Randles Brothers Senior County Championship Semi Final

Southern Gaels 5-16 to Beaufort 0-11

Reigning Randles Bros Senior County champions Southern Gaels had little difficulty in defeating last year’s finalists Beaufort in Renard last Saturday evening. In fairness to the mid Kerry side they were down a number of players from last year’s campaign and the loss of the transferred Bernie Breen and injured duo Patrice Dennehy and Fiadhna Tangney were just too much for their largely young and inexperienced side.

Southern Gaels were clinically efficient and scored a goal straight from the throw in through Deirdre Corridan. The ex Kerry star was a thorn in the Beaufort side all day and her 1 goal and 9 points tally was a testament to the danger she posed all through the game. Anna Galvin followed up with a goal a minute later and even at that early stage of the game it was obvious that Beaufort were going to struggle against a determined Southern side. Megan O ‘Connell put over 4 points on the bounce for Southern Gaels before Hannah O’Donoghue scored Beaufort’s first point in the 10th minute of the game to make it 2-4 to 0-1. Corridan added 4 more points from frees with O’Donoghue and Amy Foley replying with points for Beaufort. Ava Murphy then scored Southern Gaels 3rd goal in the 19th minute but credit to Beaufort who kept battling and the impressive Sarah Houlihan put over 3 points with Corridan replying with 2 of her own once more to leave the half time score Southern Gaels 3-10 Beaufort 0-6

Whatever hope Beaufort had of making a comeback in the second half evaporated straight from the throw in when Anna Galvin scored a good goal. By the time Megan O’Connell added Southern Gaels 5th goal in the 40th minute they were already 16 points ahead and in cruise mode. Houlihan , O’Donoghue and Foley kept the scoreboard ticking over for Beaufort but in reality Southern Gaels had way too much for the young mid Kerry side who, in fairness to them, have shown rapid progress since they reformed their senior club in 2016.

Southern Gaels comprehensive win sets up a final against old foes Castleisland Desmonds. On the evidence of this performance the South Kerry girls will go into the encounter as favourites. They have the strength and experience to beat any team and Desmonds will have to be at their very best to mount a challenge and wrestle the Caroline Broderick Cup off their southern counterparts.
Scorers; Southern Gaels Deirdre Corridan 1-9 (8f), Ava Murphy 2-1, Megan O’ Connell. 1-4, Anna Galvin 1 goal, Amy Fitzgerald 0-1, Linda Cronin 0-1,
Scorers ;Beaufort Sarah Houlihan 0-6, Hannah O’ Donoghue. 0-2,Amy Foley 0-3.