Galway's Kilkerrin/Clonberne have achieved a long-cherished ambition to qualify for the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies' Senior Club Championship final.
In producing a dominant 5-12 to 2-10 winning display over Foxrock-Cabinteely in Sunday's semi-final, they will now meet title holders Mourneabbey on Saturday November 23 in Parnell Park.
It was an historic victory for the ladies from east Galway who, having suffered the pain of three successive defeats at the semi-final stage, will contest the final for the first time.
The Galway champions were well on the way with a goal from Annette Clarke helping Kilkerrin/Clonberne to lead by 4-3 to 1-7 at the break. Manager Kevin Reidy is now looking forward to having a crack at the champions.
“We are delighted to finally get over the line, very happy," Reidy said. “Olivia [Divilly], Louise [Ward] and Ailish [Morrissey] wouldn’t be scoring unless they were being given the ball. I thought the team played very well and the girls finished the scores."
Kilkerrin/Clonberne were beaten in last year's semi-final by Mourneabbey, but Reidy says his players just "dusted" themselves down.
"We never talked about last year and we just took it one game at a time. Now we look forward to the final. This is the type of game you look forward to. It is going to be a very tough game for us, but we look forward to it.”
Two goals each from Louise Ward and Ailish Morrissey, in addition to nine points from Olivia Divilly helped Kilkerrin/Clonberne power past Foxrock-Cabinteely.
Divilly converted two early frees each side of an Amy Connolly effort, and then came the two goals in as many minutes which ensured Galway grabbed control.
Amy Connolly hit a point for the Dublin side before Katie McNally grabbed a goal for Foxrock-Cabinteely, but once again Kilkerrin/Clonberne responded with Ailish Morrissey powering through and slotting the ball to the net.
The Leinster champions hit three of the next four scores, but the Galway champs responded when Annette Clarke scored her side’s fourth goal.
It was really all over at the break as Kilkerrin/Clonberne led by 4-3 to 1-7 at the break. The sides exchanged scores at the start of the second-half before Louise Ward drove through the Foxrock-Cabinteely defence to score a goal.
Amy Ring converted a penalty to reduce her side’s deficit, but when Olivia Divilly led the way with three points and added two more frees, nothing could deny the Galway champions.
KILKERRIN/CLONBERNE: L Murphy; S Gormally; A Costello; S Fahy; C Dunleavy; N Ward; H Noone; L Ward; S Divilly; L Noone; O Divilly; C Miskell; A Morrissey; A Clarke; E Noone.Subs: C Boyle for L Noone (47 ); K Mee for Costello (59 ); S Fahy for Fahy (60 ); C Costello for Miskell (60 ).
