Dec 11,2024
Kilkerrin-Clonberne are bidding to go where no senior team in Galway GAA history have ever gone before this Saturday as they bid for an unprecedented fourth successive All-Ireland final title.
It's an incredible upswing in fortunes for a club that only five years ago was on the back of successive final defeats and desperate for a maiden title.
At the turn of the century the club secured senior status and landed a county title at the first attempt. A second wouldn’t follow for a decade and it wasn’t until 2014 that a first provincial title was secured.
The rapid accumulation of silverware – Kilkerrin-Clonberne are now on a run of 43 unbeaten games in the championship since losing the 2019 All-Ireland final, getting the better of Mourneabbey, Donaghmoyne and most recently, Ballymacarbry to keep a firm grip on the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup.
Looking to stop them in their tracks is a determined Kilmacud Crokes.
Not only are they seeking a maiden title after back-to-back semi-final defeats, last year’s exit at the penultimate stage came at the hands of the Galway club after extra-time.
Niamh Divilly will line out alongside sisters Olivia and Siobhan, with father Michael involved in the management team. Also on the sidelines are Gerard Noone and John Boyle not to mention manager Willie Ward, all of whom have daughters involved.
"Three are sets of three sisters and couple od sets of two sisters," Divilly, a second year human nutrition student based in Dublin, said at the launch of Saturday's final.
"It makes the bond that bit stronger as it really is a family run team."
Last year’s gripping semi-final tussle will serve as a reminder to Kilkerrin-Clonberne just how strong a challenge awaits at GAA HQ on Saturday.
Olivia Divilly’s 82nd minute score meant two points sepatared the sides after 80-plus minutes of football, and the three-in-row Dublin champions will feel that now is the time to change up the order.
"That was the toughest game we had a in a long time," Divilly recalls. "They pushed us right to the end. We expect no different on Saturday.
"They have that fight. They want to win as much as we do.
"They know they are right there and on the edge of an All-Ireland. They will really be pushing to get there."
