Match Report Banner .v. Miltown Clare Senior Championship
The Banner 2 – 11Miltown 2 – 10
Rarely does a game merit the accolade of epic or thriller but for all present to witness this Clare Senior Ladies semi – final there are no superlatives available to describe this magnificent game. On show were two teams committed to playing their hearts out for their respective clubs and in the process served up one of the finest and most memorable games of ladies football ever witnessed in Clare.
The pity of this game was that there had to be a loser such was the skill and commitment of both teams. Miltown, the reigning Clare champions, entered this game knowing that the Ennis town representatives The Banner Ladies would provide a stiff challenge. No one ever doubted the Banner’s potential but few expected their overall performance in Kilmihil on Saturday.
From the throw in The Banner dominated but failed to convert their early dominance into scores. Wind assisted the Ennis team missed several scoring opportunities before the Miltown girls showed them the way with points from Aoife Healy and Denise Sexton in the second and fourth minute. The Banner had significant wind advantage at this stage so these early Miltown scores were worrying. County star Louise Henchy led by example with points in the sixth and ninth minutes and the effervescent Mary Tierney popped an eight minute point for the Ennis girls. Game on in earnest with two super teams battling for supremacy. The excellent Aoife Healy equalized for Miltown on the quarter hour only for Henchy to edge the Ennis side a point ahead a minute later.
With the game swinging from end to end, and all in attendance breathless from the standard of fare on offer, a very significant passage of play ensued. The Banner’s Niamh Keane launched a speculative lob towards the Miltown goal and wind assisted appeared to be going over the bar for an excellent point. Niamh’s shot suddenly dipped and flew to the corner of the Miltown net past the hapless Catherine Shannon. From the kickout Miltown launched a formidable attack and were in on goal when The Banner keeper Maria Hennessy was adjudged to have fouled the incoming Miltown attacker. An undisputed penalty resulted and the self same Hennessy was transformed from villain to hero when she produced an excellent save from Healy to deny the Miltown girls. Banner captain Louise Henchy and Miltown’s Niamh Coyne traded a point apiece to finish the first half scoring to leave the half time score at The Banner 1 – 6, Miltown 0 – 5. Following this enthralling first half the game was nicely poised for good second half.
Miltown opened their second half account with an excellent point from play from Aoife Healy in the second minute, When the wind assisted Spanish Point ladies drew level a minute later thanks to a Fíona Lafferty goal the writing appeared to be on the wall for the Ennis team and indeed for the game as a contest. Niamh Keane threw The Banner a lifeline with a thirty seventh minute point but when Michelle McCaw blasted the ball to The Banner net on thirty nine minutes the reigning champions looked homeward bound and secure for a place in the 2006 county final. From the kickout, and totally against the run of play, Louise Henchy bore down on the Miltown goal. Her attempted placed shot was excellently saved by keeper Catherine Shannon but unfortunately for Shannon the ball rebounded to corner forward Harriet Hamilton who dispatched and unstoppable shot high into the Miltown net. Game on again with The Banner again a point to the good. Their lead was short lived however with Healy and Lafferty again restoring Miltown’s lead with excellent points to leave them a point ahead with fifteen minutes remaining. Henchy again equalised for The Banner on forty eight minutes and suddenly the whole complexion of the game changed. Miltown somehow managed to rattle off seven wides in succession while the more economical Ennis team scored three invaluable points from Louise Henchy, Niamh Keane and Niamh Cavanagh.
With time almost up favourites Miltown found themselves three points in arrears, In fairness they threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the Banner and they attacked in waves. A point on sixty two minutes from Healy and another on sixty three minutes narrowed the gap to a single point. All eyes and ears were now on referee James Murrihy and despite a further two minutes of injury time Miltown could not find the equalising score. From a Banner kickout, following another Miltown wide, the final whistle finally sounded and the reigning champions were out. The Banner team stood momentarily shocked with their achievement before tremendous celebrations ensued. Similar to Miltown last year this is the first time the Ennis team has qualified for a senior final. Though novices at this stage if they give a repeat performance of this display in the final they will be more than a handful for any opposition.
While scoring forwards generally get post match accolades Caoimhe McNamara was definitely the player of the match for the Banner at left corner back. Time and again she thwarted the Miltown attack with timely interceptions and emphatic clearances. Louise Henchy and Niamh Keane also stood out for the winners while Aoife Healy and Fíona Lafferty excelled for the losers.
Ladies football was however the major winner on the day and great credit is due to both teams and their respective mentors for the excellent contest that unfolded. Credit also to referee James Murrihy who put in a great performance and his handling of the game added to the overall spectacle.
The Banner:Maria Hennesy, Patricia Ryan, Louise Skelly, Coimhe McNamara, Michelle Delaney, Sarah Hoey, Niamh Cavanagh ( 0 – 1), Louise Henchy (0 – 6), Jane Kennedy, Aoife Cavanagh, Niamh Keane (1 – 2), Sonia Maher,, Harriet Hamilton (1 – 1), Emma O’Driscoll, Mary Tierney (0 – 1).
Subs:Edel Griffin, Louise McNamara, Catríona Connellan
Miltown:Catherine Shannon, Siobhán Lafferty, LorraineGriffin, Karen Egan, Deirdre Killeen (Capt.), Marie Killeen, Tara Glynn, Sandra Malone, Diane Kelly, Aoife Healy (0 – 7), Michelle McCaw (1 – 0), Edel Hynes, Niamh Coyne (0 – 1), Fíona Lafferty (1 – 1), Denise Griffin (0 – 1).
Dr. Paul McKenna
Secretary/PRO Banner Ladies Football Club