Clare Féile Peil na nÓg Final 2008

Clare Féile Peil na nÓg Final 2008   Banner Ladies 3-5 Newmarket on Fergus 2-6

Easily the best Clare Féile decider in years. Newmarket on Fergus will feel hard done by in that they led by eight points with eight minutes to go in this game and ended up on the losing side.

 

Credit however the never say die attitude of the Banner team. When other teams would just have thrown in the towel the U-14 girls of the Banner Ladies Club gave it one last shot for the dying minutes of this game and overturned a seemingly impossible situation.

 

To the victors the spoils but great credit is due to Newmarket on Fergus for bringing their game to a new level in Clare ladies football.

 

That the Banner Ladies were narrow winners over Wolfe Tones in their semi-final and Newmarket had just one point to spare over Fergus Rovers in the other semi-final shows just how close and competetive things have become in underage football at this level in Clare.

 

Newmarket will be kicking themselves tonight as to how they let slip a 2-6 to 1-1 interval advantage over the Ennis club. Playing the better football and dominating in most areas they looked assured winners at half time despite having wind advantage in the first half.

 

When they rebuffed early Banner advances in the second half and confined the town side to just a point before adding another of their own after seven minutes the game seemed as good as over (remember Féile games are just fifteen minutes per half).

 

Somehow the Ennis side drew themselves back into the game and when they got a sniff of a possible victory Newmarket suffered major doubts in self belief. Still seeing the winning line in sight Newmarket decided to defend rather than maintain their attacking policy that had served them well.

 

The Banner Ladies were ruthless in their capitalisation of this tactic and laid siege on the Newmarket goal in the dying minutes. A flurry of goals and points ensued and one could hardly credit that when referee Johnny Hayes blew the final whistle the Banner Ladies had won the evening.

 

What excitement for the large crowd in attendance but also what disappointment for Newmarket on Fergus who deserved at least a share of the spoils from this great game.

 

The Banner Ladies now progress to represent Clare in the National Féile Peil na nÓg Finals in Cavan in early July. All in Clare Ladies Football wishes them well in representing their county.