Clare ladies go into battle for a final place

The Clare lady footballers will play Galway in Birr on Sunday at 1.15pm in the NFL Division 2 semi-final.
The teams met in the league in Doonbeg on February 19 when Galway scored a 5-11 to 3-20 win. That day, Clare played superb attacking football in the first half but when Galway ran at them in the second period, the Clare defence creaked.
Goalkeeper Emma O’Driscoll was appointed captain two weeks ago. Until then, the management had named a different captain for each of the seven league matches. Emma has had a fine season to date, making numerous saves, while her kick-outs have improved in terms of distance and accuracy.
Louise Henchy this year has played most of the campaign at centre-back although she is better known as an attacking midfielder, for which she was twice selected as an All-Star nominee.
Marie Considine is a regular midfielder with a high workrate and has also chipped in with a few long-range points from play. Eimear Considine has made a significant contribution to the scoreboard, as has her younger sister, Ailish.
West Clare Gaels’ Maria Kelly is back in the panel this year after a lapse of three years and has made a huge contribution to the Clare attack, both in ball winning and scoring terms. Maria, who picked up a serious knee injury in the opening minutes of the 2008 All Ireland Intermediate final, scored 2-2 from play against Kerry in the last round.  
Amongst the newcomers to the panel this season are Deirdre Troy (West Clare Gaels) and Shauna Harvey, (West Clare Gaels) who is 17. Shauna was awarded player of the match when her club defeated St Conleth’s of Laois in the All-Ireland intermediate club final in November 2010. Aoife Murphy and Kim Moloney (Doora-Barefield), Liz Murphy (Kilrush) and Áine Pyne (Cooraclare) are also new to the panel. 
Clare will have to plan without Cooraclare’s Róisín Looney, who is under suspension having being red carded while playing for the Clare minors against Waterford last Saturday.
A win on Sunday would be a huge result for Clare, who will be well aware how good Galway are if they let them play.
The Clare management team of Noelle Comyn (manager), Aidan Moloney, Joe Carrigg and Martin Frawley will be determined to ensure Clare will be totally focused for the full hour in Birr. 
The Clare panel for Sunday’s semi-final is: Emma O’Driscoll (captain), Louise Henchy, Niamh Keane, Susan McNamara, Niamh O’Dea, Naomi Carroll (Banner Ladies); Marie Considine (Liscannor); Fiona Lafferty (Donaghmoyne); Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels); Liz Murphy (Kilrush); Aoife Murphy, Kim Moloney (Doora-Barefield); Bernie Kelly, Anne Marie Callinan, Áine Pyne (Cooraclare); Eimear Considine, Ailish Considine, Edel McMahon (Kilmihil); Eimear O’Connor, Grace Lynch (Coolmeen); Lorraine Kelly, Clare Hester (Fergus Rovers); Maria Kelly, Shauna Harvey, Deirdre Troy, Katie Geoghegan (West Clare Gaels).
The game will be refereed by Des McEnery (Westmeath) and will be followed by the second division semi-final, where Mayo play Kerry.