Champions Killimor show little mercy in camogie showdown

Date Published: {J}

Killimor 1-13

Davitts 0-6

Eoghan Cormican at Duggan Park

THERE was to be no fairytale ending for Davitts as Killimor strengthened their reputation as the new camogie queens of Galway, stringing together back-to-back county titles to complete a memorable 12months for the East Galway club.

A large crowd filed into Duggan Park to see if Davitts, the surprise packets of this year’s championship, could dethrone their neighbouring club to secure a first county title in six years. In the end, however, the result transpired that many had hoped wouldn’t come to bear.

Fiercely determined from the off, Davitts exhausted their entire reservoir of energy and effort in the first thirty minutes and when hit for five points inside the opening seven minutes of the second half, they were left punch drunk by a side laying serious claim to the great club teams of Pearses and Athenry.

It’s hard to fathom that just over a year ago Killimor had yet to prise their hands on the Catherine Donnellan Cup, but within that time frame Killimor have conquered and defended the Galway crown, adding the All Ireland title, captured on the turf of Croke Park, to their ever expanding roll of honour.

Truly fairytale stuff. But Killimor’s dominance has gone to a stage where an air of expectation surrounds this bunch of players every time they take to the pitch. People anticipated a Killimor victory on Bank Holiday Monday and the winning margin of ten points was no real surprise either given the indepth strength of this side.

In essence, Killimor were simply impenetrable in defence, dominant at midfield and far more potent looking up front than a Davitts side lacking the skill and vigour required on Ccunty final day.

Remarkably, all six Davitts forward were held scoreless from play over the hour, with their side’s meagre tally of six points coming from placed balls. By way of contrast, all bar one of Killimor’s front six got on the score sheet with player of the match Ann Marie Starr also chipping in with two points from midfield.

Davitts set out their stall early redeploying a number of players in a bid to limit the threat of Killimor’s influential performers. Ailbhe Kelly slotted in at centre-back to pick up Brenda Hanney with corner back Elaine Brudar moving across to marshal Martina Conroy. At the other end, Lourda Kavanagh lined out at centre forward in what would turn out to be an interesting tussle with Killimor captain Ann Marie Hayes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.