Clare are semi-final bound, overcoming Westmeath by six points as Fidelma Marrinan scored 2-9 in a player of the match display.

Antrim now await Clare, who made the semi-finals last year only to fall at the final hurdle, Wayne Freeman’s charges have been impressive this year, another strong display over a valiant Westmeath side, getting them into the final four.

Aoife Connolly scored 2-6, which kept Westmeath fighting in the tie, but for large spells of the game, Clare were in control after a lightning start and built on that into the second half.

The Banner started as they meant to go on, Ailsing Reidy with the opening score after three minutes, Chloe Moloney stuck to the net seconds later, before Marrinan hit two goals and a point, putting Clare in the driving seat 3-2 to no score after ten minutes.

Connolly got Westmeath on the board after 11 minutes, but Marrinan was quick to cancel out that score, but by the 20 minute mark, the Westmeath forward had three on the board for her side as they trailed by nine.

Marrinan made it ten with another fine score, but Westmeath hit back in the final ten minutes of the opening half, Connolly with a point and two quick goals, before Rachel Dillion added a point and Karen Hegarty hit the back of the net, putting Westmeath ahead, 3-5 to 3-4, but Marrinan at the end of the half added yet another point to level the tie at half time.

Like the first half it was Clare who came out the better, in a ten minute window they kicked five points to build a lead, Marrinan with four along with Amy Sexton chipping in with a point, Vicky Carr ended their wait for a score but Moloney was quick to cancel that out and keep it at a five point game.

Westmeath stayed pushing as Conollly got their next score, but it would be their last until stoppage time, Clare meanwhile in another burst of scoring, found their feet to control the tie and ensure their passage to the next round.

Cliodhna Blake, Reidy and two Marrinan points, giving them the numerical advantage, Connolly would add her sixth point in added time, but it was not to be as Clare now look forward to a semi-final in two weeks.

Clare booked their place in the Ladies Intermediate Championship knockout stages, as they came out 29 point winners over Wicklow in Ennis.

Two goals in each half really knocked the wind out of the sails for WIcklow, with Clare especially starting the second half with two goals in a matter of minutes.

Fidelma Marrinan notched 2-8, with Chloe Moloney scoring 1-3, while also setting up scores for her teammates, Aisling Reidy was the third Clare goal scorer, just a minute into the second half she fired home, the Banner women never looked troubled in the tie.

They started immediately on the front foot as Lizzy Roche popped over a point after two minutes, Marrinan then ghosted through for two unanswered goals for a 2-1 to no score lead after five minutes.

Marrnian then kicked three points in succession to push Clare further ahead, two Amy Sexton points had them cruising, 2-6 to no score after 17 minutes. The Clare forward could have netted a hat trick during that spell but opted to pass to Roche when a goal looked on but the chance came to nothing.

Helena Dowling ended Wicklow’s wait for a score just shy of the 20 minute mark as her and Roche exchanged points. Clare were still comfortable in the tie, Sarah Delahunt and Laci Jane Shannon both added points for Wicklow but Clare and their direct running, made it a tough day for the scorekeeper in Ennis, 2-11 to 0-3 at the break.

It was still full steam ahead for Clare into the second half, Chloe Moloney kicked 1-1 in the opening two minutes, with Reidy netting her goal, before Moloney sent a shot destined for a point over Ellen Griffin into the net.

Marie Kealy got Wicklow on the board after 37 minutes with a fine score from play, but her side were down 4-18 to 0-4 by the end of the third quarter, with Marrinan leading the charge to score some beautiful points.

Roche was another exceptional forward for Clare as she finished the day on four points, Marrinan kicked her seventh and eight point of the day late in the half, Wicklow kept fighting and Dowling pointed a late consolation, full of spirit they died with their boots on, Emma Healy put the cherry on top of the cake with the final score in added time.

Ciara McCarthy had a late goal chance saved by Griffin, but in the end it was eight different scorers for Clare, they now face Tyrone with both having gone through to the knockout stages, last year’s semi finalists do not look like a side expecting another heartbreak this season.