The footballers of Kilkerrin/Clonberne were far too strong for Corofin in the senior ladies' football final last weekend in Maigh Cuilinn, winning by 22 points on a whopping scoreline of 7-16 to 3-6.
The champions were expected to win. Known for their powerful running and overlap game, which regularly produces goals, Sunday was no exception. They started at a high tempo and scored directly from the throw-in, and added another from the kick-out which put them in the driving seat, and the writing was already on the wall for the Corofin women.
Kilkerrin/Clonberne have such a powerful spine in their team and Sarah Gormally, Lisa Gannon, Siobhan Divilly, team captain Louise Ward, Maeve Flanagan and full-forward Annette Clarke are hard to handle.
Add in county star Olivia Divilly, Aisling Walsh, the Noone sisters, Lynsey, Hannah and Eva, and it is clear why they have been the best team in the county for the past six years.
With goals from Olivia Divilly (2 ), Lynsey Noone (2 ) and other green flags from Eva Noone, Maeve Flanagan and Ailish Morrisey, they romped past a Corofin team that will be disappointed with its performance.
Claregalway had set up a sweeper system against the champions in the semi-final which had kept them at bay for a long period – and they only conceded two goals, but Corofin’s defence was not strong enough to keep the Kilkerrin forwards out and they could have run in a few more goals too if required.
Team manager Kevin Reidy was generous in his praise for the Kilkerrin/Clonberne squad after this win.
“It is my first year working with the girls, and they are a super group," he says. "They are very dedicated and really easy to work with. No matter what you ask, they apply themselves really well to the task and they are a credit to their club. They are a really grounded and level-headed group, and some of them have been the mainstays of the team over the past few years.”
Reidy, who is joined in the management team this season by Kieran Collins, Anne Marie Boyle, Freddie Gannon and John Boyle, is already looking forward to the Connacht championship where they will play Kilbride in Clonberne on Sunday week.
“They are a very ambitious group of players and they will be keen to get back training this week in order to give themselves a chance of having a good run in the provincial series and we will see how we go in that.”
Reidy was also keen to praise the pitch and other facilities at Maigh Cuilinn last weekend for the double header with Tuam Cortoon and St Brendan's.
“It was obvious Moycullen ladies football club had a lot of work done to host the games, and the pitch and grounds were in great shape. Well done to the people at the club who must have put a lot of work in to have the place looking in tip-top shape and all their effort was very much appreciated.”
