Peerless champions power to a twelfth title on the trot

Claregalway 0-3

By Stephen Glennon at Tuam Stadium

A couple of new faces, but still the same old story as reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne dismissed their great rivals Claregalway with an accomplished second half display in the county senior ladies football final at Tuam Stadium on Sunday.

This was Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s 12th consecutive senior title – many won at the expense of Claregalway – and there does not appear to be any sign of this dominance abating, despite changes in personnel this year.

Absent from last year’s county final winning line-up were Claire Dunleavy and Lisa Gannon-Finnegan, who was still in attendance supporting her team-mates, and yet despite missing these two influential players, others such as young midfielder Aisling Madden stepped into the breach.

“We had new players in there, playing in their first county final, and we are very happy with them. It was a big day for them, remarked manager Willie Ward afterwards. “There are changes every year. Every year someone goes and someone new steps up – and we have a few more waiting for their chance as well. Some other time, some other year, they will be coming through.”

Going on the evidence of their second half display, in which they held Claregalway scoreless, it is a scary thought. Their appetite, though, is insatiable, underlined by the sheer delight shown by the Kilkerrin-Clonberne players and management at the final whistle. It emphasised their unrelenting pursuit of perfection.

“Every one of them (title wins) are all important,” said Ward. “They should all be celebrated, because we won’t always be winning these. It is a big thing to be doing what we are doing, and it is important to celebrate as well.”

While perennial bridesmaids Claregalway were still in the hunt at half-time – trailing by just three points, 0-3 to 0-6, despite being assisted by the wind in the opening period – once Kilkerrin-Clonberne got into their stride in the second half they were not for stopping.

“They (Claregalway) came out hard in the first half, they had the wind, and they tried hard, testing us and pushing us all around the field,” said Ward. “So, we were happy enough to be going in at half-time three points up. We knew with the wind at our backs, we’d have it a little bit easier after the break, where they probably ran out of legs towards the end.”

Pictured: Ger Lyons, proprietor of the  Galleon Restaurant, Salthill (sponsors) presenting the Senior Championship Cup to Kilkerrin/Clonberne joint captain Louise Ward and Sarah Gormally after their victory over Claregalway at Tuam Stadium on Sunday.