
15: Ciara McCarthy (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Subs:
26 Sinead Considine (Liscannor) for C McCarthy (37)
17: Megan Downes (Cooraclare) for A Keane (40)
18: Caoilinn McCormack (Burren Gaels) for L Griffin (45)
28: Laura Griffey (Burren Gaels) for G Harvey (53)
29: Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for L Roche (53)
13: Lizzy Roche for C Blake (ET)
14: Cliodhna Blake for A Sexton (HT ET)
Referee: Siobhan Coyle (Donegal)
