This article is from page 64 of the 2011-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 64 JPG
Banner Ladies 1-14 – West Clare Gaels 1-13 at Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
A FRENZIED finish brought the senior championship to a heightened cresendo as the Banner Ladies hung on to reclaim the ultimate prize in Clare ladies football. Having led by seven points at one stage of the contest, the Banner’s character was severely tested when reduced to 13 players following the sinbinning of Clare Walsh and Niamh Keane that injected new life into defending champions West Clare Gaels’. However, the Ennis based side passed the test with flying colours to defy the numerical disadvantage and deservedly take back the senior crown.
The ultimate difference in the end was Niamh O’Dea who produced a majestic display of strength, pace and accuracy to take the game by the scruff of the neck when needed most. Allied to her impressive haul of 1-7, the county minor captain was tireless in her pursuit of glory and even gave her backline some much needed support and relieve the pressure in a mad-cap last quarter.
It wasn’t the classic of last year’s decider between the same pair and of course, there were major absentees on in both camps but it was still highly entertaining in terms of intensity. In truth however, last year’s encounter was too open for comfort which led to this year’s version being contrastingly over cautious on both sides but perhaps to West Clare Gaels eventual detriment.
Personal markers in all key positions made it a less than enlightening opening half, with Niamh O’Dea being closely watched by Shauna Harvey, Katie Geoghegan being picked up by Louise Woods and Niamh Keane guarded by Deirdre Troy to name but a few. Also Rita Boland was utilised as a sweeper for a large chunk of the game and therefore, it was only when the Banner were reduced to 13 that West Clare Gaels came out of their shell and went for broke.
After an even start, the Banner decisively took the initiative in the 14th minute when O’Dea showed her class to score the opening goal of the game. It stemmed from a Niamh Keane free to Louise Henchy whose ball over the top was expertly caught by county senior team-mate O’Dea despite the attentions of two defenders before cooly slotting the ball to the net.
Despite an immediate Niamh Lardner reply, that major was the catalyst for the Banner to step up a gear with O’Dea, Henchy, Keane and Rebecca Culligan kicking unanswered points to open up a 1-7 to 0-3 advantage by the 23rd minute.
Central to the Gaels’ problems was that in trying to avoid the dominance of Louise Henchy at midfield, the amalgamation repeatedly played their kick-outs to the opposite side, thus unleashing Niamh Keane to return the ball with interest.
The holders did finally regroup before the break however with the experience of Denise Geaney, Brid Troy (2) and semi-final star Niamh Lardner grabbing four unanswered points of their own to reduce the deficit to only three at 1-7 to 0-7.
There were changes aplenty at the break as the Banner introduced two new corner-forwards, Eva O’Dea and Orlaith Lynch, to bolster their attack while the Gaels brought on Ciara Harvey to allow her sister Shauna to push up the field.
The O’Dea sisters opened the scoring with a point apiece to restore the Banner’s five point advantage and it seemed once more that the Banner were about to pull away. However, the West Clare Gaels’ reign as county senior and Munster and All-Ireland intermediate champions meant that they were not about to give up their title without a major fight and with the returning Katie Geoghegan increasingly exerting her influence, they hit back with three points of their own by the 40th minute.
Louise Henchy started and finished a move to stop the rot and extend the lead to three but the Banner were hit with a major blow when Clare Walsh saw yellow and a ten minute sejour on the line for an over-enthusiastic tackle.
Brid Troy converted the free and the crowd could sense that the game was turning in the Gaels direction. Cue the indomitable Niamh O’Dea to wrestle back control, picking up successive kickouts from Emma O’Driscoll to solo up the field and grab two points. The second was simply a joy to watch as she made her way through several tackles in a full length run to inspire her side and she added a third in a row when linking up with Henchy to build up a five point advantage by the 48th minute.
O’Dea’s calming influence appeared to have weathered the storm for her side but nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, Niamh Keane’s dissent saw her join Walsh on the sideline and with positions and tactics flying out the window and the major of play in the Banner half, the Gaels’ storm began to brew for the third time.
A Troy free cut the deifict to four and while Clare Walsh returned to the action, the Gaels got a major boost when Brid Troy picked out the unmarked Maria Kelly to goal in the 57th minute and cut the deficit to only the minimum with three minutes remaining.
The tension could be cut with a knife as every pass was intensely scrutinised and the pressure on both sides intensified. Inevitably it was O’Dea who popped up again to ease the nerves but still their two point lead was a dangerous one. They were also boosted by the sinbinning of West Clare Gaels’ Deirdre Troy which coincided with Niamh Keane’s return for the Banner but there was still a manic final few minutes of injury-time to come.
A throw-in on the Banner’s 20 metre line saw all but West Clare Gaels goalkeeper Megan McGrath decend into the Banner half and in the resulting melee, a last gasp free gave the West Clare Gaels a final opportunity. The Banner packed the goal but they were not to be tested as Katie Geoghegan’s free agonisingly rifled over the crossbar for a point in the 65th minute.
The Banner’s relief turned to unbridled joy as referee Michael Talty blew the final whistle to end this nailbiting decider that saw the Banner rise to the summit once more. The biggest rivalry in Clare ladies football just took another major turn. What will next year bring?