This article is from page 96 of the 2009-09-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 96 JPG
THIS was a repeat of last year’s coun- ty final that was played in Cooraclare — conditions were much more benign on that occasion, but the result was the same as the standardbearers of senior football in the county record- ed a nine-point win.
However, the margin of victory flat- ters them somewhat — a brilliant dis- play by Aoife Davoren between the sticks and a forward line that availed of their chances much better than the Gaels was the difference between the sides.
The Gaels had the edge in the first half, but only managed to build up a Q-7 to 1-3 interval lead when playing with the gale. County intermediate star Majella Griffin was their main scoring threat in the half and landed three points, but it was Sonya Ma- her’s goal that gave the champions a real tonic when playing against the strong breeze.
And once Niamh O’ Dea (2) and N1- amh Keane chipped in with points, they were well on the way to frank- ing last year’s county final form against their very keen rivals from Kilkee and the peninsula beyond.
West Clare Gaels adopted a sweep- er policy when playing against the wind in the second half — to coun- teract this The Banner Ladies started shooting from distance, with county
intermediate captain Louise Henchy first to profit when landing two long range points early in the half to edge The Banner 1-5 to O-7 ahead.
When Naomi Carroll added two
points and Louise Henchy followed up with a goal in the 40th minute from a free kick it was The Banner’s day — they had maximised their scor- ing chances while West Clare Gaels
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A Katie Geoghegan goal from a penalty gave them renewed hope of getting back into the game put once Niamh Keane goal effort was de-
flected to the net for The Banner’s for their third goal they were in cruise control.
Their storming second half display was crowned when Sonya Maher soc- cer a brilliant individual effort near the end, while Katie Cahill rounded off and industrious display with a couple of points, with Naomi Carroll also on the mark before the end.