LADIES FOOTBALL: Late Banner backlash not enough to topple Kildare

Kildare 2-11 Clare 2-10

Clare’s Lilywhite hoodoo continued to haunt in Croke Park after seeing their late backlash come up agonisingly short at the death, writes Eoin Brennan.

Having failed to reach the heights of previous displays for the majority, the Banner sprung to life with a rousing brace of goals for chief threats Fidelma Marrinan and Chloe Moloney to slash an eight point deficit to just the minimum by the 55th minute.

However, despite further opportunities including a last gasp Fidelma Marrinan free from 45 metres, Wayne Freeman’s side simply couldn’t locate an equalising score to force extra-time.

Clare’s electric finish was in contrast to a stuttering first half showing that saw Clare start brightly with a brace of Marrinan frees but falter significantly after two timely goals for Trina Duggan and Ellen Dowling.

Having previously been opened up by Claire Sullivan’s overlapping run and shot that cannoned off the crossbar while Amy Lenihan somehow repelled Neasa Dooley’s rebound, Clare failed to heed that warning sign as two minutes later, their goal would finally be breached.

Stemming from a teasing Dooley delivery over the top, Trina Duggan sidestepped the last defender and nestled her shot in the left corner of the net.

Bookended by there Roisin Byrne points, a buoyant Kildare got an even greater boost in the 20th minute when Ellen Dowling intercepted a kick-out to kick to an empty net as Kildare soared to a 2-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

The only way was up for Clare but try as they might, mainly through the tireless running of Laurie Ryan, Caoimhe Harvey, Cliodhna Blake and Aisling Reidy, the Munster side simply couldn’t breach that two goal cushion.

Aisling Reidy did have a glorious opportunity at the three-quarters mark but after being put through by Marrinan her shot just cleared to the top left corner.

Instead, points through Dooley and Dowling extended the gap to eight entering the final ten minutes, with Clare destined to concede second best.

However, a slice of fortune would finally ignite a Banner backlash in the 52nd minute when Chloe Moloney’s free from the right was parried by goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine into the path of Fidelma Marrinan to flick to the net.

Suddenly there was a sea-change in Clare as their intensity levels ramped up before a second goal arrived in timely fashion in the 55th minute when Chloe Moloney got the perfect connection to a Ciara McCarthy delivery to steer her flick beyond the reaches of the Kildare goalkeeper and leave only a solitary point between the sides.

Kildare refused to yield though and admirably dug deep to ensure that Clare could not regain full parity as Fidelma Marrinan’s last gas free had barely landed near the goalmouth when the full-time buzzer unfortunately sounded.

Caoimhe Harvey (C) of Clare with her son Rian following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A clearly dissapointed Ciara Mc Carthy and Chloe Moloney of Clare following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Caoimhe Harvey’s son Rian explores the pitch following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Wayne Freeman, Clare manager with his daughter Aodhea following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Wayne Freeman, Clare manager with his daughter Aodhea following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A clearly disappointed Aine Keane of Clare following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Aine Keane of Clare is consoled following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Laurie Ryan and Brian Willis of Clare console Fidelma Marrinan following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Laurie Ryan of Clare consoles team mate Fidelma Marrinan following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Wayne Freeman, Clare manager consoles Siofra Ni Chonaill of Clare following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Wayne Freeman, Clare manager consoles Caoimhe Harvey (C) of Clare following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Disappointment for Clare following their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final loss to Kildare at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Wayne Freeman, Clare manager on the sideline during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A young Clare fan looks on during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Chloe Moloney of Clare celebrates a late goal during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cliodhna Blake and Caoimhe Harvey (C) of Clare in action against Mia Doherty and Lara Gilbert of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Caoimhe Harvey (C) of Clare in action against Lara Gilbert of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare fans react during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Neasa Dooley of Kildare in action against Aine Keane of Clare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Grace Clifford of Kildare in action against Aisling Reidy and Chloe Moloney of Clare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Laurie Ryan of Clare in action against Ellen Dowling of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Siofra Ni Chonaill of Clare gets treated for an injury during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Neasa Dooley of Kildare in action against Laurie Ryan of Clare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Ruth Sargent of Kildare in action against Neasa Dooley of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cliodhna Blake of Clare in action against Lauren Burke and Lara Gilbert of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Laura Griffey of Clare in action against Lauren Murtagh of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Fidelma Marrinan of Clare in action against Aoife Clifford of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Fidelma Marrinan of Clare in action against Ruth Sargent and Laoise Lenihan of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Fidelma Marrinan of Clare in action against Lauren Burke and Ruth Sargent of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Ciara Mc Carthy of Clare on the sideline during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Lauren Murtagh of Kildare in action against Amy Sexton of Clare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Aisling Reidy of Clare in action against Claire Sullivan and Lauren Murtagh of Kildare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Lauren Murtagh of Kildare in action against Chloe Moloney of Clare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Lauren Murtagh of Kildare in action against Amy Sexton of Clare during their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The teams march behind the band before their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare fans make plenty noise before their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

the Clare team huddle before their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Captains Caoimhe Harvey (C) of Clare and Grace Clifford of Kildare with Gus Chapman, Referee before their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Captains Caoimhe Harvey (C) of Clare and Grace Clifford of Kildare with Gus Chapman, Referee before their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare fans make plenty noise before their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Caoimhe Harvey (C) of Clare leads out her team for their All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare fans Amy Hogan, Clodagh Keane and Heather Haugh arriving for the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Former Clare player Louise Henchy and Orla Kilkenny arriving on Jones Road for the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Martina O Donoghue, Mary Mc Carthy and Molly O Donoghue arriving on Jones Road for the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare: Amy Lenihan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield); Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Siofra Ní Chonaill (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Aine Keane (Miltown Malbay); Louise Griffin (Fergus Rovers), Caoimhe Harvey (West Clare Gaels) (Captain),Orla Devitt (Éire Óg); Aisling Reidy (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Cliodhna Blake (Doonbeg); Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies), Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels), Caoimhe Cahill (Banner Ladies); Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Laura Griffey (Burren Gaels).

Subs: Megan Downes (Cooraclare) for Griffin (12), CiaraMcCarthy (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Griffey (39), Roisin Looney (Cooraclare) for Griffey (44), Sinead Considine (Liscannor) for Sexton (48), Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Devitt (57)

Scorers: Fidelma Marrinan (1-5, 5f); Chloe Moloney (-3, 3f), Cliodhna Blake (0-2)

Kildare: Mary Hulgraine (Moorefield); Lauren Burke (Naas), Laoise Lenehan (Kill), Aoife Clifford (Eadestown); Lauren Murtagh (Milltown), Ruth Sargent (Eadestown), Lara Gilbert (KIldangan Nurney); Grace Clifford (Eadestown) (Captain), Aoife Rattigan (Cappagh); Claire Sullivan (Carbury), Ellen Dowling (Suncroft), Trina Duggan (Suncroft); Neasa Dooley (Athy), Roisin Byrne (Sarsfields), Lara Curran (Milltown)

Subs: Grainne Kenneally (Eadestown) for Duggan (41), MiaDoherty (Leixlip) for Rattigan (46), Fiona Troute (Athy) for Burke (46, inj), Orlaith Sullivan (Carbury) for Curran (51)

Scorers: Roisin Byrne (0-7, 5f); Ellen Dowling (1-1); TrinaDuggan (1-0); Neasa Dooley (0-2); Lara Gilbert (0-1)

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo)