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W hen Louise Ward made her speech from the steps of the Hogan Stand on December 16 of last year in the wake of Kilkerrin-Clon- berne's magnificent currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Senior Club Championship tri- umph over Ballymacarbry at Croke Park, she was keen to identify all of those who had played a part in helping to get the Galway side over the line. Aside from the likes of her father Willie (the team's manager), Michael Divilly, Gerard Noone and TP Fanning, the dynamic centre-forward also heaped praise upon the team's goalkeeping coach, Suzanne Murray. A new arrival to the set-up in 2023, Murray was hoping to build on the excellent work of her predecessors and ensure that Kilkerrin-Clonberne remained at the top of the All-Ireland club ladder for a third year in succession. The Tribeswomen managed to do just that with six points to spare (0-18 to 1-9) over their Deise counterparts at GAA HQ and speaking in her capacity as the side's starting goalkeeper, Lisa Murphy said that Ward was correct to highlight the important work that Murray did behind the scenes. "Over the years there has been different coaches. I had Eoin Martin last year and the year before Catriona Connolly from Sligo, but this year Sue Murray came in and I think we just straight away clicked. Not that I didn't with Eoin or Catriona, but we just got on very well," Murray acknowledged in the aftermath of their latest All-Ireland club final victory. "She was there every evening early, setting up drills. She really pushed me and asked questions of me. We had that relationship where we might be giving out to each other, but it's something that I probably needed, that bit of a push. I even see myself, I've progressed from when we've started to now. "She has really brought the best out of me. I think that is why Louise gives a special mention to her because they see what she's done. I think that's a compliment really to her and me!" In claiming the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup for a third consecutive time, Kilker- rin-Clonberne became the first club outside of Ballymacarbry themselves to do so in the 46-year history of this top-tier competition. From 1989 to 1995, Ballymac (who have remarkably ruled the roost for the last 42 seasons on the local scene in Waterford) claimed an astonishing seven All-Ireland club titles in-a-row. The aforementioned Do- lores Tyrrell was captain when the Munster outfit won their first national crown in 1987 and the senior trophy was subsequently named in her honour in 1994 - a year after she had sadly passed away. Despite registering a convincing 2-10 to 0-2 win at their expense at the semi-final stage of the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Senior Club Championship in 2022, this 20 | SPRING 2024 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie CLUB FOCUS GOALKEEPER LISA MURPHY DISCUSSES WHAT GOT HER TEAM OVER THE LINE IN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST BATTLES THEY FACED TO DATE. BY DAIRE WALSH