Clare Intermediate Final

Clare Intermediate Final Coolmeen 2 – 7 Kilmihil 0 – 8

Similar to the senior final that followed, this
entertaining and tightly contested intermediate final was won by
the team who raised the green flags. Coolmeens’s two goals, one
in either half, were instrumental in their victory over a spirited
Kilmihil.

Playing with wind assistance Kilmihil started brightly and were
in front thanks to an Orla Keane free in the very first minute.
Coolmeen’s response was quick and decisive with county star Grace
Lynch finding the net with a fifth minute free from all of thirty
five metres. Kilmihil recovered from this setback and free taker
Orla Keane had them on level terms with pointed frees on eleven
and sixteen minutes. Though dominant at this stage the Kilmihil
girls were finding it very difficult to break down the Coolmeen
defence for whom Sinéad Eustace was in magnificent form.
Time and again Eustace broke up Kilmihil attacks and delivered quality
clearances to her outfield players. Grace Lynch restored Coolmeen’s
lead with a well taken nineteenth minute free before Úna
Downes levelled again with an excellent point from play after twenty
one minutes. Both teams battled for supremacy from here to the interval
but it was Coolmeen who were to get the half’s final score with
an injury time point again from the boot of Grace Lynch. The half
time score thus read Coolmeen 1 – 2, Kilmihil 0 – 4.

Kilmihil, though now playing against the wind, opened brightly
in the second half and had two excellent points from play through
Eimear Considine and another pointed free from Orla Keane. Again
Coolmeen responded with pointed frees from Grace Lynch to level
affairs at 1 – 4 to 0 – 7 after forty seven minutes. The game continued
on a knife edge with Fiona Corry and Orla Keane trading points.
Coolmeen however were to produce a storming last five minutes. Grace
Lynch pointed another free on fifty five minutes before substitute
Josephine Fennessy pounced for the all important second goal a minute
later. With their tails up Coolmeen were now dominant and Aoife
McMahon produced the icing on the cake for them with a last minute
point to seal their victory. Great celebrations followed Shane Hehir’s
final whistle and afterwards when captain Niamh Greene was presented
with the intermediate championship trophy by Clare Ladies Board
chairman James Lafferty. Hard luck to Kilmihil who but up a tremendous
battle but overall Coolmeen were that little bit stronger in vital
areas of the pitch and definitely benefited from having county stars
Grace Lynch, Sinéad Eustace and Niamh Greene in their ranks.
For Kilmihil Eimear Considine, Orla Keane and Úna Downes
all gave excellent performances.

Coolmeen: Laura Handrahan, Emer Greene, Sinéad Eustace,
Lisa Farrell, Ciara Cleary, Fiona McMahon, Valerie McMahon, Niamh
Greene, Grace Lynch (1 – 5), Sinéad Moloney, Carmel Eustace,
Martina Hehir, Marie Hough, Edel Meaney, Aoife McMahon (0 – 1).

Subs used: Fiona Corry (0 – 1) and Josephine Fennessy (1 – 0)

Kilmihil: Ailish Considine, Fiona Normoyle, Fiona O’Neill, Aoife
McSweeney, Marie Darcy, Niamh Keane, Elaine O’Halloran, Úna
Downes (0 – 1), Siobhán Egan, Sharon O’Gorman, Orla Keane
(0 – 5), Eimear Considine (0 – 2), Evelyn McGuane, Rosemary Currans,
Denise O’Halloran.

Subs used: Elaine Duggan