LADIES FOOTBALL: Back to back wins for Banner, Kilmihil & Kilmurry Ibrickane guarantees knockout spots

*Ailish Considine drives forward for Kilmihil. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

SUCCESSIVE wins in the Clare LGFA senior championship have sealed places in the knockout stages for Banner Ladies, Kilmihil and Kilmurry Ibrickane.

With two rounds completed, the picture is becoming clearer as to who will be lining out in the knockout stages and who will be battling relegation.

Champions Kilmihil and Kilmurry Ibrickane clash in Quilty on Sunday (12:00) to determine who takes top spot in Group 1 and advances directly to the semi-finals.

Without a win in either game, Éire Óg and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield face off on Sunday in Ennis (13:00) where the winner will claim a quarter-final berth while the loser will end up in a relegation battle.

Banner Ladies can seal their place in the semi-finals if they put together a third win on the trot. They head to Carron on Sunday (14:00) to meet a Burren Gaels side who need a result to have some hope of avoiding the relegation play-off. The other Group 2 fixture pits Fergus Rovers against Liscannor in Páirc na Muintire (14:00), whoever prevails here will finish in second spot of the group.

Kilmurry kick on against Éire Óg

Kilmurry Ibrickane 6-12
Éire Óg 0-3
Venue: Ennis

Strong in either half, Kilmurry Ibrickane were a level above Éire Óg and deservedly recorded successive victories to advance to the knockout stages of the senior championship with a game to spare.

Collectively stronger than their Ennis opponents, they were in the driving seat from the get-go and Íde O’Connor’s ninth minute goal, her second in as many games, was an early blow for Éire Óg and one which left them on the backfoot.

Quick movement of the ball was the message from the Kilmurry Ibrickane dugout and they rightly maintained this was a big factor in reeling off scores.

A notable contrast between the sides was the skill level. Éire Óg struggled on basic kick passes and from this often gifted possession back to their opponents while Kilmurry Ibrickane when they had the ball made it look easier and were more clinical.

O’Connor, Sarah Keavey and Amy Sexton bagged the first half goals for the visitors as they held a 3-4 0-2 advantage by the interval. It was game over but it didn’t stop David O’Brien’s side from driving on and they outscored the hosts 3-8 0-1 in the second half.

It’s two from two for the 2024 champions but an honest reflection from their camp would admit that they haven’t been properly tested and their showings to date would not suffice against the top teams.

An eleven point gap at half time was harsh on Éire Óg who continue to struggle on the concession of scores immediately off their kickout. There were aspects to their showing that offer some hope they will be competitive against Doora/Barefield in what is a must-win game.

Kilmurry Ibrickane: Rebecca Sexton; Niamh Miller, Rebecca Doohan, Aoife Martin; Leah Darcy, Joanna Doohan, Keela Markham; Ciara McCarthy, Íde O’Connor; Kayla Darcy, Amy Sexton, Sophie Daly; Micaela Sexton, Chloe Moloney, Sarah Keavey

Subs: Abbie Cussen for Keavey (HT), Emma Talty for Daly (45), Máire Garvey for Martin (45), Aoife Donohue for M Sexton (50), Amy Martin for Miller (55)

Éire Óg: Aoibheann Hahessy; Amy Lyne, Rebecca Crowe, Laura Brown; Liz Russell, Maria Redmond, Amy Russell; Orla Devitt, Sarah Redmond; Maggie Power, Rachel Russell, Maeve McInerney; Sarah Broderick, Alanna McNamara, Charlie Duggan.

Subs:

Referee: Noel Quinn (Gort)

Improved Doora/Barefield come up short against champions

Kilmihil 2-12
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-6
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil

Reigning champions Kilmihil ran out six point winners over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield on Sunday afternoon to strengthen their aspirations of defending the county title.

It was a much improved display from Doora/Barefield following on from their first round drubbing to Kilmurry Ibrickane. They brought a physicality that was lacking and mixed it with some aggression to test Kilmihil.

Playing with the breeze, the Parish carved out an eight point advantage, chief threat Eabha O’Driscoll scoring two goals including a penalty.

For the offence that led to the penalty, Kilmihil goalkeeper Micaela Glynn was sent to the sin-bin prompting defender Ellie O’Gorman to deputise as goalkeeper for a ten minute spell during which O’Driscoll scored her second goal to make it 2-5 0-3.

With the aid of the conditions and the loss of Glynn, Doora/Barefield needed to maximise this period. However, there would be a rally from Kilmihil before the interval who hit 1-1 without reply to half the deficit.

Though they took their time to go ahead, it seemed inevitable that Kilmhihil would prevail. Timmy Ryan’s side dominated possession for the entire second half and conceded only a point, there was a late attack for the visitors where O’Driscoll came close to getting a hat-trick.

Within moments of the restart, Kilmihil got on level terms and were destined to prevail. Considering Kilmihil still have Dervla Higgins, they will only get stronger but this performance from their perspective was off the standards they are capable of hitting.

In the heat of championship, the decision of Doora/Barefield to give up home advantage to the champions was baffling to say the least. Their request of a late throw-in saw them lose Gurteen as the setting and one wonders had they been able to play the game in their own turf would they have picked up a vital two points.

Scorers Kilmihil: Aine McNamara (1-2 2f), Ailish Considine (0-4 1f), Edel McNamara (1-0) Eimear Considine (0-2), Laura Egan (0-1), Becky Mahon (0-1), Sarah Browne (0-1), Rosie Currane (0-1).

Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Eabha O’Driscoll (2-3 1-0 Pen, 1f), Aisling Hannan (0-2), Shauna Moloney (0-1).

Kilmihil: Micaela Glynn; Rosie Currane, Ellie O’Gorman, Aisling Downes; Megan Downes Rigney, Aoife McNamara, Zoe Ryan; Becky Mahon, Ailish Considine; Edel McNamara, Laura Egan, Carol O’Leary; Katie Mullen, Eimear Considine, Aine McNamara

Subs: Katie O’Halloran for Ryan (41), Sarah Browne for Mullen (50)

St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Orla Moloney; Meadhbh O’Connor, Lucy Power, Fiona Tuohy; Anna Courtney, Hannah Doyle, Ciara Cahill; Sophie Torpey, Eimear Clune; Aoibhinn O’Loughlin, Amy Reynolds, Shauna Moloney; Katie Callaghan, Eabha O’Driscoll, Aisling Hannan

Subs: Laura Butler for Courtney (HT) (inj), Siun McNamara for Callaghan (41), Kate Moran for S. Moloney (44-54, BS)

Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)

Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.