Tag Archives: ladies football

On the eve of Clare’s first All-Ireland Intermediate Final in seven years, the Lenihan family have unquestionably been hugely influential in the Banner’s passage back to the LGFA’s most prestigious annual day. It essentially came down to answering the county’s call as Sean Lenihan admirably stepped up to assume the vacant Chairperson’s position at short notice ahead of the 2021 season while later in the same year, his daughter Amy, a notable forward for her club St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, was asked by new manager Evan Talty to cover as sub goalkeeper despite having never played in that position before. Both have only gone from strength to strength in their respective roles ever since as Sean is now in his third year as Clare’s administrative figurehead while Amy has made the custodian’s position her own since last season. However, while their impacts have emanated from contrasting on and off the field approaches, their goal is certainly common to both as getting …

There was almost a sense of inevitability when Kildare eventually overcame chief Leinster rivals Wexford to cement their place against Clare in the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Final in Croke Park this Sunday. After all, the hand of fate had thrown up a potential revenge mission for the Banner who had agonisingly missed their chance at intermediate glory in the 2016 decider against the Lilywhites. More than that though, having been contentiously edged out twice by Kildare already in 2023 alone including an extra-time National League Division 3 Final reverse back in April, it’s easy to see why Clare are hell bent on redressing the balance. However, the final ingredient of Clare’s date with destiny is the fact that Clare Manager Wayne Freeman and his immediate backroom team of Lee Hunt and Brian Willis are all Kildare natives, albeit that their residency permits could be in jeopardy as the banter levels have intensified over the past three weeks. “I’ve been …

Redemption has been the driving force of many’s a player but the reality is that most don’t ever get the opportunity to make up for a previous failing not to mind fully redress the balance. Caoimhe Harvey is a prime example as having hit the ground running in her first year at adult inter-county level in 2016, the teenager helped Clare to reach Croke Park only for her All-Ireland Intermediate Final dream to turn into a nightmare as the Banner were agonisingly edged out by Kildare. “This is the first time since then so it is a massive day for anyone playing in an All-Ireland Final. I mean emotions are really, really high and for me back in 2016, I had just turned 17 and I definitely let the occasion get to me. “You can’t help yourself. I mean I was a teenager getting a Garda escort down Jones Road, this is the stuff you dream about. And the atmosphere …

MUNSTER MINOR A CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL CORK 1-13 CLARE 2-7 If this Munster Final had gone on for another five minutes have no doubt that the Banner would be celebrating after a pulsating incredible fightback when all hope seemed lost. The second half of this unbelievable Munster Final saw Clare take the game to Cork outscoring the Rebels 2-4 to 0-4. Throwing the shackles off Clare pushed up on Cork pinning them back inside their own half. There were heroes all over the field with magical moments and drama aplenty. From keeper Jenna Murphy heroically saving a penalty to Lauren Conway’s brilliant goal these Banner girls gave every ounce of effort they could muster. In the harsh reality where the winner takes all John O’Malley’s teams journey ends here as there are no second chances in this knock-out format which is extremely disappointing. There is no doubt the damage was done in that opening twenty minutes where Clare seemed nervous and …

All-Ireland Minor C Ladies Football Final Clare 3-13 Wicklow 3-12 ABBY Downes’ injury time point ensured Clare were crowned ZuCar All Ireland Minor C Ladies Football champions after a thrilling showdown with Wicklow, writes Ivan Smyth. This was a stunning triumph for David O’Brien’s side as they faced a five point deficit at two separate stages of the second half. They had also shipped 1-2 without reply to go in level at the break despite dominating much of the opening period. Throw in the loss of goalkeeper Katie McMahon, who was withdrawn four minutes in to the second half after landing awkwardly towards the conclusion of the first period and Clare faced no shortage of adversity. The win appeared unlikely when Wicklow scored 2-4 without reply either side of half time to leave Clare trailing 2-10 to 1-8. Even when Abby Downes fired a ferocious left footed effort to the net to slash the deficit to two points after 40 …

CLARE manager Evan Talty insists that his side are embracing the pressure as they face Laois for a place in the TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Final, writes Ivan Smyth. With Clare just 60 minutes away from a place in Croke Park, Talty admits that although his team are focused on the task at hand, the prospect of lining out at GAA HQ is one that will enter the thought process of the players. “Some girls were there in 2016. I am a realist. It will one hundred percent enter the heads of both sets of players. If you lose the semi final you don’t get to experience playing in Croke Park. If you get to the final, whether you win, lose or draw you at least get that experience.” “I won’t be naïve to say it doesn’t enter the head of a player. These things are there. It’s a pressure game but pressure is a privilege. You can’t …

All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Quarter-Final Westmeath 3-11 Clare 2-11 Clare suffered an agonising three point defeat to Westmeath in the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate quarter final, reports Ivan Smyth. When Clare trailed by eight points near the conclusion of the opening half and by six points after 40 minutes, it appeared their hopes of progressing through to the semi final were thin but Evan Talty’s side produced a tremendous fightback as they fell just short. Clare scored 1-2 without reply as substitute Chloe Towey found the net as her side cut their deficit to a single point with five minutes remaining. After Anna Jones (free) and Niamh O’Dea traded scores, Clare tried desperately to find the score needed to level or win this back and forth contest. O’Dea and Chloe Moloney both saw shots drift wide of the uprights with Westmeath desperately clinging on. However, they showed great composure when late in the game they scored two frees. Clare had a chance …

All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Round 3 Clare 5-8 Fermanagh 3-6 CLARE progress to the last eight of the All-ireland series after comfortably bouncing back to winning ways in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford this afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan. The result was never in doubt once the Banner settled with a brace of goals through Chloe Moloney and Niamh O’Dea inside the opening six minutes as they build up a 12 point cushion by the break and still held a double figure lead deep into additional time. In truth, the only thing keeping Fermanagh in the contest was the bizarre officiating of referee Paul Burke as while Clare dominating possession, the free count was 36 to 10 in Fermanagh’s favour while he also sinbinned two Clare players and in separate incidents gave the Ulster side two penalties. Still, Clare kept their heads down to take a 2-0 to 0-3 lead by the water break and despite losing Fidelma Marrinan …