Minors Finish Strongly Despite Defeat.

Munster Ladies Minor Football Championship.

Cork 4-16 Kerry 2-9.

A disastrous first half in which they conceded 3 goals and 14 points , proved to be the undoing for a plucky and never say die Kerry minor side in Farranfore last Saturday.

Cork had 1-3 on the scoreboard with just 3 minutes gone in the first half, but the Kerry girls then scored 4 points in a row through Eilish O’Leary (2),Leah Henry and Elizabeth Mohan (free),to leave the score Cork 1-3 Kerry 0-4 with 13 minutes on the clock.

Cork struck for a goal through Laura Cleary after a Kerry move broke down in the middle of the field.

This was followed by a raft of points and 2 further goals from full forward Grace Culloty, as Cork’s power and pace was completely overwhelming the Kerry challenge.

Kerry went into the half time break 19 points down, 3-14 to 0-4, with every Kerry supporter dreading the second half that was to come.

Kerry manager Connie O’Connor made a number of personal and positional switches at the break , and credit must be given for the change that they brought to the team.

Centre half back Sarah Murphy moved to the full back line and steadied the ship completely, while the introduction of Andrea Murphy added some spark and pace to the forward line.

Kerry drew first blood with a pointed free from Elizabeth Mohan , Cork immediately replied with a goal from Lorraine O’Neill in the 35th minute to leave the score Cork 4-14 Kerry 0-5.

Encouragingly, the Kingdom girls refused to wave the white flag, and came at Cork with everything they had. Andrea Murphy struck for her first goal in the 6th minute following a good pass from Emma Dineen. Murphy goaled again in the 16th minute after a good passing move involving Leah Henry and Eilish O’Leary. Kerry continued to press and added 3 more points through Leah Henry and Liz Mohan. Cork replied with 2 points of their own to leave the final score Cork 4-16 Kerry 2-9.

Kerry can take great encouragement from their second half display and will go with some confidence when they face Tipperary away in the next round on April 9th.

Kerry team and scorers : Deborah Mangan, Fiona Keating, Faye O Donoghue, Moira Flaherty, Laoibhse Coughlan, Sarah Murphy, Siobhan Burns. Norma O Mahony, Christine Cooper, Emma Dineen, Elizabeth Mohan, Katie O Mahony, Leah Henry, Eilish O Leary, Eilish Kavanagh.

Subs used : Andrea Murphy (2-0), Rebecca Murphy, Cliona Coffey.

 

Kerry u/14’s impressive as they defeat Cork.

Munster Ladies u/14 Football Championship.

Kerry 2-11 Cork 3-4.

Goals in each half by Mary O’Connell and Ella Teahan provided the platform for the Kerry to defeat Cork in the first round of the Munster Ladies u/14 Football Championship.

In truth Kerry were much the better team throughout the game and it took a last minute goal for Cork by Ciara Irwin to put a better gloss on the scoreline.

Kerry opened the scoring with a Siofra O’Shea point. This was immediately followed with a goal from Mary O’Connell in the 3rd minute when her dipping shot lobbed over the Cork goal keeper Eimear Sheehan. Further points from Danielle O’Leary and Siofra O’Shea put Kerry ahead 1-3 to no score lead. Cork struck for their own goal in the 13th minute when Clona Dooley cut in from the right side and hit the roof of the net. Cork proceeded to take control of the rest of the first half and Kerry goalkeeper Ciara Butler was called upon to make an amazing save following a quick counter attack by Cork . The rebels added points through Dooley and Nina Kelliher to push them into a one point lead, 1-4 to 1-3, approaching half time. Danielle O’Leary added a point for Kerry from a free, after she was fouled herself. Worryingly for Kerry, O’Leary’s point was their first score since the 7th minute of the half.  The half time score line read Kerry 1-4 Cork 1-4.

Cork struck for a goal in the 3rd minute of the second half through Aoife Twomey.  Kerry’s response was immediate and Ella Teahan struck for a goal and a point in the space of a minute. The stylish Danielle O’Leary added another score for Kerry after a good pass from Mary O’Connell to leave Kerry 2 points up 2-6 to 2-4 with 8 minutes gone in the second half.

Cork began to get a grip on proceedings and dominated the next 10 minutes of the game. Rachel O’Connor was outstanding at full back for the Kingdom, and the rebels couldn’t find any way through her staunch defence. 3 points in a row from Ella Teahan, and 2 good points from Rachel Dwyer , one a good solo effort, the other following a good pass from Siofra O’Shea, pushed Kerry into a 2-11 to 2-4 lead with 27 minutes gone. Cork then struck for their third goal when a free kick from Ciara Irwin went all the way to the Kerry net, thankfully it was too late and the Kingdom held out for a deserved 4 point victory.

As well as those already mentioned, Kerry had strong performances from Aoife Dillane , Ava Doherty, Maud Kelly and Rachel Kilgallen.

Kerry will now face Limerick away in the next round which is provisionally fixed for April 9th.

Kerry team and scorers:  Ciara Butler, Tara Murphy, Rachel O Connor, Aoife Dillane, Susan Cahill, Maud Kelly, Ava Doherty, Mary O Connell (1-0), Siofra O’Shea (0-2), Rachel Kilgallen, Ella Teahan (1-4), Fodhla Houlihan, Rachel Dwyer (0-2), Cliona Murphy, Danielle O Leary (0-3).

Subs used : Abi Casey, Clodagh Evans, Ciara McCarthy