*Amy Sexton in possession for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A THIRD successive All-Ireland quarter-final defeat has knocked out Clare’s intermediate ladies footballers.
Fermanagh 3-12
Clare 1-8
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
Home advantage was of little solace to Clare who produced a lethargic display against a more ravenous Fermanagh to end their involvement in this year’s championship.
Of the three quarter-final defeats in as many years, this was the heaviest and most comprehensive. The one point loss to Tyrone in 2024 was a shock, the 2025 exit to Monaghan by a margin of six points was competitive but this ten point defeat was convincing and sobering.
Seven points separated the sides at half time and it was very hard to see a Clare comeback, it never materialised and the hosts only managed to muster 1-3 in the entire second half to see the curtain fall on a disappointing campaign where relegation to the bottom tier of the league was narrowly avoided.
Despite Chloe Moloney getting Clare off the mark first with a free on three minutes, the early lead didn’t last long and Fermanagh responded with three points on the bounce.
Efforts from Leah Kelly and a Fidelma Marrinan two pointer levelled matters on the fifteenth minute but Fermanagh turned the game on its head with an unanswered 2-1.
Two goals in the space of twenty five seconds from Joanna Doonan and Eimear Smyth saw Fermanagh take control of proceedings and their grip of dominance was never really tested from here on. Clare struggled to win breaks from their own kickouts with little success in the air, the aerial battle and the subsequent reactions were where the hosts were really punished.
From the breaks, the spine of the Clare defence was cut open and it is in this sector where Fermanagh ran through for the bulk of their scoring opportunities.
Marrinan’s score on nineteen minutes was Clare’s last contribution to the scoreboard in the opening half, Sinead Barrett cancelled out this score while Bronagh Smyth had a goal disallowed for overcarrying just before the interval. By the break, Fermanagh led 2-6 0-5 and the home support in Cusack Park were stunned into silence for half-time.
Eimear Smyth and Amy Sexton traded scores on the restart but then Smyth struck for a killer goal on thirty four minutes to ensure there would be no way back for Clare.
Fermanagh were by far the stronger and more energetic of the two sides but they left an abundance of scores behind them. Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Rebecca Sexton made two goal-saving interceptions, one in either half to prevent the raising of more green flags while the winners also clocked up six poor wides over the hour.
There were goal chances in either half for Clare, Lauren Conway had little options and a difficult angle when bearing down on goal with no support on twenty five minutes, she had a shot blocked earlier with the break cleaned up by Leah Kelly to salvage a point. Chloe Moloney had a chance for a major on thirty eight minutes when Marrinan’s free dropped short but once again there was little reason for Fermanagh to panic.
Substitute Eabha O’Driscoll did land a consolation goal with fifty one minutes gone, Sinead Considine who was also introduced from the bench had a hand to play in the score but O’Driscoll did well to finish to the net.
It was game over long before this as Clare bow out of the race to lift the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup. Considering Clare contested the 2023 decider and were unlucky to lose to Kildare, the county’s inability to get beyond the quarter-final stage in the subsequent seasons has been tremendously disappointing. There was no spark in Clare’s attack while defensively they were ripped apart by their Ulster opponents. Abi Kelly, Hannah Doyle, Teresa Collins and Áine Slattery were among those to try hard for Clare.
Clear-cut and one-sided, there can be no complaints with the result. A more competitive showing was expected from Clare who secured home advantage after topping their group with two wins from as many games in this year’s run. A return to Croke Park is unlikely so long as the county continues to operate without its strongest panel. Graham Shine and his management over two seasons have added youth to the ranks but the absence of any representation from county champions Kilmihil plus a range of other top performers from different clubs remains an issue that needs to be rectified in order for the county to progress.
Support runners were constant for Fermanagh, they attacked in waves and had a purpose in their play. They hurt Clare on breaks from restarts while they nullified key threats all over the field. They brought a greater intensity and in truth beat their opponents on every metric worth measuring, apart from the free count. Caitriona Breen, Eimear Smyth, Brenda Bannon, Sinead Barrett and Cadhla-Cara Bogue were most impressive for the winners who will face Down in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers Fermanagh: E Smyth (2-5 3f), J Doonan (1-2), S Barrett (0-2), S Britton (0-1), B Smyth (0-1), N McManus (0-1).
Scorers Clare: F Marrinan (0-5 1TP 2f), E O’Driscoll (1-0), C Moloney (0-1 1f), L Kelly (0-1), A Sexton (0-1).
Fermanagh:
1: Áine Haren (Kinawley Brian Borus)
5: Aisling Keenan (Belnaleck Art MacMurroughs)
9: Caitriona Breen (Tempo Maguires)
4: Shannan McQuade (Tempo Maguires)
30: Courtney Breen (Kinawley Brian Borus)
6: Cadhla-Cara Bogue (Tempo Maguires)
7: Brenda Bannon (Derrygonnelly Harps)
15: Joanne Doonan (Kinawley Brian Borus)
8: Áine McCarney (Brookeborough Heber MacMahons)
25: Sarah Britton (Edenderry St Joseph’s)
11: Niamh McManus (Kinawley Brian Borus)
18: Sinead Barrett (Belcoo O’Reillys)
19: Bronagh Smyth (Derrygonnelly Harps)
14: Eimear Smyth (Derrygonnelly Harps)
13: Ciara McGarrigle (Erne Gaels Belleek)
Subs:
3: Sarah McCarville (Aghadrumsee St Macartan’s) for McCarney (45)
12: Caoimhe Gallagher (Belnaleck Art MacMurroughs) for B Smyth (53)
22: Cliodhna Martin (Newtownbutler First) for Breen (57)
21: Sarah McCausland (Irvinestown St Molaise) for McGarrigle (58)
Clare:
1: Rebecca Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
3: Rebecca Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
4: Aisling Kelly (Cooraclare)
2: Hannah Doyle (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
7: Emer Burke (Banner)
6: Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
5: Abi Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
9: Áine Slattery (Fergus Rovers)
11: Ellie Hanrahan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Leah Kelly (Cuil Gaels)
8: Teresa Collins (Burren Gaels)
10: Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
20: Fidelma Marrinan (Thomas Davis, Dublin)
14: Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: Lauren Conway (Doonbeg)
Subs:
12: Sinead Considine (Liscannor) for L Kelly (37)
19: Sophie Torpey (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Slattery (48)
23: Eabha O’Driscoll (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Sexton (48)
17: Aisling Crowe (Kilrush Shamrocks) for Burke (55)
18: Lucy Power (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Aisling Kelly (55)
Referee: Gerard Canny (May
