Michelle Davoren of Kilmacud Crokes celebrates with young supporters after the AIB LGFA All-Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-final match between Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin and Castleisland Desmonds of Kerry at Páirc de Burca in Stillorgan, Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile.
By John Fallon
Kilmacud Crokes manager Paddy O’Donoghue said it is a huge boost to the club to reach their first AIB All-Ireland Ladies Senior Club final when they will take on reigning champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne in the decider at Croke Park.
Kilmacud Crokes booked their place in the final when Niamh Cotter scored 2-4 on their way to a 5-11 to 1-5 home win over Castleisland Desmonds.
“It’s great to be at this level of football," said O'Donoghue. "The women have been huge in the club the last couple of years. We’ve over a thousand players now. I think we’re second biggest to the men’s football and obviously the last couple of years we’ve got a bit of success. You can’t beat going to Croke Park in an All-Ireland final, that will have the whole club buzzing for the next couple of weeks. We’re thrilled, absolutely thrilled.”
He was impressed with the way they dealt with the challenge of the Kerry champions but feels they have work to do.
“I think the scoreline flattered us a bit in the end,” he added. “The first half was very tight. We probably missed a few chances, they missed definitely a very good goal chance up at the top. We just said at half-time just for the girls, have a bit more belief and go at them a bit more aggressively in the second half. I think once we got the penalty then, we got the breathing space and we relaxed after that. We played some great football in the second half. Very happy with that.”
Kilkerrin-Clonberne, chasing a fourth title in a row, saw off Armagh’s Clann Eireann by 2-11 to 1-9 with first half goals from Aisling Madden and Ailish Morrissey in Lurgan sending them on their way back to the decider.
“We got a fair test,” said Kilkerrin-Clonberne manager Willie Ward. “Clann Eireann stuck at it all the time. We got two golden goals in the first half which were huge for us in the context of going in at half-time. Even though they came at us hard in the second half, we had enough built up. There was always the chance they'd get a goal and they did. But we had enough built up that we could take the goal. We're really happy. Any time you travel away in an All-Ireland semi-final and come back with a win, you're doing well because semi-finals are tough to win always.”
But he knows they are going to face a huge task against Kilmacud Crokes in the final on Saturday, December 14, at Croke Park (Live on TG4).
“They've improved and they've got a few players back, so they'll be better than last year,” added Ward. “We're going to have to find another level ourselves from today. But we're there, it's Croke Park and it's a different day.”
Meanwhile, at intermediate level, Carlow champions Bennekerry/Tinryland saw off Mullahoran by 4-6 to 1-12, with Sinead Hayden shooting 2-1 to see them advance.
They will meet Annaghdown in the final, also at Croke Park on December 14, after the Galway champions saw off the challenge of O’Donovan Rossa, with a goal from wing-back Bronagh Quinn proving decisive in a 1-12 to 1-9 victory.
Donegal’s Na Dúnaigh scored a 1-7 to 0-7 home win over Kilcock to book their place in the AIB All-Ireland Ladies Junior Club final, with Sinead McBride getting the only goal of the match.
They will play Limerick champions Mungret St Paul’s in the final, which will take place at Parnell Park on Sunday, December 15. Mungret St Paul’s edged out Coolera/Strandhill by 0-11 to 1-6 to advance to the decider.
Results:
AIB All-Ireland Ladies Senior Club Championship semi-finals:
Kilkerrin-Clonberne 2-11 Clann Eireann 1-9
Kilmacud Crokes 5-11 Castleisland Desmonds 1-5
AIB All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Championship semi-finals:
Bennekerry/Tinryland 4-6 Mullahoran 1-12
Annaghdown 1-12 O’Donovan Rossa 1-9
AIB All-Ireland Ladies Junior Club Championship semi-finals:
Mungret St Paul’s 0-11 Coolera/Strandhill 1-6
Na Dúnaibh 1-7 Kilcock 0-7
Fixtures:
Saturday, 14 December:
2024 AIB All-Ireland Ladies Senior Club Championship final
Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin); Croke Park, 5pm — Live on TG4
2024 AIB All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Championship final
Annaghdown (Galway) v Bennekerry/Tinryland (Carlow); Croke Park, 3pm — Live on TG4
Sunday, 15 December:
2024 AIB All-Ireland Ladies Junior Club Championship final
Mungret St Paul’s (Limerick) v Na Dúnaibh (Donegal); Parnell Park, 2pm