*Caoimhe Harvey was one of Clare’s standout players. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE’s flagship ladies footballers face a nervy final showdown with Roscommon next Sunday to avoid back-to-back National League relegations after falling to an Eimear Smyth masterclass.
Fermanagh 2-15
Clare 1-10
Venue: McManus Park, Kinawley
With both Fermanagh and visitors Clare needing just one more victory to consolidate their Division 3 status for 2027, it was the hosts who grasped that glorious opportunity with both hands after full-forward Smyth raided for all but three points of a 2-15 tally.
Fortunately for Graham Shine’s side, fellow demotion rivals Laois and Limerick also suffered penultimate round losses, the latter of which sealed their return to Division 4. It means that with Clare just two points ahead of Laois in the table heading into the final round, the Banner just need to better the midlanders’ result in order to finally stop the rot.
Not leaving anything to chance, the Munster side will be determined to win the final tie and leave no doubt as to their position but that’s no guarantee either after a surprisingly flat performance in Kinawley.
Granted, a four hour bus trip wasn’t ideal but Clare actually started with the first three points and outscored the home side by 1-6 to 0-4 in the final quarter. However, the less said about the middle third of the game the better as a gale-assisted Fermanagh kicked 1-8 without reply to soar to an eight point cushion before clinching victory by the two-thirds mark with a second goal through the dominant Smyth.
Indeed, Fermanagh outgunned Clare by 2-11 to 0-1 in the middle thirty minutes of the tie, a devastating statistic that was clearly unretrievable.
Following back-to-back wins over Laois and Limerick allied to a two week break, expectations were high that the Banner could sustain that momentum. The usual suspects excelled for Clare in the tireless Caoimhe Harvey, chief threat Chloe Moloney, captain Joanna Doohan and a strong first half showing from Louise Cleary while there was also a superb display from newcomer Aisling Kelly at corner-back and 1-1 from the bench for the electric Leah Kelly
However, the visitors incrementally failed to quench Fermanagh’s flame once it was lit as the Banner found themselves struggling pick up breaks from restarts and leaking a succession of handy scores.
Against such a strong wind in the opening period, Clare survived an early shot through the lively Sinead Barrett that whistled past the far post to bounce back with the first three points through Roisin and Sinead Considine along with a Chloe Moloney free earned by Lauren Conway by the seventh minute.
A trio of Eimear Smyth points did regain parity by the end of the opening quarter but considering the conditions, even conceding two more points through Smyth and Barrett was still a great position for Graham Shine’s side at 0-5 to 0-3 by the 28th minute.
However, a 1-3 surge in just three minutes completely skewed the half-time scoreline in Fermanagh’s favour as points from Smyth (2) and Niamh McManus were accentuated by a 30th minute goal for the former after winning possession back in the right corner at 1-8 to 0-3 by the break.
All was not lost for Clare who now welcomed the wind but they found the elusive Smyth difficult to pin down as the Derrygonnelly star kicked 1-4 inside the opening ten minutes of the new half to put the result beyond any doubt at 2-11 to 0-04.
Cadhla Cara Bogue’s excellent run and handless over the top for Smyth to fire to the bottom left corner was in contrast to Clare’s frustration in front of goal for the remainder as four guilt-edged chances only yielded one major.
The triumvirate of Caoimhe Harvey, Chloe Moloney and Joanna Doohan carved out the first for the latter which flashed wide under pressure. Points from Moloney (2) and Teresa Collins sandwiched a second sighting, this time for substitute Leah Kelly whose effort was saved by goalkeeper Aine Haren at the right post.
Chloe Moloney also subsequently tested the reflexes of the home stopper to tip over the bar entering the final ten minutes at 2-12 to 0-09.
However, a three point home burst, all from the boot of the scorching Smyth, lessened the impact of Clare’s goal when it finally came in the 63rd minute as an incisive run from Caoimhe Harvey was offloaded to Kelly to billow the net.
Fermanagh are safe but Clare are thankful to still have their relegation fate in their own hands when hosting Roscommon next Sunday at 1pm.
Scorers for Fermanagh: Eimear Smyth 2-12 (6f), Sinead Barrett 0-1, Niamh McManus 0-1, Sarah Britton 0-1
Scorers for Clare: Chloe Moloney 0-5 (2f), Leah Kelly 1-1, Roisin Considine 0-1, Sinead Considine 0-1, Teresa Collins 0-1, Caoimhe Harvey 0-1
Fermanagh
1: Aine Haren (Kinawley)
7: Brendan Bannon (Derrygonnelly)
19: Courtney Murphy (Kingsley)
2: Aisling Keenan (Belnaleck)
5: Aisling O’Brien (Devenish)
6: Cadhla Cara Bogue (Tempo)
4: Shannan McQuade (Tempo)
8: Aine McCarney (Brookeborough)
12: Catriona Breen (Tempo)
10: Sinead Barrett (Belcoo)
11: Niamh McManus (Kingsley)
18: Ellie Carrigan (Ederney)
21: Joanne Doonan (Kinawley)
14: Eimear Smyth (Derrygonnelly)
15: Bronagh Smyth (Derrygonnelly)
Subs
26: Sarah Britton (Ederney) for Carrigan (HT)
13: Ciara McGarrigle (Erne Gaels) for B. Smyth (HT)
3: Sarah McCarville (Aghadrumsee) for O’Brien (47)
29: Cliodhna Martin (Newtownbutler) for McCarney (53)
23: Seana Feely (Belcoo) for Breen (59)
Clare
1: Rebecca Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
18: Aisling Kelly (Cooraclare)
3: Rebecca Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
2: Hannah Doyle (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
26: Louise Cleary (Fergus Rovers)
6: Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
11: Caoimhe Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
8: Caoimhe Cahill (Banner Ladies)
9: Aine Slattery (Fergus Rovers)
5: Roisin Considine (Liscannor)
28: Teresa Collins (Burren Gaels)
10: Sinead Considine (Liscannor)
12: Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
14: Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
17: Lauren Conway (Doonbeg)
Subs
21: Lucy Power (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for R. Considine (42)
4: Shauna Melican (Fergus Rovers) for Cleary (42)
13: Eabha O’Driscoll (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Sexton (42)
25: Aisling Crowe (Kilrush) for Slattery (49)
20: Leah Kelly (Cúil Gaels) for Conway (49)
24: Eimear Burke (Fergus Rovers) for Doyle (59)
23: Orfhlaith Considine (Liscannor) for R. Doohan (63)
29: Lauren Flaherty (Liscannor) for S. Considine (64)
Referee: Henri Clifford (Meath)
