Clinical Kilkerrin-Clonberne end club’s semis heartache
Kilkerrin Clonberne 5-12
Foxrock Cabinteely 2-10
Pádraic Ó Ciardha in Bekan
KILKERRIN-Clonberne weren’t going to let this one slip away. After falling at the semi-final stage three times in the last five years, the Galway side channeled that hurt into a brilliant performance against Foxrock-Cabinteely last Sunday as they now prepare for their first ever All-Ireland senior final appearance.
Kevin Reidy’s side gave an exhibition as they led from pillar to post to see off the south Dublin powerhouse. Winners of the last five Leinster titles, Foxrock-Cabinteely had no answer to Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s industry, determination and accuracy.
The Galway and Connacht champions kicked just one wide in the 60 minutes and matched that efficiency in attack with a phenomenal workrate. The team have a fantastic balance of youth and experience, and with their top players all in fantastic form, Kilkerrin-Clonberne will be full of confidence heading into the All-Ireland final when they will face defending champions Mourneabbey of Cork.
It was Kilkerrin-Clonberne who kicked the first score of this semi-final in Bekan when Olivia Divilly tapped over a free inside the first couple of minutes. Amy Connolly got Foxrock-Cabinteely off the mark not long after and while the Dublin side’s defence – led by All-Ireland winner Niamh Collins – coped well with the counterparts in the early stages, it wasn’t long until Kilkerrin-Clonberne showed their cutting edge.
With eight minutes on the clock, Aisling Costello and Siobhan Fahy, who were superb in the full back line alongside Sarah Gormally, exchanged passes down the left wing before Annette Clarke picked up possession. The former Galway star picked out her partner in the full forward line, Ailisih Morrissey, and Morrissey showed great strength to shrug off a tackle before firing a rocket across goal and into the top left corner.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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