Gaels much too strong for Doora-Barefield

West Clare Gaels 7-9
Doora-Barefield 1-5

The ladies’ football U-14 Division 1 Championship shield final was played between Doora-Barefield and West Clare Gaels last Friday night in Kilmihil GAA Grounds when the westerners ran out comfortable winners.
The Gaels were outdone by the Banner in one semi-final and Doora-Barefield fell to Kilmurry-Ibrickane in the other.
A well-supported Doora-Barefield started well with a point from Caoimhe Hoey and when she was fouled quickly after that, county U-14 player Sarah Jane O’Connell converted the resulting free. 
West Clare Gaels matched them for points in the first half but four goals from wing-forward Rosie Marrinan (2), captain Amy Keane in midfield and Rachel Clancy at full-forward put a one-sided look on the game when referee Linda Russell called for half-time.
A Sarah Jane O’Connell shot had come off the crossbar before the break and she returned to fire a point over for Doora-Barefield but this was negated by U-12 sharpshooter Fidelma Marrinan’s second point.
Caoimhe Hoey returned with a fine goal but the Gaels replicated their tally in the second half to dominate completely. Amy Keane and Rachel Clancy both goaled again while Becky Madigan and  Fidelma Marrinan contributed to the six second-half points. 
Best for Doora-Barefield were Sarah Jane O’Connell, Mia Hanrahan, Caoimhe Hoey, Niamh Courtney, Hannah Meaney and Aisling McMahon.
Gaels captain Amy Keane and Shauna Melican were dominant in midfield and the Foran girls were always impressive in the backs.
The line-out also included Patricia Foran, Fidelma Marrinan and Caoimhe Harvey, who helped capture the U-12 Division 2 final against the Banner earlier in the week in a 4-8 to 4-5 encounter, also refereed by Linda Russell.

West Clare Gaels: Naoise Murray; Ciara McQuaid, Rachel Muldoon, Patricia Foran; Áine Murphy, Lauren Keane, Bríd Foran; Amy Keane (captain), Shauna Melican; Rosie Marrinan, Becky Madigan, Caoimhe Harvey; Fidelma Marrinan, Rachel Clancy, Áine Maloney.
Subs: Megan Downes, Sinéad Walshe, Elaine Greene, Ellie O’Regan, Noelle Gibson, Katie Gibson, Eva Keane, Clara Sequin Gavin, Emma Naughton, Laura Gibson, Aoife McMahon, Deirdre McGuire and Emily Mulcahy.
Management: Brid Troy and Shauna Harvey.

Doora-Barefield: Orla Meehan; Michelle O’Neill, Megan O’Brien, Aoife O’Connor; Ciara Cahill, Aisling McMahon, Niamh Courtney; Amanda Mulcaire, Sarah Jane O’Connell (captain); Mia Hanrahan, Caoimhe Hoey, Orla O’Reilly; Aoibheann McNamara, Hannah Meaney, Orla Mulchrone.
Subs: Leanne Kearney, Ali McCarthy, Sinéad O’Connell, Tara Glynn, Anna Courtney, Ciara Guilfoyle,  Alex Potter, Aislinn Meaney, Mikhaila Fitzpatrick, Sarah Kate Barnes, Megan O’Sullivan, Jennifer Mather and Orla Purcell.
Management: Kieran Kelleher, Pat Kearney and Aoife Murphy