Knockmore suffer defeat in Connacht LGFA senior club final

A brave Knockmore suffered a 1-15 to 1-7 defeat at the hands of Kilkerrin/Clonberne in the Connacht LGFA Senior Club Championship final, played at Tuam Stadium, writes Patrick Hennelly.

Knockmore played with plenty of vim and vigour throughout this tie against the current All-Ireland club champions and a side who were also chasing their ninth provincial title in a row.

Knockmore began in a positive fashion and Amy O’Connor fired over the opening point of the afternoon inside the first minute.

However, Kilkerrin/Clonberne pounced for a goal on three minutes after some patient build-up play ended with Lousie Ward rustling the back of Grace Naughton’s net.

Five-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin/Clonberne then notched three points on the spin from Olivia Divilly (two, one free) and Eva Noone, yet Knockmore went very close to netting a three-pointer on 11 minutes. Shauna Howley set up Amy O’Connor whose effort was saved by Lisa Murphy, with O’Connor’s subsequent pointed attempt blocked by the resolute red and white defence.

Kilkerrin/Clonberne were also clinical from the placed ball, and any infringements by Knockmore were punished by the Galway side.

Knockmore, though, kept plugging away and points from Howley (free) and O’Connor left the scoreboard reading 1-6 to 0-3 after 28 minutes.

Nevertheless, Kilkerrin/Clonberne ended the half in a lively fashion and singles by Eva Noone (free) and Olivia Divilly gleaned a 1-8 to 0-3 interval lead for their team.

The Knockmore half-time pep talk seemed to have worked as they netted a goal on 36 minutes. Substitute Mia Traynor won possession and her pass found Lara Sweeney who in turn set up Howley, and she managed to evade the attention of the opposition defence before brilliantly finding the back of the net.

Sweeney then added a point for Knockmore, and the deficit was reduced to just four points, 1-9 to 1-5.

However, Kilkerrin/Clonberne’s guile and experience came to the fore and three points on the spin from Nicola Ward and Niamh Divilly (two) took the sting out of the game.

A gallant Knockmore refused to throw in the towel and Frank Mulvihill’s side added further points from Howley and Sweeney, but their heroic efforts came up just short on the day.

Kilkerrin/Clonberne have now created history as they are the only side in the province to have won nine Connacht senior club titles in a row, surpassing Carnacon’s eight-in-a-row from 2006 to 2013.