*Cooraclare goalkeeper Harry O’Gorman. Photograph: James Downes
COORACLARE have qualified for a first Clare IFC final since 2022 after defeating Banner.
Cooraclare 0-12
Banner 0-11
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
After overcoming Kilrush Shamrocks in the quarter-finals, Cooraclare followed this up by downing Ennis based Banner on Saturday.
Big scores came at the most important time for Cooraclare in what was a tricky encounter against the Banner.
Progress is certainly evident within the Banner who lined out in their first-ever Clare IFC semi-final, with the age profile and talent in their attack it is likely this won’t be their last outing in the penultimate stage of the second tier.
Scorers Cooraclare: Simon Culligan (0-5 2f 1TP), Harry O’Gorman (0-3f TPf), Brian McNamara (0-2 1TP), Shane Lillis (0-1), Jack Carey (0-1)
Scorers Banner: Shane Meehan (0-5), Seán McMahon (0-5 5f), Eoin Fitzpatrick (0-1)
Cooraclare: Harry O’Gorman; Gary Donnellan, Gearoid Lillis, Ronan Donnellan; Ciaran Chambers, Pearse Lillis, Jack Garry; Seán O’Dea, Brian McNamara; Darragh Townsend, Sean Browne, Jack Carey; Simon Culligan, Kevin Marrinan, Shane Lillis.
Subs: James Burke for Browne, Colm McNamara for S Lillis, Tadhg Lillis for J Garry, Aidan Considine for Townsend.
Banner: Mark Cleary; Conor O’Toole, Conor Dennehy, Cian Rynne; Fuwhad Akinwale, Eoin Walsh, Justin McGrath; Brian McDonald, Niall Walsh; Matthew McGrath, Shane Meehan, Ronan Kilroy; Eoin Fitzpatrick, Sean McMahon, Thomas Meenaghan.
Subs: Oisin McMahon for Dennehy, Johnny Martin for Fitzgerld, Tomás O’Halloran for Akinwale.
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)