Banner Ladies determined bid to clinch a five-in-a-row of Clare Senior Ladies Football Championship crowns for the first time in nine years certainly got off to a spectacular start with a nine goal blitz against intermediate champions Miltown Malbay last time out.
However, the Ennis side can clinch an expected return to the business end if they can overcome Burren Gaels on home soil on the Shanaway Road on Sunday at 2pm.
Their biggest group rivals appeared to be their nearest roll of honour challengers as the Banner’s 14 senior crowns over the past 16 seasons surpassed Fergus Rovers and Cooraclare’s previous heights of nine apiece.
With their last senior triumph being at the turn of the millennium (2000), it has been a long recovery road for Fergus Rovers who thanks to their burgeoning conveyor belt of young talent these past few seasons are ripe to climb towards the senior summit once more.
That was evidenced most by bridging a 33 year gap to their last Minor A success on Tuesday evening when striking decisively at the death to pip Kilrush to the post for only their third ever marquee Under 18 title win.
Having already edged out Burren Gaels a fortnight ago, they will be double determined to cement their place in the business end with a second win, this time away to newcomers Miltown Malbay.
Having finally accomplished intermediate success, Miltown were handed an immediate reality check by perennial champions Banner Ladies when suffering a 26 point reverse on home soil, with Rovers intent on using their minor boost to pour further misery on their hosts on Sunday.It’s a little more nebulous in Group A as there are far less certainties in a group that includes three of last year’s semi-finalists in West Clare Gaels, Kilmihil and Kilmurry Ibrickane while the performance of the opening round was arguably attributed to St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who fired six goals past the ‘Bricks in a reverse of their Division 1 League Final epic earlier in the summer.
For the Parish, it’s about building upon that early momentum as back-to-back victories and another significant scalp in Kilmihil would seal at least a quarter-final berth with a game to spare. 2019 champions Kilmihil do have the distinct edge on experience and essentially crave a strong backlash in order to kickstart their campaign. However, with the winds of change in their favour along with a second championship tie in a row in Gurteen (Sunday at 2.15pm), Doora/Barefield will never get a better chance of ascending the group of death.
The same goes for last year’s finalists West Clare Gaels who after doing the double over Kilmihil in a repeat of last year’s semi-final, face another penultimate stage finisher in Kilmurry Ibrickane Páirc Eoin in Cross on Sunday (2pm).
The ‘Bricks were strong favourites to top Group A this year after pushing Banner Ladies closest in the 2023 championship when only been edged out by the minimum at the last four stage.
Add in this year’s welcome boost of silverware when capturing the Division 1 League crown after extra-time and free kicks against Doora/Barefield and all seemed to be on the up for Kilmurry Ibrickane.
However, their opening reverse to the Parish was a significant set-back and with an over-reliance on Chloe Moroney for inspiration and perspiration up front, West Clare Gaels’ experienced rearguard headed by Grainne Harvey will be on alert in what is a pivotal derby showdown.
An equally juicy neighbourly encounter between Doonbeg and Kilrush takes precedence in the race for intermediate honours in Magpieland on Sunday evening at 5pm.
Both prevailed in their opening bouts albeit in contrasting circumstances as Doonbeg hit Newmarket for seven goals while Kilrush managed to eek out a narrow derby win over Cooraclare. However, if they can turn Kilrush’s heartbreaking Minor A Final defeat into a motivating force, the Shams could sustain their perfect start.
At the same time in Newmarket-on-Fergus on Sunday evening, it’s action time for the hosts and Cooraclare as neither can afford a second successive reverse. With the camogie in full swing, such a decisive opening football defeat could be detrimental to their confidence and interest as the West Clare visitors will be expected to lower the Junior A champions.
With Clarecastle pulling out of Group B, Clooney-Quin will have to hit the ground running if they are to topple Round 1 victors Liscannor on home soil this Sunday (3pm).
Having received the unwanted bye, the hosts take on a Liscannor side that will be determined to clinch Group B and advance directly to the semi-finals.
Clooney-Quin and Éire Óg both have secured automatic quarter-final places as a result of Clarecastle’s withdrawl so the former has nothing to lose and can play with freedom on Sunday.
At Junior A level, Crusheen have their semi-final fate very much in their own hands after back-to-back opening victories and will be favourites to lower neighbours St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s second team in Crusheen on Sunday evening at 7pm.
Wolfe Tones need something out of their final round tie against Kilrush in order to seal their knock-out spot but with home advantage, the Shannon side will be expected to come out on top in Shannon Camogie Field on Sunday at 6pm.
Cúil Gaels Junior A title credentials will be put to the test on Sunday morning (11am) when traveling to Banner GAA to take on a Banner Ladies second string that have contested four of the last six finals.
Last year’s finalists Corofin (A) and Clooney-Quin’s reserve (B) are early forerunners in the Junior B Championship but both will be expected to clinch their respective groups this Sunday as the North Clare side host Parteen-Meelick at 6pm while earlier that afternoon Clooney-Quin travel to Cooraclare to take on their fellow second team at 11am.