Western trio dominate intermediate semis

There will be no shortage of motivation as the race for the intermediate ladies football championship is reduced to just two on Sunday.
After all, a harrowing 2022 at senior level has seen Cooraclare understandably rebuild confidence once more in the second tier as they look to bounce back even stronger but face a Kilrush side with their own point to prove after being edged out in last year’s decider by Fergus Rovers.
It’s a West Clare derby to savour on Sunday at 2pm, with Cooraclare’s senior experience giving them the slight favourite’s tag.
Miltown Malbay’s issue hasn’t been the penultimate stage, more a final hoodoo as three successive intermediate decider reverses between 2019-21 have fuelled their return to form after a disappointing 2022.
Éire Óg caused an upset in the final group match to lower Miltown but will face a much sterner task this time around for their rematch as the recently crowned Minor A champions look to maintain their upward curve in Kilmaley on Sunday at 6pm.
Banner Ladies will hope to double the dose when renewing acquaintances with Burren Gaels in their senior quarter-final on home soil on Sunday.
The four-in-a-row chasers unceremoniously halted the North Clare side’s momentum-fuelled run in last year’s semi-final, with contrasting form so far in this campaign dictating another comfortable home win.
The tie of the senior quarter-finals is undoubtedly the clash of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Kilmurry Ibrickane, two of Clare’s biggest contingents in this year’s run to the All-Ireland Intermediate decider.
The potential match-up of Chloe Moloney and Síofra Ní Chonaill would be worth the admission fee alone not to mention the superb form of Aisling Reidy and Amy Sexton for the knock-out tie set for Gurteen at 2pm.
The final senior action of the week throws up a historic first senior clash as West Clare Gaels welcome intermediate champions Fergus Rovers to Cross on Sunday evening at 5pm.
Intermediate champions Rovers have hit the ground running back in the top tier, with their second string already through to the Junior A decider to boot.
However, aside from home advantage, the Gaels senior and inter-county experience should be crucial as the four Harvey sisters Ciara, Grainne, Caoimhe and Shauna form an enviable spine that allied to the scoring prowess of the talismanic Fidelma Marrinan make their side a formidable home force.

Results

County Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Cooraclare 0-15 Liscannor 2-5
Kilrush 3-11 Doonbeg 1-2
Éire Óg 10-18 Clarecastle 0-9
Miltown Malbay 3-11 Clooney-Quin 1-2

Fixtures

County Senior Ladies Football Championship Quarter-Finals (First team named has home advantage) (Sunday, September 17th)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Kilmurry Ibrickane at Gurteen, 2pm (Ciaran Sheehan, Feakle)
Banner Ladies v Burren Gaels at Banner, Time TBC
West Clare Gaels v Fergus Rovers at Cross, 5pm (Ciaran Sheehan, Feakle)
Kilmihil a bye

County Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Semi-Finals (Sunday, September 17th)
Cooraclare v Kilrush at Venue TBC, 2.30pm
Miltown Malbay v Éire Óg at Kilmaley, 6pm (Gerry Clarke)

County Intermediate Ladies Football Shield Semi-Finals
Liscannor v Doonbeg at Cooraclare, Friday 8.15pm (Barry Kelly, St Joseph’s Miltown)
Clooney-Quin v Clarecastle at Clooney, day and time TBC

County Junior A Ladies Football Championship Semi-Finals
Fergus Rovers 3-13 Cúil Gaels 1-8
Newmarket-on-Fergus v Crusheen at Fr. McNamara Park Doora, Sunday 6pm

County Junior A Ladies Football Shield Semi-Finals
Wolfe Tones v Banner Ladies at Venue TBC, Sunday 6pm
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Kildysart at Gurteen, Monday 6.45pm

County Junior B Ladies Football Championship Semi-Finals (Sunday, September 17th)
Burren Gaels v Clooney-Quin
Kilrush v Miltown Malbay

County Junior B Ladies Football Shield Semi-Final (Sunday, September 17th)
Corofin v Éire Óg
East Clare Gaels a bye