Preview Clontarf v St Brendan's
- Nov 15,2018
All Ireland Club Intermediate SF
Sunday November 18th, 1pm
St Brendan’s (Galway) v Clontarf (Dublin)
Venue: Dr Duggan Park, Ballinasloe
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo)
This Sunday, Dublin and Leinster club champions Clontarf head west for an All- Ireland semi-final meeting with St Brendan’s of Galway. Having finally shrugged the “runners up” title off their backs following a comprehensive victory over Cuala in this year’s County final, Clontarf are now one step away from booking their place in the Intermediate Club All-Ireland final.
The road to success has not been an easy route for the Dublin club, having lost three Intermediate County finals in a row before finally tasting success this year. In 2017 Clontarf endured a 7 point defeat to St Maurs having lost previously to Clanna Gael Fontenoy in 2016 and Parnells in 2015.
Manager, Mick Cronin and his fellow selectors have assembled a team which has an exciting blend of youth mixed with experience and to their credit the panel has blended well together this season which has been evident in their results to date. Between their Dublin and Leinster championship campaigns Clontarf have played a total of 9 fixtures with the winning margin in all bar one game on average 12+ points.
Seven players who started the 2017 County final versus St Maurs lined out against Naomh Ciaran in the recent Leinster final, they were Carrie O’Connor, Heather Bolger, Katie Murray, Hannah McLoughlin, Sarah Fagan, Sarah Murphy, Fiona Skelly and Caoimhe O’Connor.
Newcomers to the squad this season include Elaine Plunkett, Grace Reilly, Sisters Tara and Kate Fitzgibbon as well as former international senior soccer player, Siobhan Killeen.
It’s also great to see former Dublin minor and U21 All Ireland winner, Mags Mohan returning to club football following a number of serious knee injuries. While former Irish Rugby Captain, Fiona Coghlan is a great asset to have on your team bench.
Clontarf opponents St Brendan’s (Galway) have also been in impressive form notching up comprehensive victories in both their provincial semi-final and indeed final. They defeated St Nathy’s (Sligo) on a score line of 2-06 to 0-05 while trouncing Westport (Mayo) in the final by 6-07 to 0-03.
St Brendan’s won the Galway title following a replayed County final with Tuam/Cortoon which they won with 3 points to spare over their opponents at the second time of asking, FT score 2-10 to 2-07.
Key players for St Brendan’s are current senior Galway intercounty footballer Leann Walsh, seasoned campaigners Aine Gilmore, Rebecca McPhilbin and Nora Ward. While Linda Booth, Rebecca Conway and Maria Mitchell were part of the Galway minor squad which lost out to Cork in the 2017 All Ireland final.
The All Ireland club Intermediate championship was first contested back in 1999 and to date no Dublin club has lifted the cup. In 2006 an amalgamated Naomh Mearnog / St Sylvesters side lost out to Inch Rovers (Cork) while in the 2009 final St Brigids were pipped by a single point by Brian Boru’s (Tipperary) and most recently Thomas Davis lost to Claregalway (Galway) in the 2013 decider.
This Sunday’s encounter should be an enthralling contest between two very similar teams. The winner in Ballinasloe can look forward to a clash with either Aghabog (Monaghan) or Dunedin Connolly’s (Edinburgh) in the All Ireland final on December 8th next.
Clontarf panel 2018:
Aine Walsh, Aoibhe Bell, Aoife Crowley, Becky Walsh, Caoimhe O’Connor, Caroline Roban, Carrie O’Connor, Ciara Dunlea, Elaine Plunkett, Fidelma Cosgrave, Fiona Coghlan, Fiona Skelly, Grace Reilly, Hannah McLaughlin, Heather Bolger, Kate Fitzgibbon, Katie Murray, Margaret Mohan, Martina Coen, Niamh Hetherton, Niamh McNally, Roisin Troy, Sarah Fagan, Sarah Murphy, Sinead Quigley, Siobhan Killeen, Tara Fitzgibbon
Clontarf path to the All- Ireland Intermediate club semi-final:
Dublin championship:
Round 1: Clontarf 5-12 (27) Skerries Harps 2-06 (12)
Round 2: Clontarf 4-11(23) Cuala 1-06 (9)
Round 3: Clontarf 3-24 (33) Clann Mhuire 3-06 (15)
Semi-final: Clontarf 2-20 (26) Clann Mhuire 3-13 (22)
Final: Clontarf 6-15 (33) Cuala 4-06 (18)
Leinster championship:
Prem Rd: Clontarf 4-19 (31) Shanahoe (Laois) 1-05 (8)
Quarter final: Clontarf 1-16 (19) Carrickedmond 3-08 (17)
Semi-final: Clontarf 8-07 (31) Tinahely (Wicklow) 3-10 (19)
Final: Clontarf 5-12 (28) Naomh Ciaran (Offaly) 2-08 (14)
St Brendan’s panel 2018:
Aine Gilmore, Alex Murray, Alia Naughton, Amy Kilcommons, Andrea Quinn, Aoife McDonagh, Eimear Shaughnessy, Ellen Muldoon, Emma O’Malley, Hazel Hevehan, Iseult Daly, Laura Farrell, Laura Mulrooney, Leann Walsh, Liaden Greally, Linda Booth, Lucia Daly, Maria Mitchell, Michelle Delaney, Michelle Doyle, Niamh Lohan, Nicola Fahy, Nora Ward, Rebecca Conway, Rebecca McPhilbin, Ria Conneally, Sarah Kelly, Sinead Flynn, Sinead Kelly, Sinead Langan
St Brendan’s path to the All- Ireland Intermediate club semi-final:
Galway championship:
Quarter final: St Brendan’s 2-15(21) Menlough / Skehana 0-10 (10)
Semi-final: St Brendan’s 5-12 (27) Clonbur (0-06(6)
Final: St Brendan’s 2-03 (9) Tuam / Cortoon 1-06(9)
Final replay: St Brendan’s 2-10 (16) Tuam / Cortoon 2-07(13)
Connacht championship:
Semi-final: St Brendan’s 2-06 (12) St Nathy’s (Sligo) 0-05 (5)
Final: St Brendan’s 6-07(25) Westport (Mayo) 0-05(5)