Clann Éireann (Armagh) v Kilkerrin Clonberne (Galway); Clann Éireann GAA, Lurgan, 2.30pm Sunday, December 1
LURGAN’S Clann Éireann face a formidable task in Sunday’s AIB All Ireland Club Championship semi-final.
With seven successive Connacht titles in the bank, Galway’s Kilkerrin-Clonberne are now chasing a fourth successive All-Ireland Senior title.
Mayo’s Westport showed enough in the provincial decider to suggest that the gap is closing but Kilkerrin-Clonberne still eased to victory when the chips were down.
Now they face Armagh represenatives Clann Éireann for an All-Ireland Final slot – and the Ulster champions have home advantage.
Clann Éireann will feel they have some making up to do after losing out by 0-5 to 1-10 against Waterford’s Ballymacarbry in the 2023 semi-final.
They’ll look for a much-improved performance 12 months on but this is the ultimate test.
Kilkerrin-Clonberne have Nicola Ward, the TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year and All-Star, and twin sister Louise in their line-up, along with the Divilly sisters Niamh, Siobhan and recently-crowned All-Star, Olivia.
Clann Éireann will be no pushovers, however, as they’re anchored by county team captain Clodagh McCambridge, who’ll be joined by the likes of Roisin Mulligan, Dearbhla Coleman, Cait Towe, Niamh Coleman, Niamh Henderson, Tiarna Grimes and Niamh Murray, who has been in excellent attacking form. These are players with inter-county experience and every ounce of that will be needed against the visitors.
Clann Éireann: C Lawless; E Melanophy, C McCambridge, G Carville; R Mulligan, M McCann, D Coleman; C Towe, N Coleman; A Donohue, N Henderson (capt.), T Grimes; E McConaghy, N Murray, M McCambridge.
Kilkerrin-Clonberne: L Murphy; C Costello, S Gormally, N Divilly; K Mee, N Ward, H Noone; S Divilly, A Madden; O Divilly, L Ward (capt.), L Noone; E Noone, A Morrissey, C Miskell.
