Category: Announcements

February 6, 2017February 6, 2017

Kerry V Dublin Match Report.

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Round 2

Kerry 0-8 Dublin 1-8

When Kerry look back on their 3 point loss to Dublin in the Lidl NFL Rd 2 game in Castleisland last Sunday they will regret the 12 bad wides that they shot in the game ,with 8 alone in the first half. Let’s make no mistake about it, this game was there for the taking, but Kerry’s failure to convert their chances cost them dearly in the finish.

Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Dublin’s Sinead Aherne are 2 of the best forwards in ladies football at the moment, and both starred for their sides on Sunday with Aherne slotting over 6 points, 1 from play and Ni Mhuircheartaigh with 6 points, 3 from play . Unfortunately for Ni Mhuircheartaigh she finished on the losing side for the second week in a row as Aherne’s Dublin were much more economical in possession and took their chances when they presented themselves.

Dublin’s goal in the 3rd minute by Kate McKenna was definitely of the soft variety as her mis hit shot somehow ended up in the back of Elaine O’Sullivan’s net. Kerry had started brightly with points from Laura Rogers and a free from the boot of Ni Mhuircheartaigh as Graham Shine’s 11 positional changes to the team after the 18 point loss to Cork a week earlier appeared to be paying dividends.Then came McKenna’s goal and Aherne opened her account shortly afterwards with a 30 metre free and she added another 2 to put Dublin 1-3 to 0-2 ahead with 10 minutes gone in what was an absorbing contest..

The heavens then opened and the hailstone made the ball handling even more difficult for the players as unforced errors became more prominent in the game. Nicole Owens at wing forward for Dublin put over 2 points on the bounce but Ni Mhuircheartaigh replied for the Kingdom with 2 of her own .Kerry then kicked some very poor wides rom decent positions and you could hear the groans coming from the support in the stand .The Kingdom trailed by 4 points at the break, 1-5 to 0-4, but must have taken encouragement from the excellent first half contributions of Ni Mhuircheartaigh , Lorraine Scanlon, Emma Sherwood, Amanda Brosnan and Aislinn Desmond.

Kerry started the second half brightly once more and Scanlon banged over an early point after a good run. Ni Mhuircheartaigh followed with two from play and brought Kerry back to within just one (0-7 to 1-5) by the 38th minute. Kerry continued to force the pressure but found it extremely difficult to penetrate the hard tackling Dublin defence. Sinead Aherne pointed 2 free for Dublin in the 40th minute against the run of play and this score seemed to give Dublin a renewed energy. Kerry were then dealt a lifeline when substitute Lauren Magee was black carded after a high tackle on Denise Hallissey but it was the Dubs that pushed on and Aherne put over 2 more frees to push them 4 up.

Kerry missed an easy looking chance for a point from a free and from the kickout it took a vital touch from the back pedaling Caroline Kelly to prevent Dublin from scoring a certain goal. Kerry substitute Erin Finucane was unlucky when her goalbound shot was excellently tipped away by Dublin goalkeeper Ciara Trant. before Ní Mhuircheartaigh pointed from a free.The final whistle then sounded and Dublin finishing as 1-8 to 0-8 victors.

Afterwards Kerry midfielder Lorraine Scanlon was named the Vincent Murphy Sports Player of the Game.

Kerry: Elaine O Sullivan, Aislinn Desmond, Caroline Kelly, Eilis Lynch, Ciara Murphy, Emma Sherwood, Sarah Murphy, Lorraine Scanlon 0-1, Amanda Brosnan, Laura Rogers 0-1, Anna Galvin,Denise Hallisey, Sarah Houlihan, Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh 0-6(0-3f), Miriam O Keefe.Subs: Eilish O’Leary for O’Keefe(22min), Erin Finucane for Houlihan (44), Jackie Horgan for Galvin (53).

Dublin: Ciara Trant, Fiona Hudson, Olwen Carey, Aoife Kane, Martha Byrne, Noelle Healy, Niamh Collins, Sarah McCaffrey, Molly Lamb, Nicole Owens (0-2), Siobhan Woods, Rebecca McDonnell, Olivia Leonard, Kate McKenna (1-0), Sinead Aherne 0-6(0-5f). Subs: Lauren McGee for McCaffrey (h/t)), Amy Conroy for Leonard (h/t), Leah Caffrey for Kane (h/t), Lyndsey Davey for McKenna (38min), Hannah O’Neill for Lamb (40min), Maria McGrath for Woods (55min).

February 4, 2017February 3, 2017

Kerry Are Unchanged For Dublin Visit.

Kerry Ladies manager Graham Shine has kept faith with the side that lost to Cork last weekend for the visit of Dublin to Castleisland for Round 2 of the Lidl National Football League Division 1.

Kerry were comprehensively beaten by 18 points in that game and they will be hoping for a much improved performance when they take on the Dubs. There are unlimited substitutions allowed in the National League and it is expected that Shine will continue to try out some new players throughout the game.

Dublin will be a formidable opponent however as they have contested the last 3 All Ireland senior championship finals and controversially lost last years final to a disputed point.

Dublin have made 5 changes to the side that defeated Monaghan in round one of the league. Into the team come goalkeeper Ciara Trant, Aoife Kane, Niamh Collins, Molly Lamb and Kate McKenna.

The game will take place in Castleisland on Sunday and throw in will be at 2 pm.

The Kerry team in full is ;

1 Elaine O Sullivan Southern Gaels

2 CIARA MURPHY FOXROCK CABINTEELY

3 AISLINN DESMOND RATHMORE

4 EILIS LYNCH CASTLEISLAND DESMONDS

5 LAURA ROGERS AUSTIN STACKS

6 CAROLINE KELLY Southern Gaels

7 DENISE HALLISSEY INBHEAR SCEINE GAELS

8 LORRAINE SCANLON CASTLEISLAND DESMONDS

9 EMMA SHERWOOD FIRIES

10 ANNA GALVIN SOUTHERN GAELS

11 AMANDA BROSNAN DR.CROKES

12 Miriam O Keefe Finuge/St Senans

13 SARAH HOULIHAN Beaufort

14 MEGAN O CONNELL SOUTHERN GAELS

15 LOUISE NI MHUIRCHEARTAIGH CORCA DHUIBHNE

16 Linda Bruggener Spa

17 Patrice Dennehy Beaufort

18 RHEANNE O SHEA DR.CROKES

19 Sarah Murphy Rathmore

20 Erin Finnucane Clounmacon

21 Elish O Leary Killcummin

22 Clodagh Quinlan SOUTHERN GAELS

23 Niamh Carmody Finuge/St Senans

24 Cliodhna Hayes John Mitchells

25 Erris O Carroll John Mitchells

26 LAURA COLLINS ABBEYDORNEY

27 AISLING O CONNELL SCARTAGLEN

28 ANDREA MURPHY CASTLEISLAND DESMONDS

29 Jackie Horgan

Finuge/St Senans

February 1, 2017

No Joy For Kerry Ladies In Mallow.

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1

Kerry 1-11 Cork 5-17

It was always going to be a tough task for new Kerry senior ladies manager Graham Shine last Sunday. Facing into a National Football league Division 1 campaign against the reigning champions Cork was never going to be easy, and with just over 3 weeks to prepare his team for the challenge the Kerry girls were certainly put to the sword by a ruthless Cork machine.

The National League is usually a slow burner for the Cork ladies, generally it takes them a few weeks to build momentum as they get back from the winter break.On Sunday in Mallow however, they left a statement of intent for others to see and in scoring 5 goals and 17 points put out a signal that quite simply they are not going to give up the National League title that they won in 2016 in a hurry. That Cork won the game so convincingly with just 7 of the team that won last September’s All Ireland final should put shivers of fear into the other teams in the top tier of the ladies National football League.

On the other hand the fact that Kerry had such limited preparation definitely told against them on the day. There is no doubt that they will improve as the league goes on and will pick up points, there is quality in this Kerry side but their fitness level isn’t at the required standard yet.. At times on Sunday they played some good football but Cork were just that little bit sharper and fitter.

Kerry needed a good start to the game but it was Cork that raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead with only 7 minutes gone with 2 pointed frees from Orla Finn and one from play by Orla Farmer. Kerry’s reply came courtesy of a sweet Megan O’Connell point but then disaster struck for the Kingdom when Ciara O’Sullivan struck for the first of her 2 goals following a misplaced Kerry kick out. In fact Cork began to completely dominate the Kerry kick out, winning 4 in a row, and struck for another goal from the crafty Orla Finn as well as points from Ciara O’Sullivan, who was calling all sorts of problems to the Kerry defence, and midfielder Niamh Cotter, to push them into a 2-5 to 0-1 lead.

Credit to Kerry who fought back with points from Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh, Sarah Houlihan and Megan O’Connell but Cork continued to dominate the exchanges and points from Libby Coppinger, and Ciara O’Sullivan were followed by a second goal for O’Sullivan to put Cork into an unassailable 12 point lead, 3-8 to 5 points, with only 20 minutes gone in the first half. Kerry were in dissaray and Cork continued to press forward and added points through Orla Finn and Eimear Scally but Kerry’s Anna Galvin showed dour resistance when she pointed for Kerry following a lung bursting 50 metre run through the Cork defence.Sarah Houlihan pointed for Kerry following the Cork kick out, but 2 minutes later the Kerry defence was dismantled once more and Brid O’Sullivan goaled after Kerry goalkeeper Elaine O’Sullivan’s save from Libby Coppinger fell at the feet of O’Sullivan who easily finished to the empty net. Kerry did have a genuine shout for a penalty soon afterwards when Ni Mhuircheartaigh appeared to be fouled when bearing down on goal but referee Jason Mullins waved the Kerry appeals away. Megan O’Connell scored a lovely point from an acute angle but Kerry were grateful to hear the half time whistle as they despondently trotted to the dressing room 13 points down, 4-10 to 0-9.

Kerry needed a good start to the second half and they almost got it when Cork netminder Martina O’Brien was forced to make a good save when Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh’s goalbound shot was parried away at the expense of a ’45 when a goal looked certain. Farmer pointed for Cork but soon afterwards Amanda Brosnan gave Kerry a glimmer of hope when she goaled following a courageous run through

the middle from Ni Mhuircheartaigh. Cork responded with 2 pointed frees from Orla Finn and an exquisite goal from Eimear Scally who lobbed Elaine O’Sullivan after a good pass from Coppinger, to leave Cork 5-12 to 1-10 ahead with just 15 minutes left on the clock. Both teams rang the changes from the bench and the addition of the substitutes seemed to disrupt the flow of the game as the two sides committed some sloppy turnovers. There was still time for Farmer, Ciara O’Sullivan, Niamh Cotter and Aine Hayes to point for the Rebels with Kerry’s solitary reply coming from the boot of Laura Rogers in the final minute.

Kerry ; Elaine O Sullivan, Ciara Murphy, Aislinn Desmond, Eilish Lynch, Laura Rogers(0-1), Caroline Kelly, Denise Hallissey, Lorraine Scanlon, Emma Sherwood, Anna Galvin(0-1), Amanda Brosnan(1-0), Miriam O’Keeffe, Sarah Houlihan(0-3), Megan O’Connell(0-3) Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh(0-3,1f). Subs ;Patrice Dennehy (O’Connell 44),Rheanne O’Shea(Galvin 44),Erin Finucane (Houlihan 49), Sarah Murphy (Hallissey 52),Bruggener(E O’Sullivan 54), Niamh Carmody(O’Keeffe 55).

Cork ;Martina O’Brien,Marie Ambrose, Roisin Whelan, Melissa Duggan, Sinead Cotter, Roisin O’Sullivan, Shauna Kelly, Niamh Cotter (0-2), Ashling Hutchings,Libby Coppinger(0-2), Ciara O’Sullivan(2-3), Orlagh Farmer(0-3), Eimear Scally(1-1), Brid O’Sullivan(1 goal), Orla Finn(1-5,5f). Subs ;Louise Colohan(Hutchings 48),Jess O’She(Kelly 48),Eimear Meaney (Coppinger 48), Emma Spillane (S Cotter 48), Mairead Corkery (B O’Sullivan), Grace Kearney(Finn 51),Emma Farmer(0-1) (Scally 55).

Referee; Jason Mullins (Limerick)

January 26, 2017

Senior, Minor, U/16 And U/14 Fixtures Announced.

The draw for the various Munster championship grades has been made and the Kerry senior ladies

footballers will face Waterford on at home on May 13th. The competition is being run in a round robin

format again this year and Kerry will play their next round game on the weekend of the 16th,17th and

18th June at home against Cork and will hopefully progress to the Munster final on July 8 th .Newly

installed Kerry manager Graham Shine will be aiming to come into the championship on the back of a

positive Division 1 league campaign which will kick off on January 29th with an away fixture to Cork in

Mallow at 2PM.

Meanwhile the Kerry minor ladies will play their first round Munster championship game on March 18

where Waterford will be their opponents. Kerry will then be away to Cork on April 15 th . The Munster

final is scheduled for Monday May 1 st . Kerry were well beaten by Cork in the 2016 Munster final, but

with a lot of last years u/16’s eligible for the minor grade this year they are sure to present a formidable

challenge for the title in 2017. The Kerry minors also have a new management team led by Jonathan

Griffin and he will be hoping for a positive start to his reign.

The Kerry U/16 ladies, who are in a round robin this year unlike the last number of years, will play their

first round Munster championship game on Saturday March 25thaway to old rivals Cork. Kerry u/16's

will then play Tipperary on April 1st and the Munster U/16 final is scheduled for Monday April 17th.

There is no doubt that both Cork or Tipperary will be hell bent on trying to strip them of their Munster

and All Ireland titles that they won so impressively in 2016. Kerry manager Rory Kilgallen of John

Mitchels will have his team well prepared for battle and Kerry u/16s will be very difficult to beat again

this year.

The Kerry u/14’s will take on old rivals Cork on Saturday 18 th March. Kerry are the defending Munster

champions but will face a formidable challenge from a wounded rebel team. The final for this

competition is fixed for May 6 th . John Doona has already shortlisted his panel to 30 players after holding

a series of trials, and his team will be training hard for the challenge ahead over the next few months.

January 25, 2017January 25, 2017

New Manager Shine Looking For A Performance Against Cork.

Picture this – you are the new Kerry senior ladies manager, you are in the job just over 3 and a half weeks and your first game in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 is away to reigning league and All Ireland champions Cork. A daunting task but one that newly installed Kerry manager Graham Shine is looking forward to. “I suppose Cork are the kingpins really but it’s time for us to step up to that level. What I’m really looking for is a performance, I don’t expect miracles but I want the girls to go out and try to make the right decisions on the field.We are in a heavy set of training at the moment so the girls legs are bound to be tired. Some of the new girls that we have brought in for training have very little work done so it will take a bit of time to adjust”.

Kerry had a very good league campaign under Alan O’Neill last year. There record reads; 4 wins and 3 losses as well as a heartbreaking 1 point loss to Mayo in the semi final. Cork will provide a formidable challenge for the Kingdom girls on Sunday. In the corresponding fixture last year Kerry defeated the Rebelettes by a single point , 11 points to 2 goals and 4 points in rainswept Brosna. Manager Shine knows that it will be difficult to garner such a result again, especially as Kerry are down some very experienced players from 2016. Former All Star nominees Bernie Breen and Aisling Leonard are unavailable due to work reasons while Jane Lynch and Kate O’Sullivan have pulled out because of college commitments. While the loss of such talented players will of course be felt by Kerry, Shine feels that the league can be used as a learning curve. “Look our main aim will be to stay in Division 1” he said, “that won’t be easy but we will certainly give it our best shot. I want to bring back the hunger into the team again, to get our system right and introduce some new players. We are currently looking all over the county for players, we don’t want to let anyone slip through the net, it’s important that we see everyone that has the potential to be an asset to Kerry. After that it will be all about hard work, the results will come if the work is put in”.

Cork have been keeping very much under the radar since their dramatic All Ireland final win over Dublin last September. Manager Ephie Fitzgerald and his background team are still in place and naturally they will be looking to retain the league title that they won last May when they defeated Connacht kingpins Mayo by 3 points in the final. They will once again call on talents such as All Stars Briege Corkery, Bríd Stack, Deirdre O’Reilly, and Orla Finn to lead the line in this years league and there is no doubt that they will introduce some new blood as well to sharpen things up in the camp.

Graham Shine has never tasted defeat against a Cork team. He has twice been on the winning side as his u/16 team defeated them in successive Munster finals in 2015 and 2016. The senior players are no strangers to victory over their near neighbours either – after all Kerry defeated Cork to win the Munster championship in 2015 and there was that win in Brosna as well last year. It probably is a bit too early into Shine’s reign to expect Kerry to defeat Cork in Mallow next Sunday, but the sight of the red jersey should be enough for Kerry to give a credible performance.

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January 20, 2017January 20, 2017

Exciting News For Kerry Ladies Football !

There are exciting times ahead for Kerry Ladies Football as they will launch their new High Performance Academies on Saturday 28th January. The Academies will be by invitation only and girls in the u/14, u/16 age brackets will be invited to attend initially. There will also be an Academy for minor players but this will not start until the minor trials are finished.The aim of the high performance academy is to identify and improve players that have shown the potential to progress to Kerry county squads in the future.

The coaching at the High Performance Academies will be run on a level similar to county squad training sessions and players in the academy will have the opportunity to improve their skill , technical proficiency, fitness, game management and also enhancing their nutrition education and knowledge in an elite environment. Players will be expected to progress to a level where they can seamlessly advance to underage county squads in Kerry.

The Kerry u/14 team won a Munster title last year whilst the Kerry u/16’s won the All Ireland title in 2015 and 2016. The talent is available in Kerry but it is now felt that it is time to broaden the net and improve standards all round. The High Performance Academies are a huge step in the right direction as Kerry ladies football is determined to develop the standards of all players in the county.

It is hoped that the players that are invited to attend do so. This is a bright new venture for Kerry Ladies Football and it will be very positive for the long term development of players that are very close to making the county panel.The coaching will be of a very high standard and will not alone benefit the players but also the clubs that they represent.

Kerry Ladies Development Officer Donal O’Doherty will be on Sunday Sport on Radio Kerrt this Sunday at 2.30 approx to speak about the Academies – not to be missed!

This video of the U/14’s All Ireland triumph in 2014 will give a taste of what can be achieved. Click on the link below…

https://youtu.be/sVljrYv3S0Y