Team News Kilmacud Crokes v Kilkerrin Clonberne
- Dec 01,2023
*TEAM NEWS*
Senior Club All Ireland Semi-Final
Sunday Dec 3rd, 2pm
Venue: Parnell Park
Preview by Jackie Cahill
Three-in-a-row chasing Kilkerrin-Clonberne put their All-Ireland title on the line against Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday .
The Galway champions have been superb in recent times, claiming back-to-back All-Ireland crowns on the back of county and provincial dominance.
The Wards, Divillys and Noones are household names now but team manager Willie Ward has fostered an incredible team ethic in the group and that’s stood them in good stead.
Kilmacud Crokes came up short in their 2022 All-Ireland semi-final, losing out by 0-7 to 1-11 against Donaghmoyne, and they’ll be keen to right the wrongs of that defeat.
Crokes won their first Leinster crown last year and backed that up with another provincial success in 2023, scoring an emphatic victory over Offaly opponents Naomh Ciaran.
Only a brave punter would back against Kilkerrin-Clonberne but they’re facing a very talented Kilmacud Crokes outfit on Sunday.
Crokes have recently-crowned TG4 All Star and All-Ireland Senior winner with Dublin, Lauren Magee, pulling the strings at midfield while the presence of Galway’s Ailbhe Davoren in the forward line should add some further intrigue.
The likes of Aoife Kane, Michelle Davoren and Éabha Rutledge have plenty of inter-county experience under their belts with Dublin – while Cork native Niamh Cotter is another key player to look out for.
Parnell Park is the setting for what promises to be a cracking semi-final, with the winners going through to a Croke Park Final on Saturday December 16 (5pm).
Kilmacud Crokes: Rachel Fleming; Philippa Greene, Emer Sweeney (capt.), Ciara Regan; Sinéad O’Donoghue, Kate Murray, Aoife Kane; Lauren Magee, Grace Kós; Niamh Cotter, Ailbhe Davoren, Mia Jennings; Julia Buckley, Michelle Davoren, Éaba Rutledge.
Kilkerrin-Clonberne: L Murphy; C Costello, S Gormally, C Dunleavy; K Mee, N Ward, L Finnegan; S Divilly, H Noone; O Divilly, L Ward (capt.), L Noone; E Noone, C Miskell, N Divilly.