All-Ireland LGFA SFC final:
Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) 2-8 St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass (Antrim) 1-5
It was heartbreak in the end for St. Ergnat’s but the Moneyglass girls can hold their heads high after putting in a big effort at headquarters against reigning champions, Kikerrin-Clonberne but in the end they came up just short.
The Antrim champions looked well in the contest when they trailed by two points at the break in an opening half where they gave as good as they got, the two points separating them coming from a couple of questionable frees.
Chloe Miskell and Lynsey Noone grabbed goals in either half for the winners who stepped up their game in the third quarter to put considerable distance between the sides.
Leading by just two points at the midway stage in the contest, Willie Ward’s outfit turned on the style with an unanswered tally of 1-4 during the third quarter to ultimately see off their spirited Antrim counterparts.
Returning with 14 of the starting line-up from last year’s final win over Kilmacud Crokes, Kilkerrin-Clonberne initially found it difficult to break down a stern Moneyglass defence.
Olivia Divilly and Eva Noone eventually kicked a point apiece from frees in the ninth and 10th minutes, before ex-Antrim stalwart Cathy Carey split the posts in fine style at the opposite end of the pitch.
Team captain Louise Ward fired over an excellent point from play for the title holders, but it wasn’t until the closing 10 minutes of the opening period that the game truly sparked into life.
While Moneyglass reduced the gap to a single point through the boot of Leah Stewart, Kilkerrin-Clonberne immediately responded with a clinically-taken goal from Miskell following excellent approach work from Hannah Noone and Nicola Ward.
This looked like being a significant blow for St Ergnat’s, but they came roaring back into contention when Stewart – named in defence, but taking on a more advanced role in general – palmed to the net in the 24th minute after a Carey shot for a point came back of an upright.
The Antrim champions were matching their more illustrious opponents blow for blow with their defence giving little away while their approach play didn’t quite receive the rewards that it deserved.
Things were very much in the balance as half time approached but a second free from Olivia Divilly ensured Kilkerrin-Clonberne led 1-4 to 1-2 at the break.
Following a couple of early opportunities for the underdogs which broke down, the reigning champions refused to panic and they increased their advantage on the restart with back-to-back scores from midfielder Aisling Madden and Eva Noone.
Miskell also added to her earlier goal with a point from close-range as Kilkerrin-Clonberne produced a scintillating period of fast and highly efficient attacking football that had Moneyglass chasing shadows for a period.
St Ergnat’s came into this game on the back of an outstanding semi-final victory against Kilmacud Crokes, but they found themselves eight points in arrears when Niamh Divilly fed Lynsey Noone inside for a 44th-minute goal.
Another score courtesy of Eva Noone had Kilkerrin-Clonberne nine in front moving into the final quarter, but St. Ergnat’s battled to the end and a great point from Maria O’Neill gave them just a glimmer of hope.
The superb Leah Stewart and substitute Bronagh Devlin added two more to close the gap to six but that was as close as they would get as Kikerrin-Clonberne ran down the clock to deservedly collect their fifth title on the bounce.
Disappointment in the end for the Antrim champions but it has been an excellent season for the girls in blue where they finally conquered Ulster and overcame a fancied Kilmacud Crokes in the All Ireland semi-final.
A young side containing many outstanding performers they are sure to go again next season and they have shown this year that another trip to Croke is certainly not beyond them.
KILKERRIN-CLONBERNE: L Murphy; L Finnegan, S Gormally, K Mee; H Noone, N Ward, N Divilly; S Divilly, A Madden (0-1); O Divilly (0-2, 2f), L Ward (0-1), L Noone (1-0); E Noone (0-3, 1f), C Miskell (1-1), C Costello.
Subs: E Hynes for Finnegan (52 mins); A Shaughnessy for Miskell (57);C Boyle for L Noone (60).
ST ERGNAT’S, MONEYGLASS: A Devlin; C Graffin, N McIntosh, L Stewart (1-2); A Leahy, S O’Neill, R Bradley; A Kelly, EL McAreavey; C Griffin, M O’Neill (0-1), L McCann; N Neeson, C Carey (0-1), E Mallon.
Subs: A Griffin for Bradley (44 mins); B Devlin (0-1) for Kelly (45);A Boyd for Leahy, J Darragh for Mallon (both 57); R McErlain for McCann (60).
Referee: Ray McBride (Dublin).
