By Cóilín Duffy

CLAREGALWAY ladies footballers achieved just their second ever Senior success at All-Ireland Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in the Muskerry Gaeltacht in Cork on Monday.

Iarla Ó Braonain’s charges were the only Galway club to take silverware over the weekend, with their men’s counterparts in Naomh Anna Leitir Mór contesting their first senior final since 1975, but ultimately Donegal side Kilcar claimed the silverware.

Elsewhere, Naomh Anna’s ladies footballers were also in action, but lost the Intermediate semi-final on Saturday by 2-6 to 0-8 to Donegal’s Naomh Conaill.

Micheál Breatnach ladies footballers contested the Junior competition, losing to eventual winners Clann na nGael from Meath by 3-10 to 3-4 in the quarter-finals.

In the Junior men’s competition Cárna Caiseal were the Galway representatives, but they bowed out to eventual winners Naomh Mhuire from Donegal by 3-13 to 0-7 in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Carna Caiseal’s Ríona Ní Chuirrín won the Cailín Gaelach competition.

Claregalway 3-9

Termon (Donegal) 1-8

A brace of goals early in the final quarter, including one from top-scorer Andrea Trill (2-5) were vital for Claregalway as they won the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Senior Ladies Football title for just the second time in their history, and the first time since 2017 in Kilnamartyra in Cork on Monday.

Termon opened the scoring with an early pointed free from Gearoidín Nic Lochlainn, with Claregalway having a couple of missed chances before Andrea Trill got them off the mark in the fifth minute.

Trill put Claregalway ahead for the first time in the sixth minute, but Ciara Ní Gharbhaigh equalised for Termon. This was a very tight opening half, and indeed the sides were level at 0-5 apiece at half-time, with Nic Lochlainn scoring all bar one point of Termon’s tally at that stage – Chellene Trill, Eabha Ní Riordáin and Cianna Ní Riada contributing the Claregalway’s scores.

Pictured: The Claregalway senior ladies football team which won the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta title in Muskerry (Co Cork) on Monday. Back row, left to right: Runy Ní Dhuagáin, Cianna Ní Riada, Chloe Ní Fhlatharta, Cáit Ní Shléibhín, Éarna Nic Chaochlaoich, Hannah Ni Chomhghain, Laura Ní Fhloinn, Caitlín Ní Chearnaigh, Karen Ni Dhubhda, Seána Ni Chonaill, Shannon Ní Chonaill, Zoe Ni Dhuagáin, Ruby Ní Cuinn, Aoife Ní Choileáin. Front row: Andrea Trill, Aoife Nic Philib, Aoibhe Ni Fhloinn, Éarna Ní Giolla Bhuidhe, Eabha Ni Bhraonáin, Deirdre Ní Bhraonáin, Eimile Nic Gabhainn, Louise Ni Fhágáin, Clodagh Crowley, Hazel Shevlin, Eabha Ní Riordáin, Megan Ni Fhlatharta, Chellene Trill.