Table toppers all square in Clarecastle

Clare 1-18
Fermanagh 4-9
Three points in the closing five minutes, one each from team captain Niamh Keane, top scorer Niamh O’Dea and corner-forward Eimear Considine, ensured Clare an even share of the spoils in this entertaining national league tie at Clarecastle on Saturday evening.

This result means Clare top the group and will play fourth-placed Wicklow in the semi-final at a neutral venue in two weeks’ time. Fermanagh and Down will contest the other semi-final.
A tally of 1-18 is an excellent return but to concede four goals is a huge concern. In the opening half, wind-assisted Clare dominated in terms of possession but still were only three points to the good at half-time.
A return of 1-5 had come from full-forward Niamh O’Dea, the goal in the 21st minute having been set up by the outstanding Naomi Carroll. Despite Clare’s dominance, they too easily let the Little sisters, Caroline and Sharon, through for goals in the 18th and 28th minutes. A feature of Clare’s dominance was the outstanding performances of midfielders Marie Considine and Louise Henchy, who so far have had a great season. Midfielder Considine kicked three excellent long-range points in what was probably her best display to date in the Saffron and Blue.
With only seven minutes of the second half played, Clare opened a seven-point gap with points from a free by Louise Henchy, two from O’Dea and one from Cratloe’s Naomi Carroll.
Just as they did against Clare in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate final 18 months ago, Fermanagh came storming back and launched attack after attack. Again, the Little sisters played a large part when, like the opening half, they again goaled, this time in the 40th and 61st minutes and now led by the minimum, 4-7 to 1-15.
Further points from Sharon Little and Aisling Moane pushed them three ahead with 55 minutes played. Credit to Clare, they never gave up and points from play by Niamh Keane, Niamh O’Dea and Eimear Considine ensured a deserved draw for undefeated Clare after seven rounds.

Clare: Susan McNamara (Banner Ladies); Clare Hester (Fergus Rovers), Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies); Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Róisín McMahon (Newmarket on Fergus), Louise Woods (Banner Ladies); Marie Considine (0-3 Liscannor), Louise Henchy (0-1f Banner Ladies); Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Keane captain, (0-2 Banner Ladies), Naomi Carroll (0-2 Banner Ladies); Eimear Considine (0-2 Kilmihil), Niamh O’Dea (1-8, 0-3f, Banner Ladies), Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels).
Subs: Niamh Greene (Coolmeen) for Colette Corry (half-time); Carmel Considine (Liscannor) for Claire Hester (39); Áine Burke (Liscannor for Sarah Bohannon (56); Róisín O’Looney (Cooraclare) for Niamh Greene (56).
Fermanagh: Róisín Gleeson; Orla Reihill, Nuala Curran, Claire Woods; Dervla Murphy, Tara Little, Patricia Melanophy; Marcella Connolly (0-1), Aisling Moane (0-1); Shauna Hamilton, Sharon Little (2-2, 0-1f), Áine McBrien; Nuala McManus, Naomi McManus, Caroline Little 2-(5, 0-3f).
Subs; Joanne Doonan for N McManus; Aisling Maguire for N McManus.
Referee: Michael Duffy (Tipperary)

Divison 3 Round 7 results: Down 1-11 Leitrim 1-10; Wicklow 3-8 Wexford 2-17; Longford conceded a walkover to Limerick.