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Louise Henchy of The Banner in action against Ellie O Gorman of Kilmihil during their county final at Doonbeg. Photograph by John Kelly.

Semi Final Places Secured In Clare Senior LGFA Championships

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Clare Ladies Senior Football Championship: Cooraclare 1-9 Doora Barefield 1-6

Last year’s intermediate champions Cooraclare sealed their spot in this year’s senior semi-finals with a hard fought win over Doora Barefield on Monday evening.

The Sky Blues made sure of their passage straight to the last four as group winners with a second consecutive victory in another composed showing.

Keeva Corry’s first half goal proved the defining score of the game as the West Clare outfit built up a 1-4 to 0-3 interval lead.

The opening quarter was keenly contested with the home side having a number of missed chances before Keeva Corry got them off the mark. Chloe Towey was prominent throughout the contest in the Doora Barefield attack, and she pointed either side of a good effort from Nicola Keating. Aisling Morrissey found the range to end the first quarter as Cooraclare led 0-3 to 0-2 at the opening water break.

The second quarter was a cagey affair, with both sides guilty of missed chances and turning over possession. The big score of this period was Corry’s goal as she broke through before firing low to the bottom corner to see her side lead by four points at the half-time whistle. St Joseph’s were without a number of key players due to injury and lost another when Ciara Cahill was forced off with a hand injury. Roisín Looney extended their lead with her second of the evening but Cooraclare had goalkeeper and coach Ann Marie Callinan to thank for pulling off a brilliant save to deny the Parish what would have been a crucial goal. Muirne Ní Chonaill did find the range to end the first half scoring but at the break it was Cooraclare 1-4 to 0-3 ahead.

The Sky Blues began the second half in determined fashion and atoned for earlier wides by kicking the first two scores through Shauna O’Gorman to move six points clear. They spurned further opportunities to add to their tally, and were left rueing those misses when Doora Barefield raided for 1-1 to put the game right back into the melting pot. Aisling Hannan got both scores, as she profited from good work by Ní Chonaill along the endline before handpassing across the square for Hannan to bat home. It meant just two points seperated the sides when the final water break was called.

That gap became one when Towey pointed for the third time early in the final quarter, but crucially Cooraclare kept the scoreboard ticking over and never allowed the Parish to regain parity. Zoe Downes and Saskia Morrissey pushed the gap back out to three before another from Hannan kept her side in touch. Saskia Morrissey was a key figure for her side and landed her second pointed free with time running out to ensure the three point victory.

Cooraclare: Ann-Marie Callinan; Saskia Morrissey, Laura Quinlivan, Afric O’Neill; Sinead Lillis, Aisling Morrissey, Katie Lillis; Roisín Looney, Niamh Conlon; Megan Downes, Keeva Corry, Brianna Byrnes; Caoilfhionn Morrissey, Shauna O’Gorman, Nicola Keating.

Doora Barefield: Caoilfhionn Ní Chonaill; Kate Dillon, Megan O’ Brien, Kate Harrington; Eimear Casey, Síofra Ní Chonaill, Alannah Meaney; Anna Courtney, Ciara Cahill; Chloe Towey, Aisling Hannon, Aoibhínn O’ Loughlin; Múirne Ní Chonaill, Ciara Guilfoyle, Amy Lenihan.

Last year’s beaten finalists Banner Ladies secured the other semi-final spot as they recorded their second win of Group B.

Their bid to regain the title looks on an impressive course, as they opened their campaign with a 6-18 to 0-6 win over West Clare Gaels. County star Niamh O’Dea helped herself to a hat-trick along with a brace of goals for Aoibheann Malone and one from Karen Roche.

They followed up that win with another powerful showing against Cúil Gaels as they ran out 4-14 to 0-4 winners, thanks to goals from Niamh O’Dea (2), Niamh Keane and Aoibheann Malone.

It means that the quarter final line up will see defending champions Kilmihil taking on Cúil Gaels while West Clare Gaels face Doora Barefield.

 

In the intermediate championship, Kilmurry Ibrickane and Miltown have secured home semi-finals after topping their respective groups.

The quarter final line up is Eire Óg v Liscannor & Burren Gaels v Fergus Rovers.

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