PREVIEW: Westport ladies brace for All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne

NO adjectives, superlatives, hyperbole or conjecture could convey the scale of the task facing the Westport Ladies on Sunday.

In November 5, 2017, a Carnacon team at their peak became the last team to slay Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

Since then, the mighty Galway women have seen off their Mayo challengers by a combined total of 71 points.

Many of the stars who danced with Carnacon in that replay in Ballyhaunis seven years ago are still doing it today for a club going for their seventh Connacht title in a row and their fourth successive All-Ireland title.

The Wards, the Divillys (who’ve been joined by their younger sister Niamh) and the Noones are still among the best in the business, as are Ailish Morrisey and Chloe Miskell – two of six Kilkerrin-Clonberne ladies who togged for Galway in this year’s All-Ireland final.

They say you’re only as good as you’re last game. But have a look at Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s recent Connacht semi-final. Final score: Kilkerrin-Clonberne 3-19 Glencar-Manorhamilton 0-0.

Stats like those would strike fear into the bravest of challengers. But not the Westport ladies, who are all but relishing the chance to clash swords with the Red Army.

“Our aim this year was to win a county title but once you win that you really do want to go one step further,” Aoife Geraghty told The Mayo News after Westport’s semi-final win over Sligo’s Eoghan Rua.

“A lot of them play for Galway and also with college in NUIG. I’ve played with and against many of them. They’re a brilliant side and we’re just really looking forward to the challenge. They play fast football like ourselves so I think it’s going to be a brilliant game.”

“They’re a running team, like ourselves. We haven’t really seen too much of them. I’m just really looking forward to it. I’m not sure what to expect from them but I’m just excited to get a crack at them.”

Speaking to The Mayo News last year ahead of their own Mission Impossible, Knockmore manager Cormac Reape vowed to hammer the hammer and fight fire with fire. The Mayo champions were beaten 2-15 to 1-7.

Talking to the Westport ladies, it seems like the only bus they’ll be parking in Swinford on Sunday is Declan Kennedy’s.

“It’s the same as any other game for us, to be honest. We’ll prepare the same way,” said Westport captain, Janette O’Malley.

“Obviously, they’re a great side but we’ve come across great sides in Mayo, and we’re hoping that those tough games, like today, will really stand to us. We’re really looking forward to it and we’ll give it a crack.”

If Westport boss, Pop Geraghty, was worried about facing the All-Ireland champions, he certainly didn’t show it on Sunday afternoon.

“We’ll just be going out playing our game and looking to be the best version of ourselves, that’s what we want to do, we want to test ourselves against the best teams,” he told The Mayo News with a smile on his face.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne have been on the march for almost a decade. There’s absolutely no sign of them laying down their swords any time soon.

VERDICT: Kilkerrin-Clonberne