Joanna Doohan happy to go on the defensive for Clare in Division 3 decider

After gradually coming to grips with the pressures and demands of the inter-county game during the past three years, 2024 has seen Kilmurry Ibrickane's Joanna Doohan establishing herself as a key figure for the Clare ladies footballers.

An All-Ireland Minor C Football Championship winner with the Banner County back in 2022, Doohan first sampled life in Clare’s adult ranks with substitute appearances against Kerry and Meath in Division 2 of the Lidl National Football League a year earlier.

While she did go on to start the occasional game across the two seasons that followed, it wasn’t until this year’s NFL Division 3 campaign that Doohan properly nailed down a starting spot for her native county.

With team captain Caoimhe Harvey relocated to a more advanced position, a place opened up at centre half-back in the Banner side.

Although she had mainly been used as either a midfielder or a half-forward previously, Doohan has made the number six jersey her own throughout this year's third tier.

She is set to fulfil this pivotal defensive role at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park in Birr today as Clare face off against Roscommon in a Lidl NFL Division 3 decider at 4pm.

"I’m delighted and honoured really to be playing in centre-back. It’s big shoes to fill. Caoimhe Harvey was there last year and she was very good for us. Big shoes to fill, but I’m enjoying it. The lads are very encouraging and all the girls are very encouraging as well. I’m really enjoying being part of the starting team this year," Doohan said of her 2024 to date.

Whereas Clare entered last year’s Division 3 showpiece against Kildare at Parnell Park needing a win in order to gain promotion to the second-tier of the NFL, a new structure ensures that both themselves and