West Clare Girls win Intermediate Title

Clare Intermediate Final 2007 West Clare Gaels 0
– 20 Kilmihil 2 – 9

The cream always comes to the top and so it was in this hugely
entertaining Clare Intermediate Final played in Doonbeg on Sunday.
The cream for West Clare Gaels was the performance of their county
stars, and Majella Griffin and the excellent Kelly sisters Marie
and Sinéad did not let them down. Indeed both Majella and Marie
contributed ten and five points respectively to their fantastic
overall score of twenty points and this scoring power was eventually
to see off a gritty challenge from Kilmihil. Kilmihil had the
better of the opening exchanges and went a point up early on from
the boot of Ailish Considine. A Majella Griffin free levelled
on ten minutes before Sarah Cahill found the net to give Kilmihil
the lead once again a minute later.

Kilmihil were playing into a fairly stiff breeze and this score
was the reward their early dominance deserved. Úna Downes was
dominating affairs around the middle at this stage and Kilmihil’s
cause was advanced by the sin binning of the Gaels’ Niamh Gardener
in the eight minute. When Ailish Considine again pointed in the
twelfth minute West Clare Gaels seemed in real trouble. However
the girls from the West stadied the ship with an excellent Marie
Kelly point from play and added to this a Griffin free on the
quarter hour to leave the score 1 – 2 to 0 – 3 in Kilmihil’s favour.
Clare U-16 star Eimear Considine got her name on the scoresheet
for Kilmihil on twenty minutes but for the next ten minutes or
so West Clare Gaels dominated. Leanne Lynch was introduced during
this period and made an immediate impression winning some impressive
ball which led to a Majella Griffin pointed free on twenty four
minutes and Leanne also added an excellent point of her own two
minutes later. Denise Geaney and Lisa Harte also had points for
the winners during this period and when Marie Kelly and Lynch
scored two more points with the half hour up the Gaels had suddenly
raced into a 1 – 3 to 0 – 9 lead.

Further excitement was to come however as in first half injury
time young Ailish Considine slipped through the West Clare rearguard
to crash a great drive to the net and Ailish also added a pointed
free in this period. The final act of the half however was left
to eventual player of the match winner Majella Griffin when she
added another classy point from play. Thus the teams retired at
the break level on a 2 – 4 to 0 – 10 scoreline.

Credit both teams for an excellent first half of football and
the large attendance eagerly awaited the resumption. The Gaels
were out of the blocks quickly on the restart and had quick-fire
points from Griffin (3), Lynch and Kelly to Kilmihil’s two pointed
frees from Ailish Considine. While Ailish had some wonderful scores
from placed balls she was also guilty of some poor shooting from
kickable frees and unfortunately for her she had a role in perhaps
the game’s most pivotal play. Referee Shane Hehir seemed rather
harsh when pointing to the penalty spot on forty four minutes
when declaring that a West Clare Gaels defender had nudged her
opponent in the back when contesting a high ball to the danger
area. With older sister Eimear in the sin bin for a clumsy challenge
on Sinéad Kelly the responsibility for the kick was handed to
young Ailish. To the relief of all from the West Ailish shot straight
at keeper Treacy Downes and her effort was well saved. To Ailish’s
credit she bounced back with a pointed free two minutes later
following another excellent point from play from the enigmatic
Marie Kelly.

The Gaels were by now dominating things around the centre with
Niamh Lardener and Michelle Dowens eventually getting the upper
hand on Rosemary Currane and Dympna Walsh. Úna Downes, who had
an excellent game for the losers’, was also beginning to tire,
and The Gaels began to push home their advantage. They finished
with a flurry and had points from Griffin (2) and Kelly in reply
to Kilmihil’s efforts from an Eimear Considine free and a good
Úna Downes point from play. On the final whistle West Clare Gaels
were deserving and worthy winners. While naturally their scoring
forwards were very much the focus of attention one must give credit
also to their defence with Sinéad Kelly, Kathleen Foley and Rachel
Lynch giving top class performances. Leanne Lynch was also a very
inspirational substitute and Grace Walshe also did some Trojan
work on the wing. For the losers Úna Downes, the Considine sisters,
Sarah Cahill and their midfielder’s Currane and Walsh did well.
While their defence never threatened to concede a goal they were
guilty of some silly fouling which suited the Gaels down to the
ground with ace markswoman Majella Griffin in their ranks.

Overall this was an excellent game of football and the winners
will be welcome competitors in next year’s senior championship.
Kilmihil too are deserving of credit and surely their day is not
far off. Referee Shane Hehir handled the game well. Following
the match Cl;are ladies Board Chairman james lafferty presented
the winning captain Sinéad Kelly with the Intermediate Championship
Trophy.

West Clare Gaels: Tracey Downes, Suzi O’Gorman, Kathleen Foley,
Fiona Troy, Ciara Harvey, Sinéad Kelly (capt), Rachel Lynch, Niamh
lardner, Michelle Downes, Grace walsh, Maria Kelly (0-5), Rita
Boland, Denise Geaney (0-1), Majella Griffin (0-10), Lisa Harte
(0-1). Subs: Leanne Lynch (0-3) for Ciara Hravey (20 minutes)
Kilmihil: Siobhán Egan, Colette Downes, Joan O’Halloran, Elaine
O’Halloran, Linda Russell, Fiona O’Neill (capt), Miriam Frawley,
Rosemary Currane, Dympna walsh, Sharon O’Gorman, Úna Downes (0-1),
Helen Croxford, Ailish Considine (1-6), Sarah Cahill (1-0), Eimear
Considine (0-2).