*Fidelma Marrinan made her return to the Clare colours. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
CLARE deservingly made a winning start to their All-Ireland intermediate ladies football campaign when they accounted for Wexford on Sunday afternoon.
Clare 4-12
Wexford 2-12
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosog, Ennis
They had to survive a nervous final quarter which saw Wexford come from being thirteen points in arrears to close the gap to three with as many minutes remaining.
The Banner ladies played some outstanding football in the opening half at the end of which they were nine points clear with the score at 2-8 to 0-5.
They took up where they had left off when the second half resumed and at the three quarter stage they were thirteen points clear with the score at 3-12 to 0-8.
Wexford refused to give up and they hit 2-4 without reply in twelve minutes leaving Clare supporters in a nervous mood with a few minutes remaining.
In the first of four minutes of ‘injury time’ Clare eased those worries with a sweeping move which ended with Ellie Hanrahan finding the net to seal victory and edge Clare closer to the quarter finals.
After the sides exchanged points, Clare struck for the opening goal, Cooraclare’s Megan Downes finding the net. Teresa Collins and Chloe Moloney followed with points before Doonbeg’s Lauren Conway struck for the team’s second goal which came in the twelfth minute.
The winners fully deserved their nine point interval advantage and they would not have been flattered had this lead been greater such was their dominance.
They put together a number of excellent moves and their short passing game was very impressive.
West Clare’s Fidelma Marrinan who now plays her club football with the Thomas Davis club in Dublin, was in the attack for the second half and her return to the squad having missed last season, is a huge boost to the side.
She signalled her return to the side when finishing another sweeping Clare move with the side’s third goal which came at the mid point of the second half and which stretched the team’s lead to thirteen points.
As Clare tired somewhat, Wexford with the help of a number of substitutions, hit back and Ciara Banville’s goal gave them a huge lift.
As they continued to pile on the pressure the Clare defence was clearly under pressure and this led to the concession of a penalty which Aoife Cullen converted three minutes from the end of normal time.
Prior to that Rebecca Sexton in the Clare goal had produced a couple of excellent saves to deny the visitors.
Four minutes of ‘added time’ were signalled and Ellie Hanrahan’s goal in the first of these minutes eased Clare nerves.
Abi Kelly, Joanna Doohan the team captain, Teresa Collins, Aine Slattery, Chloe Moloney and Ellie Hanrahan were prominent for the winners throughout.
Clare will be back in action next Sunday when they travel to play Laois in round two.
Gallery of photographs by Burren Eye Photography
Scorers; Clare; Chole Moloney (0-5, 2f), Megan Downes, Ellie Hanrahan, Lauren Conway, Fidelma Marrinan (1-1) each; Emer Burke, Teresa Collins, Amy Sexton (0-1) each
Scorers Wexford; Aoife Cullen (1-0 penalty, 2f), Ciara Banville (1-2) each; Berbhinn McDonald (0-4); Aoife Fortune (0-3); Ciara Roban (0-1)
Clare;
1: Rebecca Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane);
2: Hannah Doyle (St Joseph’s, Doora/Barefield),
3: Rebecca Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
4: Lucy Power (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield);
5: Abi Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown),
6: Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Captain,
7: Emer Burke (Banner);
8: Teresa Collins (Burren Gaels),
9: Áine Slattery (Fergus Rovers);
10: Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane),
11; Ellie Hanrahan (Kilmurry Ibrickane),
18: Megan Downes (Cooraclare)
19: Leah Kelly (Cul Gaels),
14: Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane),
15: Lauren Conway (Doonbeg);
Subs:
27: Fidelma Marrinan (Thomas Davis, Dublin) for M. Downes (HT)
17: Aisling Crowe (Kilrush) for L Kelly (53)
22: Sophie Torpey (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for A. Sexton (59).
Wexford:
1: Siobhan Cooke;
2: Aoife Tormey,
3: Katie English,
4: Isabel English;
5: Julie Dempsey,
6: Aisling Halligan, Captain
7: Roisin Hughes;
8: Beibhinn McDonald,
9: Ciara Donnelly;
10: Orlaith Byrne,
11: Ciara Banville,
12: Aoife Cullen;
13: Ciara Roban,
14: Aoife Fortune,
15: Orlaith Kehoe;
Subs:
18: Kellyanne Dempsey for I. English (half time);
21: Amelia Furlong for O. Byrne (40);
25: Niamh English for C. Robon (42)
