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Tag Archives: LGFA

Six finals in prospect for Super Sunday

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 …

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LADIES FOOTBALL: Late Banner backlash not enough to topple Kildare

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, …

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LADIES FOOTBALL: Heroic Clare just fall short in All-Ireland Semi-Final

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 …

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LADIES FOOTBALL: Talty relishing the pressure

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 …

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LADIES FOOTBALL: Make-or-break for Clare’s battle with the Lakes

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 …

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LADIES FOOTBALL: High five for better Banner in All-Ireland Championship Round 3

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 …

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LADIES FOOTBALL: Stuttering start for leaky Banner in All-Ireland championship

All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Round 2 Leitrim 4-7 Clare 2-9 CLARE’S bizarre opening round hoodoo continued this afternoon when ambushed by a ravenous Leitrim who deservedly topped the group in Duggan Park in Ballinasloe, reports Eoin Brennan. Following first round reverses against Wexford (2019) and Kildare (2020), Division 4 finalists Leitrim completed the Banner’s unwanted hat-trick to cause the biggest upset of them all as prior to last week, the Connaught side had not won a championship match since 2017. They certainly made up for lost time as four perfectly timed goals provided consistent sucker-punches that accumulated into too big a mountain to climb for a Clare side that just couldn’t get out of second gear at any stage. The stifling conditions certainly zapped the energy levels and can be held accountable for some of the handling errors but ultimately it was the same for both sides and Leitrim, despite contesting their second championship match in eight days, appeared …

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Kerry outshoot impressive Clare in Tralee

Ladies National Football League Division 2A round 2 Kerry 4-13 Clare 3-11 CLARE, following a shaky one point win over Wexford last weekend, travelled to Kerry in Round 2 of the league and gave one of the better performances of recent seasons despite going under by five points in the end against a competent Kerry outfit, reports Michael O’Connor. The opening minute had the Clare entourage fearing a whitewash as the visitors to Austin Stack Park were down (1-1) with not even 90 seconds played with Hannah O Donoghue grabbing the Kerry goal. The water break in the first half appeared to kill the Clare momentum after positive responses from Aisling Reidy, Lizzy Roche, Fidelma Marrinan and Cliona Blake. Strong words from the Kerry management saw Clare under the cosh at the resumption with Louise Galvin and Megan O’Connor on target to send Kerry four clear. Clare managed to stem this scoring spree but were unable to get on the …

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