Banner versus ‘Bricks in battle of champions

A battle of the senior and intermediate champions tops the billing for Round 2 of the Senior Ladies Football Championship when Banner Ladies host Kilmurry Ibrickane in Banner GAA on Sunday at 2pm. In a repeat of last year’s senior decider, the Ennis side repeated the dose against West Clare Gaels last weekend while Kilmurry Ibrickane were edged out by 2019 winners Kilmihil in contrasting opening bouts, with anything the ‘Bricks could get out of Sunday’s fixture being a major bonus.
Also determined to get off the mark will be Cooraclare and West Clare Gaels who meet in Cooraclare on Saturday evening at 6pm. The sides famously last met in last September’s semi-final that saw the 2010 winners finally end Cooraclare’s superb return to senior level despite a rousing second half fightback by 3-9 to 1-10.
The tie of Round 2 however is the intriguing wrestle for supremacy between Kilmihil and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in Kilmihil on Sunday evening (6pm) as one perfect record has to fall.
It’s a similar scenario in the Intermediate Championship as first round winners Kilrush and Liscannor lock horns in Kilrush on Saturday evening (7.30pm) while Cúil Gaels will need to put their agonising minimum defeat to Liscannor behind them as they welcome an eager Burren Gaels, who had a bye last weekend, to Coolmeen on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm).
Group B gets underway this weekend with a fitting derby between Éire Óg and Newmarket-on-Fergus in Ennis on Sunday at 1pm while three hours later in Lissycasey, Fergus Rovers and Miltown Malbay will receive an early barometer of their title ambitions.
Finally, in the Junior A Championship, It’s already make-or-break for Clarecastle, who following a five year absence, were edged out by Kildysart on their return to adult level and now require a victory over neighbours Banner Ladies to remain in the hunt when they meet in the Banner on Sunday morning at 11.45am.

Results
Senior Championship
Round 1
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 4-8 Cooraclare 2-8;
Banner Ladies 4-11
West Clare Gaels 0-7;
Kilmihil 1-10
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-10

Intermediate Championship Round 1, Group A
Liscannor 2-11 Cúil Gaels 4-4;
Kilrush 3-9 Doonbeg 0-7;
Burren Gaels a bye

Junior A Championship Round 1, Group A
Banner Ladies 6-7
Wolfe Tones 3-5;
Kildysart 4-12 Clarecastle 3-9

Group B
Clooney-Quin 1-18
St Joseph’s Doora/barefield 3-8;
East Clare Gaels a bye

Junior B Championship Round 1
Fergus Rovers 5-11
Miltown Malbay 1-5

by Eoin Brennan