Lidl Ladies National Football League

Division 2 Round 4

Kerry 3-14 (23) Tyrone 1-08 (11)

Venue: Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)

Report by Kerry LGFA PRO Paul Murphy

Kerry maintained their excellent start to the league with an excellent win against Tyrone in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. Part of a double header this game acted as a curtain raiser to the senior men’s Allianz League game against Meath. Both sides made changes to the starting line-up prior to throw in. Megan O’Connell coming in for Kerry replacing Hannah O’Donoghue. Both sides exchanged points early on Louise Ní­ Mhuircheartaigh for the home side and Emma Brennan for the visitors. The Kingdom then began to dominate the proceedings for the next fifteen minutes, scoring 1-06 without reply. The lead could have been more in this period only for some poor shooting by the Kingdom. Emma Dineen with a well worth point from play for her first of the afternoon as Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh continued her rich vain of form in the League campaign notching up a further five points in this period (3 from frees) to put Kerry firmly in control midway through the half. Kerry’s first goal coming in the fifth minute from Niamh Ní­ Chonchuir following good work from Emma Dineen & Andrea Murphy. Tyrone weathered the storm and responded in the eighteen-minute scoring the next four points. Niamh O’Neill (2), Emma Jane Gervin & Tori McLaughlin one each to reduce the deficit to five points with eight minutes remaining in the half. Kerry responded with points from Lorraine Scanlon & Louise Ní­ Mhuircheartaigh. Louise’s coming from a free after the referee allowed advantage for her attempt at goal. The sides went in at the break Kerry 1-09 Tyrone 0-06.

photos by Julia Deady

The second half was to be a much tighter affair early on.  The away side started the brightest scoring the first two scores to reduce the deficit the points coming from Joanne Barrett and Aoibhinn McHugh. Louise Ní­ Mhuirchearaigh was once again to the fore for Kerry added a further two points to extend the lead to six before substitute Fiadhna Tangney raised her first white flag with a well taken score. As the stadium began to fill so did the drama on the pitch. Elaine O’Sullivan in the Kerry goal saved well by tipping onto the crossbar as the referee allowed advantage before awarding Tyrone a penalty. Grainne Rafferty raising the green flag to leave four between the sides with six minutes on the clock remaining. A potentially nervous end to the game faced Kerry but it wasn’t to be as the home side roared on by the strong crowd finished the game the strongest with goals from Louise & Hannah O’Donoghue. Louise’s coming from the penalty spot after Niamh Carmody was brought down in the box. The icing on the cake coming from substitute Hannah O’Donoghue her chip over Tyrone keeper Laura Kane giving Kerry a comfortable win in front of a large home crowd.

Scorers:

Kerry:

L Ní­ Mhuircheartaigh 1-10 (1-0 Pen, 0-9F), N Ní Chonchuir 1-0, H O’Donoghue 1-0, L Scanlon 0-1, N Carmody 0-1, E Dineen 0-1, F Tangney 0-1

Tyrone:

G Rafferty 1-0 Pen, N O’Neill 0-3 (0-2F), E Brennan 0-1, T McLaughlin 0-1, J Barrett 0-1, A McHugh 0-1, E Jane Gervin 0-1

Kerry

E O’Sullivan, E Lynch, A Desmond, C O’Brien, N Carmody, A O’Connell, C Murphy, L Scanlon, M O’Connell, A Galvin (C), N Ní Chonchuir, E O’Leary, E Dineen, A Murphy, L Ní­ Mhuircheartaigh

Subs

M O’Keefe for E O’Leary (40), F Tangney for M O’Connell (46), H O’Donoghue for A Murphy (56), A Clifford for E Dineen (60 +1), L Coughlan for A O’Connell (60 +1), J O’Sullivan for C Murphy (60 +3)

Tyrone

L Kane, C Hunter, E Mulgrew, A Tuohey, S McCarroll, T McLaughlin, J Barrett, N Woods (C), E Jane Gervin, N Hughes, E Brennan, A McHugh, N O’Neill, S Sherrin, C Kelly

Subs

C McCaffrey for C Kelly (H/T), G Rafferty for S Sherrin (H/T), D Gallagher for N Hughes (46), M Canavan for E Brennan (50)

 

photos by Julia Deady