PICTURES: Kilkerrin Clonberne celebrate ninth Connacht title in-a-row

Louise Ward’s goal after just three minutes was crucial in giving the Galway side a lead they never relinquished as the reigning All-Ireland champions brought their unbeaten run to 60 games, while also winning provincial silverware in their home county for the first time.

The final scoreline didn’t do credit to Knockmore’s efforts who took the challenge to Kilkerrin-Clonberne and halved an interval deficit before their opponents’ experience eventually told, in probably the best Connacht final this decade.

In perfect conditions, Knockmore made a statement of intent with Amy O’Connor pointing in the opening minute, but Kilkerrin-Clonberne hit back with the major. Player of the match Eva Noone found captain Ward for their goal.

Willie Ward’s side seized the initiative with six unanswered points through Olivia Divilly (5) and Noone to lead 1-6 to 0-1. But Knockmore’s deficit could have been much less had keeper Lisa Murphy and Nicola Ward not produced a double stop from O’Connor.

The score was 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time as after Shauna Howley and O’Connor ended Knockmore’s drought, Noone and Divilly left eight between them.

The Mayo champions refused to yield and came out attacking upon the restart. A four player move broke down after just 20 seconds, but they did reduce arrears to 1-9 to 1-5 by the 37th minute.

Reape and Lara Sweeney landed points either side of the goal of the game as Howley spotted a gap despite the attention of five defenders to rattle the net.

Noone got the Kilkerrin-Clonberne score and played a major role in them regaining momentum. Nicola Ward and Niamh Divilly (2) made it 1-12 to 1-5 before Nicola Ward was denied a second goal by the crossbar.

Niamh Divilly and Noone continued troubling the umpires either side of Howley. Sweeney and Olivia Divilly concluded their respective teams’ totals as Kilkerrin-Clonberne ensured their place in an All-Ireland semi-final in three weeks.

Scorers – Kilkerrin-Clonberne: O Divilly 0-7 (3f); E Noone 0-4; L Ward 1-0; N Divilly 0-3; N Ward 0-1.

Knockmore: S Howley 1-2 (1f); A O’Connor, L Sweeney 0-2 each; H Reape 0-1.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne: L Murphy; K Mee, S Gormally, L Finnegan; H Noone, N Ward, C Costello; S Divilly, N Divilly; O Divilly, L Ward, A Madden; E Noone, A Morrissey, L Noone. Subs: C Boyle for L Noone (50), Aoibhin Madden for Finnegan (54).

Knockmore: G Naughton; C Bourke, E Hughes, S Kelly; E Reape, R Flynn, N McVann; S Mulvihill, C Keane; C Durkan, H Reape, C Flynn; A O’Connor, S Howley, L Sweeney. Subs: M Traynor for Flynn (28), M Breslin for Durkan (54), E Coleman for Howley (57), Howley for McVann (63), Á Clarke for Sweeney (63).

Referee: J Niland (Sligo).