All Ireland LGFA Intermediate Championship semi-final
Clare 2-14 – 1-13 Antrim
Antrim Ladies brilliant run came to an end at in Longford on Sunday when they lost out by four points to Clare in the semi-final of the All Ireland Intermediate LGFA championship. In a season when the Saffrons won promotion out of Division 4 unbeaten and won the Ulster Intermediate Championship, plus topped their All Ireland group, this team can hold their heads high despite losing to a highly experienced Clare team, who play their league football in Division.
Early scores for Clare by All Star Chloe Maloney who fired over a point, and Aisling Reidy put Antrim on the back foot from the start the Banner girls pushed on to lead by eight after eight minutes. Antrim side showed great resilience to battle back and boosted by a goal from Maria O’Neill and a series of excellent points they drew level nearing half time. However Clare responded with two late points to gain the upper hand again and they went in at the break with a 1-9 to 1-7 lead.
The Munster girls increased their lead at the start of the second half and when Maloney added a second goal Antrim had a mountain to climb. Two points from Orlaith Prenter kept the Saffrons in touch and Lar Dahunsi produced a great run through the middle before firing over and cutting the deficit even further. Dahunsi worked another great opening but her shot for goal just rose over the Clare crossbar and the last chance to salvage the game was gone Grainne McLaughlin pulled another point back but Clare finished strongly to book their place in the All Ireland final in two weeks’ time.
Antrim: A McCann, D Coleman (57’), E Ferran, M Mulholland, O Corr, C Brown, S O’Neill, L Dahunsi 0-2, A Tubridy, G McLaughlin 0-2, C Carey 0-2, T Mellon 0-2, B Devlin, O Prenter 0-4 (2 frees), M O’Neill 1-1
Subs: A Devlin, T Mellon, A Keenan (57’), A Mulholland, C McKenna, C Taggart, A Taggart, L Agnew, C Emerson, R Mulholland, M McGarry, N McIntosh, B Nic Cahill, A Kelly, S Tennyson.
Clare: A Linehan, Á Keane, S Ní Chonaill, G Harvey, L Griffin (55’), C Harvey, S Considine, A Reidy 1-3, C Moloney 1-3 (1 free), L Ryan, F Marrinan 0-4 (2 frees), A Sexton (48’), L Grifey 0-1, C Blake 0-1, C Cahill
Subs: M Downes 0-1 (48’), J Doohan (55’), E Hynes, J Murphy, C McCormack, C Ryan, L Clarke, E Healy, O Devitt, R Doohan, S O’Gorman, C Ryan, C McCarthy
