REIGNING AIB ALL-IRELAND champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne made more entries into their history-making era in Tuam Stadium as they ran out eight-point victors for a record-breaking ninth consecutive Connacht senior ladies football title.
Louise Ward’s goal after just three minutes was crucial in giving the Galway side a lead they never relinquished as the reigning All-Ireland champions brought their unbeaten run to 60 games, while also winning provincial silverware in their home county for the first time.
The final scoreline didn’t do credit to Knockmore’s efforts who took the challenge to Kilkerrin-Clonberne and halved an interval deficit before their opponents’ experience eventually told, in probably the best Connacht final this decade.
In perfect conditions, Knockmore made a statement of intent with Amy O’Connor pointing in the opening minute, but Kilkerrin-Clonberne hit back with the major. Player of the match Eva Noone found captain Ward for their goal.
Willie Ward’s side seized the initiative with six unanswered points through Olivia Divilly (5) and Noone to lead 1-6 to 0-1. But Knockmore’s deficit could have been much less had keeper Lisa Murphy and Nicola Ward not produced a double stop from O’Connor.
The score was 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time as after Shauna Howley and O’Connor ended Knockmore’s drought, Noone and Divilly left eight between them.
The Mayo champions refused to yield and came out attacking upon the restart. A four player move broke down after just 20 seconds, but they did reduce arrears to 1-9 to 1-5 by the 37th minute.
Reape and Lara Sweeney landed points either side of the goal of the game as Howley spotted a gap despite the attention of five defenders to rattle the net.
Kilkerrin-Clonberne manager Willie Ward. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Noone got the Kilkerrin-Clonberne score and played a major role in them regaining momentum. Nicola Ward and Niamh Divilly (2) made it 1-12 to 1-5 before Nicola Ward was denied a second goal by the crossbar.
Niamh Divilly and Noone continued troubling the umpires either side of Howley. Sweeney and Olivia Divilly concluded their respective teams’ totals as Kilkerrin-Clonberne ensured their place in an All-Ireland semi-final in three weeks.
Scorers for Kilkerrin-Clonberne: O Divilly 0-7 (3f); E Noone 0-4; L Ward 1-0; N Divilly 0-3; N Ward 0-1.
Scorers for Knockmore: S Howley 1-2 (1f); A O’Connor, L Sweeney 0-2 each; H Reape 0-1.
Kilkerrin-Clonberne: L Murphy; K Mee, S Gormally, L Finnegan; H Noone, N Ward, C Costello; S Divilly, N Divilly; O Divilly, L Ward, A Madden; E Noone, A Morrissey, L Noone.
Subs: C Boyle for L Noone (50), Aoibhin Madden for Finnegan (54).
Knockmore: G Naughton; C Bourke, E Hughes, S Kelly; E Reape, R Flynn, N McVann; S Mulvihill, C Keane; C Durkan, H Reape, C Flynn; A O’Connor, S Howley, L Sweeney.
Subs: M Traynor for Flynn (28), M Breslin for Durkan (54), E Coleman for Howley (57), Howley for McVann (63), Á Clarke for Sweeney (63).
Referee: J Niland (Sligo).
*****
Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) 1- 8
St Ergnats, Moneyglass (Antrim) 1-3
Five points from corner forward Cathriona Murnaghan and a Player of the Match performance from Rosie Courtney helped Donaghmoyne to their 15th Ulster AIB SFC club title against St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass.
The Monaghan champions were dealt a severe blow in the 8th minute when Amy Garland had to go off with a serious knee injury.
The first score of the game didn’t arrive until the 16th minute, a goal from the lively Leah Stewart for the Antrim side.
Cliona Griffin had done all the hard work, driving up the right wing and when she was challenged by the Donaghmoyne defence she slipped the ball low into space and Stewart side footed it to the bottom corner.
In the 21st minute Moneyglass had Sarah O’Neill sin-binned and from then until the half-time whistle Donaghmoyne dominated. Murnaghan and Maria O’Neill traded points before the Farney champions hit 1-3 without reply, the goal an unstoppable shot from Rosie Courtney to lead by 1-4 to 1-1 at the break.
Rosemarie Courtney (file photo). Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
With the first attack of the second half Moneyglass should have found the net, but Laura McCann sliced her effort wide.
Lauren Garland extended Donaghmoyne’s lead with a nice point, but it was quickly cancelled with an effort from Ruby McErlain.
Sharon Courtney then saw yellow and while off the field Moneyglass failed to capitalise and instead Cathriona Murnaghan fired over a couple of frees. Donaghmoyne were reduced to 13 in the 43rd minute when Maeve Smyth picked up a red card.
In the final quarter Prenter and Garland exchanged points and with time running out Moneyglass were thrown a lifeline with a penalty but Orlaith Prenter shot wide.
Scorers for Donaghmoyne: C Murnaghan 0-5, R Courtney 1-1 and L Garland 0-2.
Scorers for St Ergnats, Moneyglass: L Stewart 1-0, M O’Neill, R McErlain and O Prenter 0-1 each.
Donaghmoyne: L Martin; A Callan, F Courtney, G Cumiskey; E Traynor, S Courtney, R McCarthy; R Courtney, M Smith; A Burns, C Courtney, A Garland; C Murnaghan, L Garland, N Kerley.
Sub: H Kingham for A Garland.
St. Ergnats, Moneyglass: A Devlin; A Leahy, N McIntosh, Caitlin Griffin; R Bradley, E McAreavey, Cliona Griffin; L Cassidy, S O’Neill; L Stewart, M O’Neill, L McCann; R McErlain, C Carey, O Prenter.
Sub: A Boyd for R McErlain.
Referee: P Conway (Armagh).
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*****
Aghada (Cork) 2-13
Gaultier (Waterford) 2-13
(After extra-time)
By Anthony Newman
A LAST MINUTE two-pointer free from Roisin Phelan means Aghada and Gaultier will have to meet again as they finished level in their AIB Munster SFC club championship final clash at Mallow.
Gaultier looked like they had done enough to win it, before Phelan came up with a huge score to see it end level and go to a replay.
Aghada started the brighter of the two sides and were in on goal in the first minute, when Mary Leahy played Abigail Ring in. But the Gaultier keeper, Grace Geraghty, managed to get her fingertips to the ball and clear the danger.
Gaultier took the lead after four minutes when one of their Waterford inter-county players, Annie Fitzgerald, pointed.
Aghada had another goal chance after five minutes but again Geraghty came to her side’s rescue, this time denying Clare Walsh.
Rachel Leahy got Aghada’s first point to see the sides level, before Clodagh Carroll put the Waterford champions back in front.
Aghada then had their keeper, Sarah Walsh, to thank as she denied Katie Desmond a goal, to see it remain 0-2 to 0-1.
Emma Fitzgerald pointed for Gaultier before we had the game’s first goal.
Brianna Smith burst through the Gaultier defence to fire an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net, to make it 1-1 to 0-3.
A free from Emma Fitzgerald had the sides level, before Gaultier had Geraghty to thank again, this time denying Mary Leahy.
Fitzgerald put her side back in front, before Abigail Ring equalised from a free. From the restart Rachel Leahy got her second point, to make it 1-3 to 0-5 after 21 minutes.
Again, Gaultier responded, with Annie Fitzgerald and Roisin Kirwan scoring to restore their lead, 0-7 to 1-3.
Just before the half-time whistle Aghada had one last attack, with Roisin Phelan playing Kaitlin Smith in. But she was fouled by Erin Butler and the referee had no hesitation in awarding Aghada a penalty.
Phelan stepped up to slot home to see the Cork side lead by 2-3 to 0-7 at half time.
Butler was also sin-binned for the tackle which saw Gaultier play the first 10 minutes of the second half down a player.
PHELAN CONVERTS THE PENALTY 🎯
Roisin Phelan makes no mistake with her penalty and @AghadaLGFA now lead by 2 in the @MunsterLGFA senior final 🔥⚡
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Ring got the first score of the second half, when she pointed a free after 33 minutes, to put three between the sides, 2-4 to 0-7.
Leahy added another for Aghada, with Ali Ferguson replying for Gaultier.
Ring was on target again, with Emma Fitzgerald keeping her side in the game with a point at the other end.
Phelan made it 2-7 to 0-9 before Gaultier were back in contention.
Emma Fitzgerald set up Aoife Power to goal to put a point between the sides and with 42 minutes gone the former scored from a free to level it, 2-7 to 1-10.
Emma Farmer, just on as a sub, pointed for Aghada, with Leahy and Kaitlin Smith also scoring to put three between them again, 2-10 to 1-10.
But with 54 minutes gone Gaultier were back on level terms when Annie Fitzgerald scored a top-class goal and all to pay for in the final few minutes.
Emma Fitzgerald put Gaultier in front, with three minutes remaining and she set up Power to point as the Waterford side took a two point lead with minutes remaining.
Another free from Fitzgerald made it a three point lead, before Ring pulled a point back for Aghada.
With the last shot of the game, Phelan hit a two-pointer to what looked like would take it to extra-time.
But with the fog coming in the referee deemed it unsafe to play extra-time and it is now going to a replay.
Details of the replay will be announced in the coming days but with Gaultier in the Munster camogie final next weekend it adds a complication to that.
Scorers for Aghada: R Phelan 1-3 (1-0 pen, 1 2pt), B Smith 1-0, A Ring (2f), R Leahy 0-4 each, E Farmer, K Smith 0-1 each.
Scorers for Gaultier: A Fitzgerald 1-2, E Fitzgerald 0-7 (3f), A Power 1-1, C Carroll, R Kirwan, A Ferguson 0-1 each.
AGHADA: S Walsh; K O’Farrell, S McAllister, M McRae; A Coughlan, Y Burgoyne, A Smith; R Phelan, S Leahy; M Leahy, R Leahy, B Smith; A Ring, C Walsh, K Smith.
Subs: E Farmer for A Smith (39), A Cooper for Y Burgoyne (46),
GAULTIER: G Geraghty; M De Poar, S Fitzgerald, E Butler; A O’Sullivan, C Carroll, E Campbell; A Ferguson, A Power; R Kirwan, M Sheridan, A Fitzgerald; M Comerford, E Fitzgerald, K Desmond.
Subs: C Flynn for R Kirwan (51), A Desmond for A Ferguson (58), C Cahill for M Sheridan (60),
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60 not out: All-Ireland champs Kilkerrin-Clonberne win record ninth consecutive Connacht title
Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) 1-15
Knockmore (Mayo) 1-7
By Darren Kelly
REIGNING AIB ALL-IRELAND champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne made more entries into their history-making era in Tuam Stadium as they ran out eight-point victors for a record-breaking ninth consecutive Connacht senior ladies football title.
Louise Ward’s goal after just three minutes was crucial in giving the Galway side a lead they never relinquished as the reigning All-Ireland champions brought their unbeaten run to 60 games, while also winning provincial silverware in their home county for the first time.
The final scoreline didn’t do credit to Knockmore’s efforts who took the challenge to Kilkerrin-Clonberne and halved an interval deficit before their opponents’ experience eventually told, in probably the best Connacht final this decade.
In perfect conditions, Knockmore made a statement of intent with Amy O’Connor pointing in the opening minute, but Kilkerrin-Clonberne hit back with the major. Player of the match Eva Noone found captain Ward for their goal.
Willie Ward’s side seized the initiative with six unanswered points through Olivia Divilly (5) and Noone to lead 1-6 to 0-1. But Knockmore’s deficit could have been much less had keeper Lisa Murphy and Nicola Ward not produced a double stop from O’Connor.
The score was 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time as after Shauna Howley and O’Connor ended Knockmore’s drought, Noone and Divilly left eight between them.
The Mayo champions refused to yield and came out attacking upon the restart. A four player move broke down after just 20 seconds, but they did reduce arrears to 1-9 to 1-5 by the 37th minute.
Reape and Lara Sweeney landed points either side of the goal of the game as Howley spotted a gap despite the attention of five defenders to rattle the net.
Noone got the Kilkerrin-Clonberne score and played a major role in them regaining momentum. Nicola Ward and Niamh Divilly (2) made it 1-12 to 1-5 before Nicola Ward was denied a second goal by the crossbar.
Niamh Divilly and Noone continued troubling the umpires either side of Howley. Sweeney and Olivia Divilly concluded their respective teams’ totals as Kilkerrin-Clonberne ensured their place in an All-Ireland semi-final in three weeks.
Scorers for Kilkerrin-Clonberne: O Divilly 0-7 (3f); E Noone 0-4; L Ward 1-0; N Divilly 0-3; N Ward 0-1.
Scorers for Knockmore: S Howley 1-2 (1f); A O’Connor, L Sweeney 0-2 each; H Reape 0-1.
Kilkerrin-Clonberne: L Murphy; K Mee, S Gormally, L Finnegan; H Noone, N Ward, C Costello; S Divilly, N Divilly; O Divilly, L Ward, A Madden; E Noone, A Morrissey, L Noone.
Subs: C Boyle for L Noone (50), Aoibhin Madden for Finnegan (54).
Knockmore: G Naughton; C Bourke, E Hughes, S Kelly; E Reape, R Flynn, N McVann; S Mulvihill, C Keane; C Durkan, H Reape, C Flynn; A O’Connor, S Howley, L Sweeney.
Subs: M Traynor for Flynn (28), M Breslin for Durkan (54), E Coleman for Howley (57), Howley for McVann (63), Á Clarke for Sweeney (63).
Referee: J Niland (Sligo).
*****
Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) 1- 8
St Ergnats, Moneyglass (Antrim) 1-3
Five points from corner forward Cathriona Murnaghan and a Player of the Match performance from Rosie Courtney helped Donaghmoyne to their 15th Ulster AIB SFC club title against St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass.
The Monaghan champions were dealt a severe blow in the 8th minute when Amy Garland had to go off with a serious knee injury.
The first score of the game didn’t arrive until the 16th minute, a goal from the lively Leah Stewart for the Antrim side.
Cliona Griffin had done all the hard work, driving up the right wing and when she was challenged by the Donaghmoyne defence she slipped the ball low into space and Stewart side footed it to the bottom corner.
In the 21st minute Moneyglass had Sarah O’Neill sin-binned and from then until the half-time whistle Donaghmoyne dominated. Murnaghan and Maria O’Neill traded points before the Farney champions hit 1-3 without reply, the goal an unstoppable shot from Rosie Courtney to lead by 1-4 to 1-1 at the break.
With the first attack of the second half Moneyglass should have found the net, but Laura McCann sliced her effort wide.
Lauren Garland extended Donaghmoyne’s lead with a nice point, but it was quickly cancelled with an effort from Ruby McErlain.
Sharon Courtney then saw yellow and while off the field Moneyglass failed to capitalise and instead Cathriona Murnaghan fired over a couple of frees. Donaghmoyne were reduced to 13 in the 43rd minute when Maeve Smyth picked up a red card.
In the final quarter Prenter and Garland exchanged points and with time running out Moneyglass were thrown a lifeline with a penalty but Orlaith Prenter shot wide.
Scorers for Donaghmoyne: C Murnaghan 0-5, R Courtney 1-1 and L Garland 0-2.
Scorers for St Ergnats, Moneyglass: L Stewart 1-0, M O’Neill, R McErlain and O Prenter 0-1 each.
Donaghmoyne: L Martin; A Callan, F Courtney, G Cumiskey; E Traynor, S Courtney, R McCarthy; R Courtney, M Smith; A Burns, C Courtney, A Garland; C Murnaghan, L Garland, N Kerley.
Sub: H Kingham for A Garland.
St. Ergnats, Moneyglass: A Devlin; A Leahy, N McIntosh, Caitlin Griffin; R Bradley, E McAreavey, Cliona Griffin; L Cassidy, S O’Neill; L Stewart, M O’Neill, L McCann; R McErlain, C Carey, O Prenter.
Sub: A Boyd for R McErlain.
Referee: P Conway (Armagh).
*****
Aghada (Cork) 2-13
Gaultier (Waterford) 2-13
(After extra-time)
By Anthony Newman
A LAST MINUTE two-pointer free from Roisin Phelan means Aghada and Gaultier will have to meet again as they finished level in their AIB Munster SFC club championship final clash at Mallow.
Gaultier looked like they had done enough to win it, before Phelan came up with a huge score to see it end level and go to a replay.
Aghada started the brighter of the two sides and were in on goal in the first minute, when Mary Leahy played Abigail Ring in. But the Gaultier keeper, Grace Geraghty, managed to get her fingertips to the ball and clear the danger.
Gaultier took the lead after four minutes when one of their Waterford inter-county players, Annie Fitzgerald, pointed.
Aghada had another goal chance after five minutes but again Geraghty came to her side’s rescue, this time denying Clare Walsh.
Rachel Leahy got Aghada’s first point to see the sides level, before Clodagh Carroll put the Waterford champions back in front.
Aghada then had their keeper, Sarah Walsh, to thank as she denied Katie Desmond a goal, to see it remain 0-2 to 0-1.
Emma Fitzgerald pointed for Gaultier before we had the game’s first goal.
Brianna Smith burst through the Gaultier defence to fire an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net, to make it 1-1 to 0-3.
A free from Emma Fitzgerald had the sides level, before Gaultier had Geraghty to thank again, this time denying Mary Leahy.
Fitzgerald put her side back in front, before Abigail Ring equalised from a free. From the restart Rachel Leahy got her second point, to make it 1-3 to 0-5 after 21 minutes.
Again, Gaultier responded, with Annie Fitzgerald and Roisin Kirwan scoring to restore their lead, 0-7 to 1-3.
Just before the half-time whistle Aghada had one last attack, with Roisin Phelan playing Kaitlin Smith in. But she was fouled by Erin Butler and the referee had no hesitation in awarding Aghada a penalty.
Phelan stepped up to slot home to see the Cork side lead by 2-3 to 0-7 at half time.
Butler was also sin-binned for the tackle which saw Gaultier play the first 10 minutes of the second half down a player.
Ring got the first score of the second half, when she pointed a free after 33 minutes, to put three between the sides, 2-4 to 0-7.
Leahy added another for Aghada, with Ali Ferguson replying for Gaultier.
Ring was on target again, with Emma Fitzgerald keeping her side in the game with a point at the other end.
Phelan made it 2-7 to 0-9 before Gaultier were back in contention.
Emma Fitzgerald set up Aoife Power to goal to put a point between the sides and with 42 minutes gone the former scored from a free to level it, 2-7 to 1-10.
Emma Farmer, just on as a sub, pointed for Aghada, with Leahy and Kaitlin Smith also scoring to put three between them again, 2-10 to 1-10.
But with 54 minutes gone Gaultier were back on level terms when Annie Fitzgerald scored a top-class goal and all to pay for in the final few minutes.
Emma Fitzgerald put Gaultier in front, with three minutes remaining and she set up Power to point as the Waterford side took a two point lead with minutes remaining.
Another free from Fitzgerald made it a three point lead, before Ring pulled a point back for Aghada.
With the last shot of the game, Phelan hit a two-pointer to what looked like would take it to extra-time.
But with the fog coming in the referee deemed it unsafe to play extra-time and it is now going to a replay.
Details of the replay will be announced in the coming days but with Gaultier in the Munster camogie final next weekend it adds a complication to that.
Scorers for Aghada: R Phelan 1-3 (1-0 pen, 1 2pt), B Smith 1-0, A Ring (2f), R Leahy 0-4 each, E Farmer, K Smith 0-1 each.
Scorers for Gaultier: A Fitzgerald 1-2, E Fitzgerald 0-7 (3f), A Power 1-1, C Carroll, R Kirwan, A Ferguson 0-1 each.
AGHADA: S Walsh; K O’Farrell, S McAllister, M McRae; A Coughlan, Y Burgoyne, A Smith; R Phelan, S Leahy; M Leahy, R Leahy, B Smith; A Ring, C Walsh, K Smith.
Subs: E Farmer for A Smith (39), A Cooper for Y Burgoyne (46),
GAULTIER: G Geraghty; M De Poar, S Fitzgerald, E Butler; A O’Sullivan, C Carroll, E Campbell; A Ferguson, A Power; R Kirwan, M Sheridan, A Fitzgerald; M Comerford, E Fitzgerald, K Desmond.
Subs: C Flynn for R Kirwan (51), A Desmond for A Ferguson (58), C Cahill for M Sheridan (60),
Referee: John Purcell (Kerry).
*****
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