SHELMALIER REGAINED their position as the ladies' football kingpins of Wexford for the first time since 2007 with a most remarkable victory over arch-rivals and titleholders Clonee in the resplendent new Bellefield on Saturday evening last.

It was an attacking exhibition from the well-drilled challengers as they wrapped up victory earlier than anyone could have anticipated by scoring an amazing five goals in the first 14 minutes. And the all-out dominance didn't end there, as the lead was stretched to an awesome 8-3 to 0-2 before a shellshocked Clonee crew did enjoy some brief respite before the break with a 1-1 haul.

And while the holders pulled back a further brace of goals in the first seven minutes of the new half, normal service was quickly resumed as the superb Shels raised green flags for the ninth and tenth times before the end.

This was total football in every respect, and it was as fine a display as one could wish to see on such a big stage. The victory was all the more remarkable and impressive given the fact that games between the two long-standing rivals are usually so close and hard to predict.

This was different though, as there was something menacing about the Shels from the moment a mere 35 seconds in when rampant captain Michelle Hearne cut in from the left corner and saw her venomous shot finger-tipped over the bar by netminder Maura Kavanagh. A point attempt by Deirdre Fox hit the post and veered menacingly across the square without getting the touch it needed before Shelmalier struck for their first goal in the third minute.

Katrina Parrock played a fine pass to Kate Kelly who picked out Michelle Hearne in turn, and scoring the first of her four goals was a straightforward task. Parrock added a point before Clonee's best forward, Stephanie Hallahan, got them off the mark, but the floodgates really opened between the eighth and 14th minutes.

Another Hearne effort was touched over before a run of four goals on the trot as Clonee disintegrated.

A poor kick-out went straight to Tara Moloney who set up Michelle Hearne for the first, and Katrina Parrock was narrowly wide before a Leona Tector cross was cleverly broken down by Moloney into the path of Bridget Curran who crashed the ball home (3-3 to 0-1).

It was sensational stuff from the Wexford District crew as the excellent Kate Kelly put her camogie partner-in-crime, Katrina Parrock, through for the fourth, and the resultant kick-out was returned with interest by Deirdre McMahon who fed Tara Moloney for the fifth (5-3 to 0-1).

It was game over for Clonee, although Josie Dwyer was inches wide with a goal chance and Leona Breen also came close before Stephanie Hallahan pulled back a point.

Shelmalier were far from finished though, and they really went for the kill with three further majors before the break from Michelle Hearne (two) and Deirdre McMahon to make it 8-3 to 0-2.

While a quick Stephen Hallahan free to Rachel Collier ended up in the net before the break, there was no hope of a Clonee comeback as they were simply outclassed.

Even when Collier and Hallahan (free) hit the net again early in the second-half, it made little difference as the margin was never less than 15 points. And the icing on the cake came at the end of the third quarter when the Shels went into double figures for goalscoring.

First a sweet low pass from Kate Kelly left Clara Donnelly with an opening which she finished in style, and then Kelly herself palmed home from close range after Deirdre McMahon's effort from a Tara Moloney assist was parried.

Even overlapping defenders Shelly Doyle and Maeve Quill got in on the scoring act with points as Brídín Doyle was sin-binned for Clonee, while Michelle Hearne had a fifth goal disallowed before climbing the steps to accept the magnificent Memorial Cup in memory of Maeve's late brother, Noel, from another proud Shelmalier lady, Co. Secretary Breda Curran.

On this showing it will take a good team to deny the ladies in blue in the Leinster championship. They were simply in a different class and their performance was a joy to watch.