Tag Archives: LGFA

IN a statement this afternoon Clare LGFA announced the appointment of Listowel’s Graham Shine as the new Intermediate team manager for the coming season. The former Limerick and Kerry Ladies manager has been appointed for two years, with an option of a third, in charge of the county’s flagship side. Board Chairman Sean Lenihan advised that there were a number of applicants for the post from both within and outside the County and thanked the unsuccessful candidates for their interest in the position.  He outlined Shine’s extensive experience at Club and County level over many years and wished him and his backroom team well over the next couple of years starting soon with preparation for Clare’s return to Division 2 of the National Football League commencing in mid-January. A qualified personal trainer and fitness instructor, Shine was part of former Manager Wayne Freeman’s Backroom Team last year so he knows the panel of players involved here to date. He has …

Lidl Ladies’ NFL Division 3 Clare 1-6 Roscommon 1-4 By Ivan Smyth At Grant Heating St. Brendan’s Park, Birr Clare were crowned National League Division 3 champions as a rock solid opening all against the breeze paved the way for the winners to survive a late Roscommon fightback. After losing out in last year’s decider while also coming up short in the Intermediate final, this will be a sweet victory for Wayne Freeman’s side on a day when they were full value for their win with a 59th minute Ashling Hanly goal proving only a consolation. The Clare defence was rock solid with Laurie Ryan effective as the spare player in defence while Siofra Ní Chonaill did an excellent job on Hanly once the Roscommon dynamo relocated to the edge of the square in the second quarter. Wayne Freeman’s side laid the platform for this victory when they were deadlocked with their Connacht opponents, 1-1 to 0-4 at the interval. Clare …

All but the senior decider are down for decision on Sunday week (October 1st) as eleven clubs vie for adult ladies’ football championship honours at intermediate and junior levels. The Intermediate Final clash of West Clare rivals Kilrush and Miltown Malbay takes precedence as a coveted place at senior level is on the line for two sides that have certainly paid their dues when it comes to finals. Newmarket-on-Fergus’ welcome return to adult football has proven hugely encouraging so far as they look to halt Fergus Rovers’ remarkable momentum-fuelled run from Junior B in the A decider while Rovers’ successors will be either Burren Gaels or Kilrush’s second strings. The make-up of the Shield Finals at intermediate and Junior A will be confirmed this weekend as Clooney-Quin host Clarecastle on Sunday evening (5pm) for the right to take on Doonbeg in the intermediate version while Wolfe Tones and Banner Ladies must meet again to book their place in the Junior …

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, …

All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Semi-Final Clare 2-19 Laois 2-21 (AET) HEARTBREAK for Clare in extra time as Laois superstar Mo Nerney guided her side to victory after what can only be described as a contest of epic proportions, writes Derek Dormer. An absolute outstanding opening thirty minutes with massive intensity by both teams, great scores, point blank saves, a huge penalty claim ignored before another being awarded and missed. Mo Nerney opened the scoring straight from the throw in after only twenty nine seconds her first of five first half points. Fidelna Marrinan with an immediate response landing a beauty before the game’s first green flag. Sensational work by Niamh O’Dea bursting through the centre shrugging off tacklers with ease before off loading to Roìsìn Considine who blasted home superbly. The teams traded scores but it was Clare who were the dominant force however lady luck was most certainly not on their side hitting the post on no less than …

CLARE manager Evan Talty insists that his side are embracing the pressure as they face Laois for a place in the TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Final, writes Ivan Smyth. With Clare just 60 minutes away from a place in Croke Park, Talty admits that although his team are focused on the task at hand, the prospect of lining out at GAA HQ is one that will enter the thought process of the players. “Some girls were there in 2016. I am a realist. It will one hundred percent enter the heads of both sets of players. If you lose the semi final you don’t get to experience playing in Croke Park. If you get to the final, whether you win, lose or draw you at least get that experience.” “I won’t be naïve to say it doesn’t enter the head of a player. These things are there. It’s a pressure game but pressure is a privilege. You can’t …

Clare v Westmeath at Tuam Stadium Galway, Sunday, at 2pm (Garryowen McMahon, Mayo) IT’S essentially a crossroads of sorts for the Clare ladies’ footballers this Saturday. Having failed to win a knock-out championship tie since contesting the All-Ireland Intermediate Final five years ago, the Banner crave a breakthrough against a major opponent just to even validate their developmental progress, writes Eoin Brennan. And they certainly don’t come much bigger than Westmeath who are not only favourites for the title, having paid their dues in the 2020 final against Meath in December but are also only down from senior level since 2019. Experienced forwards Leona Archibald, Fiona Claffey, Ciara Blundell and Lucy McCartan are still in situ from their last knock-out meeting with Clare in the 2016 National League Division 2 Semi-Final. Clare will be extremely wary of that attacking prowess, having conceded seven goals so far in just two group outings. Perfect timing then for the potential return of former …

All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Round 3 Clare 5-8 Fermanagh 3-6 CLARE progress to the last eight of the All-ireland series after comfortably bouncing back to winning ways in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford this afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan. The result was never in doubt once the Banner settled with a brace of goals through Chloe Moloney and Niamh O’Dea inside the opening six minutes as they build up a 12 point cushion by the break and still held a double figure lead deep into additional time. In truth, the only thing keeping Fermanagh in the contest was the bizarre officiating of referee Paul Burke as while Clare dominating possession, the free count was 36 to 10 in Fermanagh’s favour while he also sinbinned two Clare players and in separate incidents gave the Ulster side two penalties. Still, Clare kept their heads down to take a 2-0 to 0-3 lead by the water break and despite losing Fidelma Marrinan …