Fermanagh 1-09 Clare 2-06

Fermanagh V Clare Ladies 8th August 2009

Fermanagh 1-09 Clare 2-06

Fermanagh started this game knowing that a win or draw would take them into the uncharted water of an All Ireland Intermediate Semi-Final, Clare, the opponents in the game had already qualified for the semi final stage but had their eyes set on top spot in the section. The Fermanagh girls knew the quality of their opponents and the tough task that lay ahead. The game was played in Lissan Gaa complex and a big thank you has to go to Mr. Joe Mc Gurn who had the field in absolute immaculate condition at short notice. And once again thanks to the Men’s County Board for allowing us the continuing loan of a set of jerseys to play our games.
Fermanagh put the Clare goal under pressure straight from the throw in but the Clare defence were hunting for the ball in packs and any Fermanagh player in possession had very little time to settle or look up to weigh options in the forward positions. Ashling Moane was to raise the first white flag off the day in the 3< SUP>rd minute after Caroline Little had won the ball at midfield and given it to Shauna Hamilton to carry forward and lay into the path of Moane to score. Fermanagh had Clare penned back at this stage and were playing very well but were hit by a Clare sucker punch in the 6th minute of the game as Fermanagh goalkeeper, Donna Gilroy, saved at attempt at a score and the ball spun away from her in the direction of two Fermanagh defenders, but as the two defenders seem to be undecided as to which one of them would clear the ball, the Clare number 11,Eithne Morrissey stole in between them and buried the ball to the back of the net. Fermanagh having been on top in the opening minutes now found themselves behind . The next score wouldn’t come along until the 10th minute of the game, it would come off the boot of the hard working Shauna Hamilton, who curled a lovely point over off her right boot, to lift the Fermanagh spirits again. Clare raised anot her white flag from a free in the 13th minute of the boot Fiona Lafferty. Caroline Little got Fermanagh’s 3rd point of the half in the 16th minute, leaving the score at Clare 1-01 and Fermanagh 0-03. The Fermanagh rearguard were holding the Clare forward line well, in particular Tara Hughes was having a mighty tussle with Clares All Star corner forward, Aine Kelly.
Fermanagh struck for a goal in the 18th minute threw on form Shauna Hamilton, the move that led to her strike had started in our own back line with Edel Mc Govern winning a tussle with her Clare opponent and bursting out of defence and laying the ball off to Caroline Little who played a lovely ball over the top of the Clare defence to find Shauna Hamilton about 35 metres from goal with still a lot to do, Shauna started on a run that took her by two Clare defenders and in on goal with the keeper to beat’ keeping her nerve she coolly dispatched the ball pas sed the keeper to raise a cheer from the home crowd. Fermanagh introduced Patricia Melanaphy for Donna Maguire, who would still have a big part to play in the game in the second half of the game. Clare tagged on 2 more points before Ashling Moane scored Fermanagh’s last point of the half in the 24th minute leaving the score at Fermanagh 1-04 and Clare 1-03. A triple blow was to hit Fermanagh before the end of the half with firstly Clare scoring a goal in the 28th minute, Clare were awarded a 45 metre kick which was given short to Rachel Lenihan, who sent in a speculative high lob which goalkeeper ,Donna Gilroy just failed to get her hands to, and less than a minute later, inspirational captain Kyla Mc Manus was sin binned for what the referee deemed to be a high challenge and just prior to the end of the half Ashling Moane had to replaced by her sister Aileen after suffering a leg injury.

Half Time

Clare 2-03 Fermanagh 1-04

Kyla Mc Manus had 6 and a half minutes of her sin binning remaining going into the second half
Caroline Little brought Fermanagh within one point of Clare a mighty point from a free from all off 40 metres. Clare re-extended their lead in the 4th minute of the half with a point from play. The game settled into an end to end tussle now as both teams found it hard to break down each others defences, no one wanted to lose this game but which team would make the decisive blow to win it. Clare were to raise the white flag again in the 11th minute off the half threw Marie Considine. In the next few minutes Fermanagh were to be denied a penalty chance as Catherine Murphy was appeared to be tripped as she bore down on goal but the referee waved play on and both teams kicked 3 wides each before Fermanagh’s, Caroline Little scored a 30 metre free kick in the 20th minute, the score was now Clare 2-05 and Fermanagh 1-06.Fermanagh was to lose Sharon Little in the 20th minute also with a shoulder injury, Belcoo’s Donna Maguire being reintroduced to the game. Donna Maguire was to have an almost instant impact scoring a great point from 35 metres out practically on the side line in the 23rd minute .Maguire was to raise another white flag for Fermanagh in the 26th minute to bring the teams level at Fermanagh 1-08 and Clare 2-05. The game was set up for a nail biting final few minutes with the game finally balanced and with scores hard to come by, one decisive strike, point or goal could be enough for victory for either team .Fermanagh introduced Ashling Mc Caughey for the very hard working Sharon Mc Govern into the forward line for the last few minutes. In the 28th minute Clare retook the lead from a free kick, I am not glancing over this score but the next minutes turned out to be the most exciting and tense of football I have witnessed or been involved with.
Ferm anagh were now chasing a score, any score to either get them the draw or the win, and then be fit to stop Clare from scoring again. The game ticked over into injury time with most of the Fermanagh team camped in the Clare half, when you see Edel Mc Govern, Fermanagh Full Back , 30 metres from the Clare goal and Anita Newell, Fermanagh Half Back, inside the 21 metre line you can imagine the level of determination that the Fermanagh players were putting in to get the equalising score.
First Caroline Little had a chance and then Shauna Hamilton took a shot but both kicks went narrowly wind and still the referee played on. In the 34th minute pf the second half Fermanagh were awarded a 21 metre free kick out on the left sideline, the chance had arrived, it wasn’t an easy kick but as Caroline Little struck the ball ,a roar of approval went up from the Fermanagh supporters as the ball sailed between the post. At this point the referee signalled that a further 3 minutes of injury time still remained to be played.
It has to be the longest 3 minutes of my life as Clare came forward seeking the score that would put them back in the lead, time after time, Fermanagh defenders got vital hands in to tip the ball away, both teams were practically out on their feet but no one was willing to give an inch on either team.
Finally when it came, the final whistle was greeted with great delight by the Fermanagh team and support ,the point that had been needed to secure a Semi Final spot had been hard earned but it had been earned.

Fermanagh 1-09 Clare 2-06

Fermanagh Panel

Donna Gilroy, Tara Hughes, Kyla Mc Manus, Claire Woods, Donna Maguire, Patricia Melanaphy, Catherine Murphy,
Adele Gallagher, Caroline Little, Aine Mc Brien, Shauna Hamilton, Sharon Little, Ashling Mc Caughey, Sharon Mc Govern,
Ashling Moane, Sarah Stewart, Eimir Keenan, Roisin Carron, Imelda Mc Govern, Rachel O’ Dolan, Aileen Moane, Mary Smith,
Nuala Curran, Anita Newell, Edel Campbell, Louise Slevin, Shireene Greene, Roisin Gleeson, Emma Burns, Dympna Moane, Catherine Mc Govern

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