Kilkerrin-Clonberne 0-13 Kilmacud Crokes 0-9
Kilkerrin-Clonberne were crowned senior All-Ireland champions for the fourth successive time as they defeated Kilmacud Crokes by four points at Croke Park.
In a repeat of last year’s epic semi-final contest, Kilkerrin-Clonberne were pushed all the way in an exciting encounter. After the match, manager Willie Ward said there is a never-ending desire within his squad to “prove that they’re the best”.
“They just love to prove that they’re the best all the time and they just love to win,” said Ward. “When you come to Croke Park, this is our third time here, why wouldn’t you want to come here? Why wouldn’t you want to win here and why wouldn’t you give absolutely everything you’ve got when you are here?”
“Our ability to mind the ball probably makes an awful difference in games. Particularly coming towards the end of a game when we’ve established a lead. We’re very good on the ball and very good at just not giving the opposition opportunities into the game,” added Ward.
Chloe Miskell kicked four points as her side held off a strong challenge from Kilmacud Crokes to claim the All-Ireland Senior Club Championship title. Miskell was aided by Olivia Divilly and Eva Noone as Ward’s imperious side reclaimed the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup in fine style.
In a lively start to the contest, Kilmacud Crokes’ Niamh Cotter scored a brace of points, only to be cancelled out by Kilkerrin-Clonberne duo Olivia Divilly and Miskell.
Despite Aillish Morrissey failing to dispatch a penalty in the 12th minute, Kilkerrin-Clonberne were unfazed. They cemented their foothold in the contest with unanswered points courtesy of Eva Noone, Miskell, Niamh Divilly and Louise Ward.
Cotter did all that she could to force her Crokes side into the tie, but the dynamic attacking duo of Miskell and Eva Noone found their range to leave Kilkerrin-Clonberne in a 0-8 to 0-4 lead at the break.
The Dublin champions did everything to force pressure on Kilkerrin-Clonberne, but the Galway side were unmoved. Miskell and Eva Noone traded scores with Aoife Kane and Cotter after the restart and when Crokes threw down the gauntlet towards the final-quarter, the reigning champions dug deep.
Olivia Divilly added another point to her tally in direct response to Cotter’s seventh of the game.
Kilkerrin-Clonberne shouldered the fightback to run out four-point winners and reclaim their crown.
Bennekerry/Tinryland 2-10 Annaghdown 1-7
Annaghdown’s spirited campaign ended in heartbreak at Croke Park as they were defeated 2-10 to 1-7 in the intermediate football final last Saturday.
Lauren Dwyer of Bennekery/Tinryland shot 0-4 as the Carlow champions saw off former champions Annaghdown to claim their first All-Ireland title. Annaghdown reduced the deficit in the closing stages with four consecutive scores, three of which came from from Ciara Hegarty. But it wasn’t enough as Bennekery/Tinryland ran out six-point victors.
Speaking post-match, Annaghdown manager Martin O’Neill said he was very proud of his side.
“It’s disappointing. Very proud of the team,” said O’Neill. “The game could easily have gone away from us, but in fairness to them, they stuck in there to the end and battled. Got it down to six points at the end. I’m very proud of the girls. They gave it everything on the day, it just wasn’t good enough.”
The contest began with a competitive opening, Bennekery/Tinryland flew out the traps with Cliodhna Ní Shé and Lauren Dwyer kicking unanswered scores. The Connacht champions settled themselves and flying wing-back Bronagh Quinn got them up and running with a fine white flag effort. The Tribeswomen then edged in front when Ciara McCarthy rifled a low shot to the opposition net just shy of the first-quarter mark.
A goal from Ní Shé meant that the Carlow side went into the interval 1-5 to 1-1 to the good.
