Divilly does the damage in easy win for Kilkerrin/Clonberne

Kilkerrin Clonberne 2-19

Carnacon 2-6

STEPHEN GLENNON IN BALLINTUBBER

FOR over two decades, Carnacon were the team to beat in Connacht ladies’ football, but all that has changed in recent times. Indeed, with this emphatic provincial semi-final victory over the Mayo champions, Kilkerrin/Clonberne have now firmly established themselves as the ruling dynasty.

Once the latest restrictions are lifted, Kevin Reidy’s charges will look to secure the three-in-a-row of provincial crowns – and their fifth senior title in seven years – and, on the evidence of this display, the holders look a safe bet to make short work of Sligo winners, St. Nathy’s, in the decider.

Aside from the first quarter, when Kilkerrin/Clonberne let down their guard and conceded a goal to leave the sides tied at the first water break, they never looked in any real trouble. By half-time, the victors had raced into a 1-10 to 1-6 lead and, from there on in, they didn’t look back, outscoring a wind-assisted Carnacon 1-9 to 1-0 in the second period.

To the fore for the winners was Olivia Divilly. Every time she had the ball in hand, a surge of electricity coursed through the Kilkerrin/Clonberne attack. Her speed was lightening, her boot was thunder. She finished with a personal tally of 1-7, 0-5 frees. Divilly was ably assisted in tormenting the Carnacon cover by Chloe Miskell and Ailish Morrissey.

Further back the field, the Ward sisters, Louise and Nicola, sliced and diced their way through the middle third with their trademark lung-bursting runs. Hannah Noone was also prominent when picking off two points from the wing-back berth.

Defensively, Kilkerrin/Clonberne was also sound, particularly in nullifying Carnacon’s main threats. Nicola Ward, not surprisingly, picked up the great Cora Staunton – what an athlete she still is – while Louise was never far away from another former Mayo stalwart, Fiona McHale.

In the Kilkerrin/Clonberne full-back line, Sarah Gormally and Siobhan Fahy were like two pillars fashioned out of rock and their uncompromising, no nonsense defending was a crucial factor in their side only conceding one score in the second half.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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