Derek Dormer watched The Banner Ladies overcome atrocious weather condititions to beat Kilmihil 0-9 to 0-6 and win a 13th senior ladies football title in 15 years
AFTER a dour struggle in atrocious weather conditions it was dual star Niamh O’Dea who must take all the plaudits as she almost single handedly dragged The Banner Ladies from four down to kick the last seven scores in a tough tight tense battle with Kilmihil.
With the incessant rain and almost gale like wind this was never going to be a free flowing contest but it was still an engaging battle between Clares two best sides in what has now become their almost annual County final showdown, that kept patrons entertained throughout.
In fact this County final can best be described as a war of attrition with both teams putting their bodies on the line in pursuit of County Championship glory.
Becky Mahon opened the scoring with a well taken point in the fifth minute before two quick frees converted by O’Dea off her left and Gràinne Nolan off her right gave the Banner an early 0-2 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes.
The next ten minutes saw Kilmihil completely dominant but a failure to capitalise on this dominance would later come back to haunt them. O’Dea was deployed in a sweeping role and with the aid of centre back Laurie Ryan they broke up Kilmihil attacks time and time again.
Ellie O’Gorman showed how to beat the sweeper though when landing a monster point off the outside of her right peg, curling a beauty over the black spot from forty plus yards.
Two converted frees followed before a huge game defining moment. Just before half time Edel McNamara picked up possession outside the twenty one before cutting inside and unleashing a rocket destined for the roof of the net only to see Emma O’Driscoll pull off an incredible save diving full length, getting a fingertip onto the ball to somehow keep it out.
A goal at this stage or indeed any stage would have been a huge score as conditions dictated that scores were at a premium. The rebound was picked up by Catriona Callinan who kicked over giving her side an interval lead of three on a 0-5 to 0-2 scoreline.
The second half began with a converted Catriona Callinan placed ball to extend the lead to four but this would be Kilmihil’s last score of this County Final as Niamh O’Dea simply took over proceedings.
Constantly securing primary possession she launched wave after wave of attacks. In the 40th minute O’Dea landed a huge score from distance moments after a do you know what happened next moment?
O’Dea had burst through the centre and kicked a low dipping effort which seemed to go over, hit the back bar behind the cross bar, come back into play, the wind then somehow blowing it out over the end line with the umpires signalling for a wide!
This surreal moment only inspired O’Dea as she was now this finals dominant force, overturning Laura Egan and kicking a beauty off her right. She then set up the score of the game playing an exquisite almost fifty yard pass to Keelin Fitzgerald with the ball being recycled to Sarah NìCheallaigh who pointed from close range.
Kilmihil could not get out of their own half and were pinned back inside the 45 by the high pressing of the tenacious Banner girls. A couple of Gràinne Nolan frees were followed by the games final score, fittingly coming off the boot of O’Dea once more with a terrific curling left foot beauty.
When referee Frank Culloton blew his final whistle the Banner celebrated as if it was their first title showing just how much it meant to them.
Overall a thoroughly engaging final that was a tremendous battle throughout with the biggest lead being only four points highlighting the close nature of the contest.
There was some great performances on both sides most notably the Banners Naomi Carroll and Kilmihil’s Dervla Higgins but it was dual star Niamh O’Dea who was the main difference between the teams.
Afterwards Clare LFGA chairman Seàn Lenihan presented the cup to a delighted Banner Captain Eva O’Dea.
Banner Ladies: Emma O’Driscoll, Sinèad O’Keeffe, Clare Hehir, Eva O’Dea, Sarah Nì Cheallaigh, Laurie Ryan, Laoise Ryan, Keelin Fitzgerald, Emer Burke, Caoimhe Cahill, Gràinne Nolan, Naomi Carroll, Shannen O’Donovan, Niamh O’Dea, Aoibhin Ryan. Subs: Louise Henchy for Burke(36), Gràinne Burke for O’Donavan(37)
Scorers: Gràinne Nolan 0-4(4f), Niamh O’Dea 0-4(f), Sarah Nì Cheallaigh 0-1
Kilmihil: Micaela Glynn, Rosie Currane, Dervla Higgins, Aoife McNamara, Kate Coughlan, Ellie O’Gorman, Ailish Kenny, Tara Kelly, Laura Egan, Megan Downes Rigney, Catriona Callinan, Elaine O’Halloran, Àine McNamara, Becky Mahon, Edel McNamara Subs: Sarah Browne for E McNamara(53), Sharon Egan for A McNamara(58)
Scorers: Catriona Callinan 0-3(2f), Becky Mahon 0-2(f), Ellie O’Gorman 0-1
Referee: Frank Culloton