This article is from page 62 of the 2011-08-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
West Clare Gaels 3-17 – Miltown 6-05 at Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
WHILE much of the pre-match attention centred around the opening semi-final pairing of Banner Ladies and Kilmihil, it was actually the clash of the defending champions and Senior B table toppers Miltown that provided the real entertainment of the evening in Doonbeg. A nine goal compelling thriller that seesawed one way and then the next, supporters were left guessing right up to the final whistle.
The lead changed hands on five occasions, with the sides level on five more, Miltown repeatedly defied the odds through their propensity to grab goals. However, in the end, the defending champion’s experience in last year’s county, munster and AllIreland run came to the surface as they kept their cool to finally see off a gallant Miltown side.
The goalfest began in the third minute when a defensive error allowed West Clare Gaels’ Denise Geaney and Niamh Lardner to send the returning Maria Kelly in on goal to flick past the onrushing Siobhan Talty. However, within a minute, Miltown had gained parity when the impressive Fiona Lafferty soloed through the heart of the Gaels’ defence to blast to the net via the crossbar.
That tit-for-tat pattern continued as two minutes later West Clare Gales restored their three point lead through player-of-the-game Niamh Lardner who opened her account with a clinical goal following good work from Geaney and Michelle Downes. When Geaney kicked two further points, it appeared as if West Clare Gaels had weathered the early storm but nothing could be further from the truth as Miltown thundered back into the game once more. 1-1 within a minute, with the goal coming from the unmarked Karen Galvin at close range, inspired the ever improving side and they even had a Sinead Sexton penalty expertly stopped by the feet of goalkeeper Megan McGrath before the corner-forward made amends with an equalising point in the 16th minute.
Brid Troy regained the lead for the Gaels in the 19th but with Miltown no longer daunted by the opposition, they powered to a 4-5 to 2-6 halftime advantage with further goals from marque forwards Michelle Mc- Caw and Karen Galvin.
Half-time couldn’t come soon enough for the holders to regroup and they soon made short work of Miltown’s five point margin when hitting the ground running in the second period with eight unanswered points in the third quarter. Again it was Lardner, now on her third marker, who proved to be the difference with four points while the experienced Brid Troy chipped in with three as the Gaels maintained a vicelike grip on the game.
At this stage, Miltown were unable to get the ball past midfield but in a rare attack, they were handed an unlikely lifeline when Fiona Lafferty soloed through for her second goal in the 50th minute to level the game once more. In the next passage of play, Niamh Coyne did likewise to push Miltown ahead by three and really put it up to the county champions.
True to form, the All-Ireland intermediate winners showed their mettle as within a minute, they gained parity once more when Denise Geaney found the net. And with momentum behind them, they closed out the game, despite a late goal chance for Miltown’s Michelle McCaw, with Lardner, Leanne Lynch and Shauna Harvey completing a memorable victory.
It’s just a pity someone had to lose such a thrilling contest.
West Clare Gaels
Megan McGrath, Suzi O’Gorman, Kathleen Foley, Grainne Harvey, Rite Boland, DeidreTroy, Marie Foran, Michelle Downes, Shauna Harvey (0-2), Leanne Lynch (0-2), Denise Geaney (1-2), Maria Kelly (1-0), Niamh Lardner (1-6 3f), BridTroy (0-5 3f), Becky O’Farrell
Subs
Ailish Brewfor Kelly (18 mins, inj), Ciara Harvey for O’Farrell (28 mins)
Miltown
SiobhanTalty, Claire Curtin, Siobhan Lafferty, Sinead Griffin,Aisling Coyne, Niamh Coyne (1-0), Tara Rynne, Katie Curtin, Bernie McGuire (0-1), Fiona Lafferty (2-0), Michelle McCaw(1-2), Niamh Pender, Laura Rynne, Karen Galvin (2-1 1f), Sinead Sexton (0-1)
Subs
Edel Hynes for T. Rynne (HT), Helen Burke for A. Coyne (36 mins),Aisling McCawfor L. Rynne (54 mins), JeanTalty for Pender (56 mins)
Player of the Game
Niamh Lardner (West Clare Gaels) Referee Michael Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)