Door finally opens for Clare

CLARE ladies have been knocking on the door of the senior grade for four years now and they finally let themselves in yesterday after withstanding a second-half comeback from Fermanagh.

Last year, the Banner came to Croke Park as strong favourites, but a disappointing second-half, where they failed to score for the last 19 minutes, allowed Tipp to take the honours.

The previous two seasons had seen their hopes extinguished at the semi-final stage so it was little wonder their greater experience told when push came to shove against a green Ulster outfit. “You start off playing football to be here and to win is all that matters,” said Eimear Considine, the young minor star who was the obvious choice for the player of the match award. “You start off when you are seven, eight or nine and you want to be in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day and when you are here you don’t want to let it slip.”