Knockmore ladies hold on to reach Connacht final

Knockmore overcame a resolute Boyle to advance to the AIB Connacht club ladies senior football championship final this afternoon, narrowly beating the Roscommon champions 1-8 to 0-10.

The Mayo champions were not at the brilliant best by any means, and a major improvement will be needed if they are to have any hope of ending the dominance of five-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin/Clonberne in the Connacht final but the Saffron and Blue dug deep when needed, with the experience of Shauna Howley, Sarah Mulvihill and Hannah Reape coming to the fore when it appeared Boyle would complete the comeback.

Knockmore got the opening points game through Keane and Lara Sweeney but Boyle led 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter through the lively trio of Aisling Feely, Caoimhe Cregg and Katie Conroy.

However, the visitors enjoyed a bright second quarter - while also keeping Boyle scoreless in that period - thanks to another Sweeney free, two sublime scores from Howley and a well taken goal by Keane, who got on the end of a probing pass from Mulvihill before finishing on 25 minutes as Knockmore led 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.

Boyle and Knockmore shared the opening four points of the half, with Sweeney tagging on another two frees, but the hosts were beginning to turn the tide. The Wynne sisters Saoirse and Roisin were brilliant all afternoon, leading by example and providing the base to spring attacks from deep.

Boyle got back to within one thanks to Feely, Cregg and Conroy but they could never find the necessary score to draw level. Sweeney’s fifth free on 51 minutes was a much-needed score and they almost put the game to bed late on but Amy O’Connor saw her rocket on goal thunder back off the crossbar.

Feely would make it a one-point game again, but Knockmore held on to book their place in next Sunday’s provincial decider against the Galway giants in Tuam Stadium.

*See Tuesday's Western People for full coverage