First half goals costly for Clare

Galway 3-6   Clare 1-10

The concession of a converted penalty just before half-time proved costly for Clare in the Division 2 Ladies National Football league semi-final played at Banagher on Sunday.
Originally scheduled for Birr, the venue was changed on Saturday.
A near gale force wind that blew directly down the pitch, made matters difficult for the players. Galway won the toss and, surprisingly, opted to play against the breeze in the first half.
Two first half goals against the wind proved crucial for Galway, with the second of these coming on the half hour mark from the penalty spot.
Against the wind in the second half Clare played their best football and held out until five minutes from time, when Galway got through for their third goal put them into the lead for the first time.
Clare went in front after just 35 seconds when Eimear Considine pointed but it took the a while to get the upper hand and they had to wait until the eighth minute for their next score, a goal from Niamh O’Dea after good work by Ailish Considine.
O’Dea, Marie and Eimear Considine added points for Clare go to 1-4 to 0-1 ahead as the game moved into the second quarter.
Clare were dealt a blow in the 18th minute when Galway attacked and got through for an Edel Concannon goal. The Banner side quickly regained the upperhand and hit four unanswered points but they were then hit with another blow when they conceded a penalty as Bernie Kelly was penalised for a foul. Tracy Leonard coolly dispatched the ball to the net to leave the half-time score at 1-8 to 2-1.
As Galway headed to the dressing room for the break, it was clear the goal had given them a lift.
Facing into the wind, Clare clearly had a huge task on their hands but they got the new half off to a great start when Niamh Keane pointed in the second minute. Six minutes later she was yellow carded but during her ten minutes in the sin bin Clare conceded just one point. They still led by three, 1-9 to 2-3, as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Each side added a point to leave the margin the same with five minutes remaining but there was increasing pressure put on the Clare defence as Galway made a number of changes to their forward line.
A quick counter attack after Clare lost possession a short distance from the Galway goal, led to the goal which saw the Connacht side take the lead five minutes from time. Gillian Joyce got the vital score and a minute later Deirdre Brennan pointed to put her side ahead for the first time.
Clare piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser and Niamh O’Dea looked to be through on goal only to lose possession. Galway substitute Lisa Leonard was yellow-carded two minutes from time but it was the Galway side who had the final say when Gillian Joyce converted a free to seal victory and a place in the final.
Louise Henchy, Marie Considine, Fiona Lafferty, Eimear Considine, Niamh Keane and Niamh O’Dea worked hard throughout for Clare but the concession of those first half goals proved too much.

Galway: Lisa Murphy; Mairead Coyne, Emma Curley, Siobhán Divilly; Barbara Hannon, Sarah Conneally, Sinead Burke; Aoibhean Daly, Clare Hehir; Edel Concannon, Deirdre Brennan, Gillian Joyce; Tracy Leonard, Marie Brennan, Ger Conneally.
Subs: Charlotte Cooney for E Concannon; Lisa Leonard for M Brennan; Becky Walsh for T Leonard; Eilis Gannon for Y Daly.
Scorers: Gillian Joyce (1-3, 0-2f); Tracey Leonard (1-1, both frees); Edel Concannon (1-0); Clare Hehir, Deirdre Brennan (0-1 each).

Clare: Emma O’Driscoll; Clare Hestor, Lorraine Kelly, Bernie Kelly; Eimear O’Connor, Louise Henchy, Shauna Harvey; Marie Considine, Fiona Lafferty; Susan McNamara, Niamh Keane, Marie Kelly; Eimear Considine, Niamh O’Dea, Ailish Considine.
Subs: Sinead Kelly for B Kelly (31 minutes); Katie Geoghegan for A Considine.
Scorers: Niamh O’Dea (1-4, 0-3f); Eimear Considine (0-2); Marie Considine (1-0); Niamh Keane, Ailish Considine (0-1 each).

Referee: Des McEnery, Westmeath.