Comeragh Rangers dig in to secure first Munster Club senior title

Waterford champions hold firm in face of a second half fightback by Kerry champions to annex maiden provincial crown

Comeragh Gaels celebrate their first Munster Club SFC title with victory over Kerry champions Southern Gaels at Mallow GAA Complex. Pic: Munster LGFA

An historic day for Comeragh Rangers from Waterford as they won Ladies Football's Munster Club SFC title for the first time in their history.

It was a battle all the way to the finish, and they had to withstand a Southern Gaels second-half comeback, with the Kerry champions coming came from nine points down at half-time to just two in the closing stages.

But late points from Sarah Connolly and Clodagh Power helped secure the title for the Waterford side.

Emma Murray opened up a 0-6 to 0-3 lad after 15 minutes and thy were soon in for the final's only goal as Murray intercepted a pass to set up her sister Katie for the game's opening goal, to make it 1-7 to 0-3. Rangers led by nine at the break (1-9 to 0-3), but Southern Gaels had wind advantage after the break and Jess Gill started the fightback with a point. 

Anna Galvin, who had moved from centre-back to midfield, was having a big influence on the game and she kicked a superb point to reduce the deficit even further. By the time 45 minutes were played Comeragh’s lead was down to three, thanks to two points from Gill as Southern Gaels were dominating at this point.

Comeragh’s first score of the second half came after 56 minutes when Shauna Dunphy burst forward to set up Eibhlin Power to point and they maintained their poise to see out the decider.

Kilkerrin Clonberne, chasing a fifth All-Ireland senior club championship title in a row, have qualified for the Connacht final after a 1-17 to 2-7 win over Mayo champions Westport.

The Galway standard-bearers were rattled when Laura Moran and Aoife Staunton hit the back of the net for Westport in the opening five minutes but Kilkerrin-Clonberne led by 1-10 to 2-2 at the break thanks to a goal from Louise Ward and they pushed on for victory after the restart.

They will meet St Brigid’s from Roscommon in the Connacht final. St Brigid’s, on a memorable day for the club which saw their men’s side win the Roscommon SFC title, edged out Glencar Manorhamilton by 3-7 to 1-12.

The Leitrim champions, for whom Muireann Devaney finished with 0-10, led by double scores at 1-5 to 0-4 at the break but St Brigid’s struck for three goals after the restart with Sarah O’Rourke getting the first and Aine O’Brien scoring two as they marched on.

Kilmacud Crokes, defeated finalists in last year’s All-Ireland decider, booked their place in the Leinster final with a 2-9 to 0-5 win over Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels. The Dublin champions led by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break thanks to a goal from Ailbhe Davoren. Crokes started the second half convincingly and when Niamh Cotter dispatched a penalty, it ended the Meath champions’ hopes of a comeback.

Crokes will meet Wicklow champions Tinahely in the final after they saw off Milltown from Westmeath by 3-9 to 0-10. 

There will be new champions in Ulster after holders Clann Éireann from Armagh were defeated by 2-5 to 0-8 by St Ergnat’s Moneyglass. They will meet Errigal Ciarán in the final after the Tyrone side came with a late rally to beat Lurgan from Cavan by 0-12 to 0-11.

In Munster, Glanmire ran out facile winner, 4-15 to 0-6 over Clare's Kilmurry/Ibrickane in the Senior B final in Mallow. Ally McCarthy finished with 2-2 and got on the end of a good team move to score the game’s opening goal, 1-8 to 0-1. Any chance of a Kilmurry/Ibrickane comeback were wall and truly dashed after 40 minutes when Olivia McAllen got Glanmire’s second goal to make it 2-13 to 0-3. McAllen and Ally McCarthy both scored late goals to seal the win.