Kilkerrin/Clonberne  0-13

Donaghmoyne  0-7

John McIntyre at Croke Park

NO team has laid a glove on them all year and that trend continued in the biggest game of all at a bitterly cold Croke Park on Saturday evening.

All-Ireland titles shouldn’t be won this easily. Afterall, it’s supposed to be the ultimate contest between the two best teams in the championship, but the brilliant ladies footballers of Kilkerrin/Clonberne are now on a different level to the rest.

Having achieved a historic championship breakthrough last January in Birr, Kilkerrin/ Clonberne have taken their game to a new level of excellence, and they possess all the qualities to remain at the top for at least several years to come.

Willie Ward’s charges lit up Croke Park with their exceptional skills, pace, and athleticism. Kilkerrin/Clonberne displayed their full range of talent again on Saturday, and if the champions’ finishing had matched their approach play, this decider would have turned into a rout.

As it was gallant Donaghmoyne – to the former kingpins’ credit they never gave up – were on the ropes for long periods and their three late unanswered scores to close the final deficit to six points gives a misleading impression of how a largely one-sided showdown unfolded.

Kilkerrin/Clonberne had the chances to win by twice as much, but that won’t bother them one iota after retaining the Dolores Tyrell Cup in the style of a team which has evolved into a slick, well-oiled machine and is streets ahead of everybody else.

The anticipation that the open expenses of Croke Park was tailor-made for Kilkerrin/ Clonberne was borne out as the team’s hard running, ball-carrying expertise and fleetness of foot had Donaghmoyne often chasing shadows. They were the strong pre-match favourites and how they revelled in that reputation.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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