Shannon Gaels 3-14 
Clashmore 3-7

AN excellent second-half performance, during which they overturned a half-time deficit of 11 points to win by seven in their first Munster Club Championship outing, earned Shannon Gaels a semi-final date with Bride Rovers of Cork on October 1.

Shannon Gaels won the toss and elected to play against a massive breeze. The match was only in its second minute when Margaret Foley had opened the Waterford side’s account with a pointed free. It was all Clashmore for most of the opening half as they registered score after score and by the 20th minute they led 2-6 to no score. Four of those points were scored by the impressive full-forward and team captain, Ashling O’Donnell, while they also had midfielder, Emma Donovan sin-binned for the customary 10 minutes’ playing time in the 19th minute. At either side of those four points came the Clashmore goals. The first was an own-goal and the second from former Waterford inter-county star, Deirdre Breathnach. 
Ger Corry finally got the Clare intermediate champions off the mark in the 21st minute with a point, while soon after, Breathnach pointed another for Clashmore. Substitute Carla Behan had the Gaels’ second point in injury time and they retired 11 points adrift, 2-7 to 0-2, at half-time.
Despite the fact the Clare representatives would have the assistance of the powerful breeze, 11 points seemed a lot to turn over. Credit is due to Shannon Gaels and in particular Sarah Bohannon and they played out of their skins in the second half.  Three excellent points from Sarah Bohannon inside six minutes as well as one from Michelle Madigan, which could have so easily been a goal, had reduced the gap to seven. 
Trish Fitzgerald goaled for Clashmore in the 38th minute to put her side 3-7 to 0-6 ahead and at this point, it did not look good for the Kilmurry McMahon, Labasheeda and Killimer girls.  However, a super goal from Sarah Bohannon after a fine solo run began the revival once more. Grace Lynch then came into the side for Ger Corry.  Bohannon pointed a free and at the three-quarter stage, Carla Behan goaled when she flicked a pass from Carmel Bohannon to the net. Shannon Gaels were now just a goal adrift.  They piled on the pressure, adding points from Michelle Madigan and Bohannon (2) to level the game. Then came a crucial score for the winners when Grace Lynch was on hand to finish a move to the net. This score put Shannon Gaels ahead for the first time and they took over to close out the game.
Colette Corry was immense at midfield, well assisted by Kate O’Brien. The forwards were now getting a good supply and they obliged with further points from Michelle Madigan, Carmel Bohannon, Croidhe Glynn and Colette Corry.
Sarah Bohannon was without a doubt player of the match, while Colette Corry also put in a great performance at midfield. Helena Flanagan, Susan Neylon, Kate O’Brien, Michelle Madigan, Carmel Bohannon and substitutes, Carla Behan and Grace Lynch were all prominent. 

Shannon Gaels: Serena Carmody; Eilis Moran, Maryruth Neylon, Imelda Kennedy; Helena Flanagan, Susan Neylon, Adrienne Nugent; Colette Corry (0-1), Kate O’Brien; Croidhe Glynn (0-1), Sarah Bohannon (1-6, 0-2f), Michelle Madigan (0-3); Edel Dillon, Carmel Bohannon (captain), (0-1), Ger Corry (0-1). 
Subs: Carla Behan (1-1) for E Dillon 16mins, Grace Lynch (1-0) for G Corry 41mins.
Clashmore: Evelyn O’Brien; Ciara Dower, Sinéad O’Rourke, Triona Fitzgerald; Geraldine Daly, Aileen Barron, Louise Coughlan; Emma Donovan, Cliona O’Keeffe; Deirdre Breathnach (1-1), Claire Power, Trish Fitzgerald (1-1); Edel Wilson, Ashling Donnell (captain) (0-4, 0-3f), Margaret Foley (0-1f). 
Subs: Clodagh DeBurca for E Wilson (55 mins) Shauna Barrett for L Coughlan (60mins) for C  Dower.
Referee: Mike Duffy (Tipperary).

Doonbeg fall at first hurdle in Munster junior ladies’ semi-final

Sneem/Kenmare (Kerry) 4-5 
Doonbeg 1-4

UNLIKE the opening game in this Munster club double header at Newtownshandrum on Saturday, scores were not as plentiful for the Clare representatives. Despite conceding two goals by the eighth minute, Doonbeg were right in this match up to the last 10 minutes. However, their Kerry opponents prevailed and qualified for the Munster junior ladies’ football semi-final.
Heavy showers fell as the teams were warming up and it took a while for both sides to get to grips with the game.  Sneem/Kenmare full-forward Michelle O’Connor rattled the Doonbeg net in the eight and within a minute, centre-back Denise Hallissey had repeated the dose when she finished a move she herself had started in her own half-back line.
It was only then Doonbeg got motoring and the hard-working team captain, Linda Russell, shot over their first score in the 13th minute. Within two minutes, Evelyn O’Mahoney did well to finish Doonbeg’s only goal to the net thanks to a Mairéad Madigan pass. Late in the half, Madigan pointed a free after O’Mahoney had been fouled. Sneem/Kenmare, for whom Aishling Harrington was sin-binned, did not score for the remainder of the half and so Doonbeg just trailed by the minimum 2-0 to 1-2 at the interval. Carolyn Haugh and Sarah Cahill had been clearing a lot of ball from the Magpies’ half-back line, while both half-forwards, Aoife Conway and Siobhán Behan, performed very well.
Caroline McCarthy and the impressive Claire O’Sullivan had opening points for Sneem/Kenmare when the second half resumed. Doonbeg replied through a Mairéad Madigan free and a like score from corner-forward Rachel Ryan and with 20 minutes of normal time remaining, Doonbeg trailed by the minimum 2-2 to 1-4.
Despite their best efforts, Doonbeg did not score again and Sneem/Kenmare finished very strong adding a further 2-3. With 10 minutes on the clock, Michelle O’Connor had their third goal. While heading into injury time, top scorer Claire O’Sullivan goaled adding to her three points scored earlier in the half.
Doonbeg will be disappointed to have exited at the first hurdle. They have a fine team and probably just needed a few more competitive games in preparation for the Munster Club. 

Doonbeg: Lorraine Tubridy, Yvonne Downes, Edel Conway (captain), Claire Madigan, Patricia Nugent, Sarah Cahill, Carolyn Haugh, Linda Russell Kelleher (0-1), Edel Fitzpatrick, Aoife Conway, Kevina Kenny, Siobhán Behan, Evelyn O’Mahoney (1-0), Mairéad Madigan (0-2f), Rachel Ryan (0-1).
Subs: Amanda Ryan for P Nugent (38th minute), Bríd Lillis for E O’Mahoney (56th minute).
Sneem/Kenmare: Nora Mai O’Brien (captain), Geraldine Cahalane, Emer O’Sullivan, Betty Desmond, Aishling Harrington, Denise Hallissey (1-0), Anne Marie O’Mahony, Laura O’Sullivan, Margaret Gaine, Caroline McCarthy (0-1), Claire O’Sullivan (1-4), Majella O’Sullivan, Lisa O’Shea, Michelle O’Connor (2-0), Michelle Casey.
Subs: Linda Twomey for M Gaine (inj), Geraldine Doyle for L Twomey.
Referee: Gene Buckley (Cork).