Killimor are out on their own

Killimor 3-18 Inniscarra 1-4

Eoghan Cormican At Croke Park

FOUR days on from their heroic endeavours at Croke Park and the Killimor senior camogie team are probably still coming to terms with their newly acclaimed status as the ‘best in the land’. They might as well get used of it because if Sunday was anything to go by, they could well be wearing that tag for some time to come.

All in all, Killimor were a class removed on Sunday. In front of a crowd numbering 4,724 Tommy Callagy’s charges, at the first time of time of asking, annexed the Bill Carroll Cup and in doing so joined an elite group that includes Athenry, Mullagh, Oranmore and Pearses.

Indeed Killimor, who only captured a first county title less than six months ago, delivered the ultimate all round team performance to comprehensively dismiss the Inniscarra challenge with player of the match Susan Keane shooting four memorable points from play. Incredibly, by the 36th minute, Killimor’s entire forward division had

scored from play. Even at that stage, the contents of the bonfires were already being assembled down Tiernascragh and Raheen way as Killimor enjoyed a 2-4 to 0-1 interval advantage.

It became apparent from very early on that this would be a case of not would Killimor do it rather by how much would they do it. In the end, they were every bit deserving of their 20-point winning margin against a disconsolate Inniscarra outfit.

Remarkably, all six Inniscarra forwards were held scoreless in the first period and it was not until the 34th minute when wing back Emma Kingston, redeployed at corner forward, registered their first point from play. In contrast, Killimor could do no wrong in front of goal and there were magnificent showings from Martina Conroy (1-6), Brenda Hanney (0-4) and Emer Haverty (0-2).

Few envisaged the East Galway side reproducing anything remotely akin to their semi-final heroics, but not alone did they match the dizzy heights reached in edging out Oulart the Ballagh in last month’s epic tussle, they went further into the skies to produce arguably the greatest performance by a Galway club side in the history of the small ball game.

Few mistakes, if any, were made on Sunday. It was truly exhibitional stuff from the women donning the black and amber. They played camogie in its purest form and it was breathtaking to behold. For that, the management team headed by Tommy Callagy and trainer Bertie Sherlock deserve tremendous plaudits.

A team who came agonisingly close on so many occasions to capturing the County Cup needed only one opportunity to confirm their supremacy on the All Ireland stage. Pearses – perhaps, the greatest club camogie team of all time – claimed five All Ireland club titles in seven years and while it may be premature to forecast such success for Killimor, there is certainly more in the tank of a team whose average age is just twenty-two.

In any event, with the mantle of favourites resting heavily upon their shoulders, Killimor showed no early nerves in a blistering opening spell where they illuminated Croke Park displaying no little pace, power and precision. Consequently, by the 7th minute, they led 0-4 to 0-0, with Claire Conroy, Susan Keane and Martina Conroy (free and ’45) all finding the target.

On the quarter hour, Killimor forged further ahead as Helen Quinn struck the game’s first goal. Susan Keane’s initial effort came back of the post with Quinn reacting quickest to spark scenes of jubilation amongst their following in the Hogan Stand.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.