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By John Fallon
Kilkerrin Clonberne, chasing a fifth AIB 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. Tinahely led by 2-4 to 0-4 at the break. Ciara Byrne hit two goals for the Wicklow champions while Aobha Harmon got the third goal and Jackie Kinch finished with 0-8.
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. Goals from Leah Stewart and Bronagh Devlin helped the Antrim side lead by 2-3 to 0-7 at the break and they held on in a low-scoring second half.
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. Trailing by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break they got level in the closing stages through Aoife Horish before Maria Canavan pointed the winner.
AIB Connacht SFC club semi-finals
Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) 1-17 Westport (Mayo) 2-7
St Brigid’s (Roscommon) 3-7 Glencar Manorhamilton (Leitrim) 1-12
AIB Leinster SFC club semi-finals
Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 2-9 Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels (Meath) 0-5
Tinahely (Wicklow) 3-9 Milltown (Westmeath) 0-10
AIB Ulster SFC club semi-finals
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass (Antrim) 2-5 Clann Éireann (Armagh) 0-8
Errigal Ciarán (Tyrone) 0-12 Lurgan (Cavan) 0-11
