Venue:Kilmihil GAA Grounds Date: Saturday, October 7th Time: 4.30pm Contestants: The Banner Ladies .v. Cooraclare This unique pairing of The Banner Ladies of Ennis and West Clare supremos Cooraclare in the Clare Ladies County Senior Football championship final should result in an intriguing encounter in Kilmihil on Saturday 30th September. Some followers of the ladies game in Clare will be surprised to learn that this is the Ennis team's first ever senior final appearance but the same certainly cannot be said of championship specialists Cooraclare. Indeed The Banner Ladies are the surprise package of this year's championship as most pundits predicted a repeat of last year's showdown when Cooraclare failed narrowly to first time winners St. Joseph's Miltown. Cooraclare will no doubt view last year's surprise final result as a prime motivational factor in avoiding any complacency against the Ennis team on Saturday. Although going into the game again as strong favourites Cooraclare will be well aware that The Banner can be capable of matching any team in Clare if they hit form on the day. Their victories over Fergus Rovers and Miltown to date in this year's championship have demonstrated this. Team manager John Fennell and captain Eithne Morrissey will have their team well versed against any complacency against their Ennis rivals. When these teams met earlier in the round robin stages of the championship Cooraclare had a comprehensive 4 - 12 to 2 - 8 victory over The Banner. One should not read too much into this result however as The Banner were almost certain of their second round place at this stage and it was as must win game for Cooraclare. Still the girls from the West looked most impressive on the night and once they overcame the early Banner pressure they dominated in all sections of the field. Cooraclare will look to established county stars such as captain Eithne Morrissey, Tammy Hehir, Monica and Majella Lillis to show leadership on the day. These stalwarts of Clare football will be well supported by an emerging crop of young talent in the West Clare club such as the likes of Áine Pyne, Rachel Garry and Aífric O'Neill. Experienced players Niamh Chambers and Helen Quinn will also have a major influence on the day's proceedings. Despite their inexperience at this level The Banner will not be short of star hopefuls on the day. In their influential captain Louise Henchy they possess the best midfielder currently playing in Clare and I'm sure Cooraclare will pay special attention to curbing Henchy's influence on the game. However The Banner are more than a one woman team and current Clare panellists Niamh Keane, Sonya Maher, Emma O'Driscoll and Aoife Cavanagh will give the Cooraclare backroom team plenty to think about. The Banner will have former Galway Senior All Ireland medallist Michelle Delaney in their ranks so they won't be lacking in big match experience. Team manger Jim McMahon and his selectors will hope these girls don't disappoint and that they will play up to their potential on the day. On paper though Cooraclare appear to have the better balance all round. They also know what it takes to win a county championship and indeed a Munster championship (as they famously did in 1996 against the famed Ballymacarbry club of Waterford). With Eithne Morrissey in flying form this year and Tammy Hehir again returning to her best form they simply have too much strength in depth and superior firepower for The Banner young guns. The Ennis girls will be no pushovers though and if within striking distance of the favourites late in the game they could spring a surprise. All in all an exciting county final is in prospect on Saturday and a large attendance is expected at the Kilmihil venue. The winners on Saturday will progress to the Munster Intermediate championship and will be in action again the following weekend. While loath to give a prediction for Saturday's game I expect the Banner to be well in it up to half time but I feel Cooraclare will steal a march on their Ennis rivals in the second period and run out winners by three to four points. However it's all on the day and anything can happen. Dr. Paul McKenna, PRO Clare Ladies Football Board 086 - 6036385 Tweet

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