*Clare’s Chloe Moloney. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
AN ALL-IRELAND QUARTER-FINAL awaits Clare’s intermediate ladies footballers despite their one point loss to Louth.
Louth 2-08
Clare 1-10
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Despite dominating the opening half, Clare’s return of 0-02 in the second half and the concession of 1-03 without reply in the third quarter prevented them from maintaining an unbeaten streak in the championship.
An inability to break past the Louth middle third saw Clare’s scoring chances dry up in the second half. Their opponents were a defensive outfit but had the hosts attacked with more pace and fluency they would have got more joy and subsequently a greater quantity of scores.
From the start, Clare appeared to be the stronger side with Niamh O’Dea kicking an excellent effort inside the first minute. Aoife Halligan’s goal on two minutes tested this theory and the green flag would stop the hosts from developing a strong advantage.
After kicking four points on the trot, Clare hit the net when Fidelma Marrinan lobbed Rebecca Lambe Fagan on eighteen minutes, the hosts didn’t build on this score with Louth kicking three of the next four scores to leave it 1-08 1-04 at half-time in favour of the Banner.
Executing some well-taken points saw Louth grow in confidence and began to stamp their authority on matters. Fidelma Marrinan kicked Clare’s first score of the half on forty two minutes with Louth on the mark thanks to three excellent Kate Flood white flags. They raided for their second goal on forty six minutes when Rebecca Carr caught out Micaela Glynn and from here the Leinster outfit took a major step towards the win.
Longford await Clare in the quarter-finals. If they are to have any aspirations of claiming the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup, considerable improvement is required. Although they have forwards of serious quality, their attacking threat was not maximised as the ability to supply them with possession didn’t exist. The decision to substitute one their top scorer Fidelma Marrinan was questionable. Tara Kelly impressed most for Evan Talty’s charges.
For the winners, Kate Flood, Laura Collins, Aoife Halligan and Aoife Russell impressed.
Scorers Louth: L Collins (0-04 3f), A Halligan (1-00), R Carr (1-00), K Flood (0-03), J McCourt (0-01)
Scorers Clare: F Marrinan (1-03), A Sexton (0-02), N O’Dea (0-01), R Considine (0-01), C Callinan (0-01), C Moloney (0-01 1f), G Nolan (0-01 1f)
Louth:
1: Rebecca Lambe Fagan (St Patricks)
2: Holly Lambe Sally (Geraldines)
3: Sarah Quinn (Foxrock/Cabinteely)
4: Eimear Murray (St Kevins)
5: Ceire Nolan (St Fechins)
6: Shannen McLoughlin (Clan na Gael)
7: Aoife Russell (Glen Emmets)
8: Aoife Halligan (Roche Emmets)
9: Roisin Kavanagh (St Fechins)
12: Rebecca Corr (Geraldines)
11: Ciara Woods (Clan na Gael)
10: Hannah O’Neill (Newtown Blues)
13: Kate Flood (St Patricks)
14: Eimear Byrne (St Mochtas)
15: Laura Collins (Newtown Blues)
Subs:
29: Jennie McCourt (Roche Emmets) for Woods (12)
2: Eilis Hand (Geraldines) for Lambe Sally (36)
22: Sarah Moore (St Fechins) for O’Neill (47
24: Ruth Hannon (St Brides) for Byrne (47)
26: Rachel Leonard (Glen Emmets) for Collins (56)
Clare:
1: Micaela Glynn (Kilmihil)
2: Rebecca Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
3: Tara Kelly (Cúil Gaels)
4: Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
5: Siofra Ní Chonaill (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
6: Laurie Ryan (Banner)
7: Orla Devitt (Éire Óg)
8: Aisling Reidy (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
12: Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
28: Roisin Considine (Liscannor)
10: Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
11: Lizzy Roche (Burren Gaels)
27: Niamh O’Dea (Banner)
15: Catriona Callinan (Kilmihil)
14: Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels)
Subs:
13: Grainne Nolan (Banner) for Roche (HT)
19: Cliodhna Blake (Doonbeg) for Callinan (48)
2: Rebecca Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for O’Gorman (50)
9: Sinead Considine (Liscannor) for Marrinan (53)
18: Sinead O’Keeffe (Banner) for Sexton (57)
Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)
