*Hannah Doyle is outnumbered in possession. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
IT ALL came down to goals as St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield fell short in their bid to win the Clare LGFA senior championship for the first time.
Aoibhin O’Loughlin’s disallowed major in additional time of the opening half was a big turning point in the half. Had O’Loughlin’s goal stood, the Parish would have led by a single point heading in at half time but instead they trailed by one.
Doora/Barefield manager Paddy Frawley told The Clare Echo, “It came down to very small margins, the disallowed goal before half time was a big turning point, it would have put us a point up going in at half time rather than being two down. Kilmurry Ibrickane are worthy winners, there was only a kick of the ball between the teams on the day, that is the way it goes unfortunately”.
Speaking in the moments following their four point loss, Frawley had not seen back video footage of the disallowed goal. “It is immaterial now really, once the decision is made you move forward and we still had plenty of time to win the game in the second half, unfortunately a couple of things didn’t work out for us on the day and conditions played into that too, I wouldn’t fault anyone, the players have been brilliant all year and it has been an honour to be involved with them, I can’t say enough good things about the players and they will be back one hundred percent”.
Inside nineteen seconds, Doora/Barefield took the lead via Roisin Fowley but Kilmurry Ibrickane soon equalised and the West Clare side never fell behind for the remainder of the game. “In a final a strong start is massive, we could never really get our noses in front but Kilmurry are such a good team that any time we got close to them they were able to tag on a point or two and I suppose small margins, we are hugely disappointed but I’m sure the players will regroup and with the underage structure in the club they are only going to get stronger and stronger, this is the start for Doora/Barefield rather than the finish,” Frawley commented.
For the final quarter, Kilmurry Ibrickane produced the greater kick and kept Doora/Barefield scoreless from play. “One or two balls went astray on us and in these conditions that can happen, goals were always going to be massive as they are in any final and it was eleven scores to eleven scores but unfortunately Kilmurry Ibrickane got the three goals and we got the one goal which ultimately ended up being the difference”.
