*Shauna Harvey of West Clare Gaels. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
The way is clear for the semi-finals of the Clare ladies senior football championship following the weekend’s games when West Clare Gaels, Kilmurry Ibrickane and title holders Banner Ladies were all victorious.
Kilmihil who had already qualified complete the semi-final line up and they will play West Clare Gaels with the title holders Banner Ladies taking on Kilmurry Ibrickane.
Bright start not enough for Rovers
West Clare Gaels 0-17
Fergus Rovers 1-4
Venue: Páirc Eoin, Cross
West Clare Gaels comfortably accounted for Fergus Rovers in this quarter final tie played at Páirc Eoin in Cross on Sunday evening. In the semi-final on October 1 they will play Kilmihil who had already qualified for the semi-finals as the top team in the only group of four in the competition.
Rovers got off to a dream start with a goal in the opening minute from Aisling Costelloe who was thee team’s top scorer with 1-2 on the day.
However, the home side didn’t panic and when the half time whistle sounded they were seven points clear, 0-11 to 1-1.
Fidelma Marrinan was in top form and she contributed 0-10 of her side’s total while Shauna and Caoimhe Harvey each got two points
Experience proved key for the home side against last year’s intermediate champions for whom Fiona Breen, Sadbh Griffin, Eimear Burke, Hannah Mai
Neylon and Lauren Griffin did well.
West Clare Gaels: Ciara Harvey; Amber Keane-Thompson, Ruth Ferguson, Clodagh Keane; Serena Clancy, Grainne Harvey, Ella Nagle; Caoimhe Harvey, Emer Hanrahan; Aine Moloney, Shauna Harvey (capt), Colette Keniry; Roisin Brew, Fidelma Marrinan, Siobhan Keane
Subs; Clara Keogh for R. Brew; Sorcha Griffin for A. Moloney; Grace Marrinan for C. Keniry; Aideen Browne for S. Keane; Niamh Morrissey for E. Haanrahan;
Fergus Rovers: Aoife Griffin, Fiona Breen, Gillian Griffin, Eimear Burke; Hannah Mai Neylon, Ava Cotter, Clara Meaney; Shauna Melican, Orla Hogan; Louise Griffin, Aisling Costelloe, Sophie Culleton; Sadbh Griffin, Ria Meaney , Lauren Griffin (capt).
Subs: Andrea Moloney for Ava Cotter, Meabh Ryan for Ria Meaney, Ellen Griffin for Clara Meaney
Champions go marching on
Banner Ladies 5-10
Burren Gaels 0-11
Venue: Banner GAA Grounds, Ennis
Champions Banner Ladies are through to the Clare senior semi-final thanks to this comfortable win over Burren Gaels at the Banner grounds on Sunday.
First half goals from Niamh O’Dea, Caoimhe Cahill and Aoibheann Ryan helped the Ennis based side to a 3-2 to 0-3 half time lead.
They continued to dominate in the second half against a North Clare outfit that suffered due to the absence of some players due to injury and they added further goals from Louise Woods and Grainne Burke to seal a semi-final date with Kilmurry Ibrickane in two weeks time.
Banner Ladies: Shannon Donovan; Elisha Malone, Claire Hehir, Sara Ni Cheallaigh; Laoise Ryan, Louise Henchy, Eimear Burke; Laurie Ryan, Niamh O’Dea; Grainne Nolan, Caoimhe Cahill, Keelin Fitzgerald; Louise Woods, Niamh Keane, Aoibheann Ryan;
Subs: Grainne Burke for N. O’Dea; Helen Hehir for S. Ni Ceallaigh.
Burren Gaels: Ashling O’Brien; Sadhbh Blood, Aoife Forde, Ailbhe McGann, Caoimhe Byrne O’Connell, Fiona Loughman, Caoileann McCormack; Orla O’Gorman, Nora O’Dwyer; Lisa Sheils, Teresa Collins, Emma Healy; Ellie O’Dwyer, Sally King, Laura Griffey.
Sub: Shannon McCormack for A. Forde
Kilmurry Ibrickane into last four
Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-17
St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield 3-9
Venue: Gurteen
The meeting of Kilmurry-Ibrickane and St. Josephs at Gurteen proved to be a high scoring affair with the visitors prevailing in the end.
An Ellie Hanrahan goal helped the winners to a four point lead at the interval when the score was 1-9 to 1-5, the home side’s goal having come from Caoimhe Hoey.
Ellie Hanrahan found the net again in the second half and she finished the game with 2-5 to her credit.
St. Josephs had two second half goals from Ashling Meaney penalties but the visitors held on for a narrow win and a semi-final date with title holders Banner Ladies in two weeks time.
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Katie McMahon; Niamh Miller, Rebecca Doohan, Maeve Coughlan; Jessica Doohan, Joanna Doohan, Aoife Moloney; Ciara McCarthy, Sophie Daly; Kayla Darcy, Amy Sexton, Kayly O’Connor; Ellie Hanrahan, Chloe Moloney, Karen Galvin
St. Josephs Doora/Barefield: Jane Quinn; Ashling McMahon, Hannah Doyle, Maedhbh O’Connor; Roisin Cahill, Ashling Hannan, Eimear Clune; Siofra Ni Chonaill, Sarah Cahill; Lyndsay Clarke, Ashling Reidy, Shauna Moloney; Caoimhe Hoey, Chloe Towey, Sophie Torpey
Subs: Ashling Meaney for Shauna Moloney; Hannah Courtney for C. Cahill; Amy Lenihan for A. McMahon; Holly O’Loughlin for C. Hoey; Shiun McNamara for S. Torpey.
