*Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
FERGUS ROVERS were crowned Clare ladies division 2 senior football champions on Bank holiday Monday evening when they recorded a six point victory over Doonbeg.
Fergus Rovers 3-9
Doonbeg 2-6
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
Although Fergus Rovers carried the favourites tag into the game, they were made battle all the way by a lively Doonbeg outfit.
Rovers made the better start and they had opened a two goal lead inside ten minutes through Ria Meaney and Aisling Costello from a penalty awarded for a foul on Clara Meaney.
Doonbeg responded impressively with three points from Aoibhinn Ryan, Niamh Conway and Lucy Shanahan before Rovers struck for their third goal, Aisling Costello converting from play. She followed with a point to put her side five points clear.
Doonbeg dominated the closing ten minutes and they were rewarded with 2-1, both goals coming from Alisha Ryan while Lauran Conway pointed and this left he teams deadlocked at the interval when the score was 3-1 to 2-4.
Points were swapped in the opening three minutes of the new half and when Ria Meaney from the winners side was yellow carded which meant ten minutes in the sin bin, things didn’t look good for favourites Rovers.
Their response was impressive and they landed the next four points through Aisling Costelloe (2) and substitute Hazel Keating.
Doonbeg pulled one back but three in a row for the winners from Ria Meaney who had returned to the action after ten minutes in the sin bin Neasa Meaney and top scorer Aisling Costello killed off Doonbeg’s hopes of success.
Ciara O’Malley, Orla Hogan and Fiona Breen were prominent in defence for the winners while Shauna Melican, Ria Meaney and Aisling Costelloe who finished with 2-6 to her credit, also did well.
Amy Linnane, Sharon Sexton, Aoibhinn Ryan and Lucy Shanahan did well for Doonbeg who lost Orla O’Mahoney to injury in the early minutes but she returned to the action midway through the second half.
After the game team captain Fiona Breen was presented with the league cup while Orla Hogan received the player of the match award.
Fergus Rovers: Aoife Griffin; Emma Keating, Ciara O’Malley, Orla Hogan; Ava Cotter, Fiona Breen, Eimear Burke; Sophie Culleton, Shauna Melican; Ellen Griffin, Aine Slattery, Alana Hanrahan; Clara Meaney, Ria Meaney (1-1), Aisling Costello (2-6, 1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees);
Subs; Hazel Keating (0-1) for C. Meaney (half time); Ali Talty for S. Culleton (half time); Neasa Meaney (0-1) for E. Griffin (40); Maeve Clancy for A. Hanrahan (45); Abbie Cahill for A Cotter (52); Ivanna Costelloe for A. Cosstelloe (57); Gillian Griffin for A. Slattery (57)
Doonbeg: Lisa McMahon; Laura Griffin, Sharon Sexton, Orla O’Mahoney; Sinead Robertson, Amy Linnane, Ciara O’Kane; Aoibhinn Ryan (0-1, f), Lauren Conway (0-3); Alisha Ryan (2-0), Lucy Shanahan (0-1), Ava Robertson; Mia Clancy, Niamh Conway (0-1), Emma Robertson;
Subs: Roisin McMahon for O. O’Mahoney (inj. 7); O’Mahoney for E. Robertson (43); Niamh Keane for N. Conway (57);
Referee; John O’Connelll (Cooraclare)
