Banner retain U-14 title

Banner Ladies won the county U-14 Division 1 championship for the second year in a row when they beat Kilmurry-Ibrickane in the final.
In this year’s competition, they were grouped with Doora-Barefield, Kilmurry-Ibrickane and West Clare Gaels. The Banner and the Gaels met again in the semi-final in Kilmihil that the Banner won 4-8 to 5-2.
This year, a new look Banner team relied upon Eimear Rutherford, Eve Copley, Orlaith Martin, Emily Tone, Niamh O’Brien, Aisling Maher and Jessica Donnellan as well as U-14 first-timers Emma Kavanagh, Clare Hehir, Jane Fitzgerald, Andrea and Theresa O’Keeffe, Nicole Talty and Jennifer Markham to support a core of experienced players, which included Eva O’Dea, Elaine Casey, Emma Neylon (captain), Aoibheann Malone, Aoife Keane, Gráinne Nolan and Laura Chesser.
The Banner played some good attacking football that was bolstered by the Chesser, Malone, Keane and O’Dea who pierced the Kilmurry Ibrickane defence on four occasions to point each time. Lauren Keane kicked three points and brought the best out of custodian Caitlin Cambell with several low shots. The up-and-coming Clare Hehir gifted Nolan the perfect pass for a goal and she also pointed two frees while Hehir, herself, managed to put three between the posts from play. Andrea O’Keeffe pointed twice and veteran Jessica Donnellan knocked over one for the townies.
Kilmurry-Ibrickane battled relentlessly and were rewarded by a goal from the top drawer by midfielder Aoibhe King for the last score of the game. Both King and Chloe Moloney was outstanding for the westerners taking on the lion’s share of the work and it says a lot for their defence when they limited the Banner to only one goal, forcing them to take their points from a distance.

Banner Ladies: Eimear Rutherford, Jennifer Markham, Emma Kavanagh, Orlaith Martin, Aisling Maher, Aoife Keane, Laura Chesser, Eva O’Dea, Aoibheann Malone, Clare Hehir, Grainne Nolan, Lauren Keane, Andrea O’Keeffe, Nicole Talty, Eve Copley Subs Emma Galvan, Chelsea McGann, Emily Tone, Jessica Donnellan, Nicole Roche, Jessica Healy, Laoise Ryan, Roisin Martin Missing Elaine Casey, Emma Neylon, Theresa O’Keeffe and Niamh O’Brien.
Management: Martin Nolan and Emma O’Driscoll.

Kilmurry Ibrickane: Cathlin Cambell, Lauren McCarthy, Gemma O’Neill, Emma Coughlan, Eileen  Lynch, Rebecca Doohan, Jackie Johansen, Chloe Moloney, Aoibhe King, Louise Sexton, Tara Lernihan, Aine Cunningham, Kiah Baker, Nicole Doherty, Deirdre Lynch, Subs: Aoibhann Comber and Claudia Doohan.
Manager: Aidan Moloney; selectors: Pat McCarthy, Francis Doohan, Martin Moloney, Threasa Doohan.