U16 Champs Kerry Survive Cork Scare

Kerry had to dig deep and endure a last 10 minute running battle with Cork to retain their Munster crown, which was played in wet greasy conditions in the Mallow GAA Complex earlier today and was your typical championship game as both sides refused to lie down.

Erica McGlynn opened the score for the visitors in the opening 4th minute from play as Kerry’s first 2 attempts, both from frees sailed wide of the posts. But Cork then applied more pressure as Ciara McCarthy the Cork midfielder and full forward Ava Looney worked a ball to player of the match Katie Quirke who raised the green flag and the Rebels lead by 2, but Kerry replied with 3 points in a row, 2 from play from Erica McGlynn and 1 from a free from Fiadhna Tagney to give Kerry a slender 1 point lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the 17th minute Fossa’s Anna Clifford put Kerry 2 ahead and Cork reduced the margin again to one as Quirke pointed from a free as Aileen McGrath was fouled just outside the 13m line. Both sides stood solid and it was the game of backs versus forwards as both sides attempted to break each other down defensive systems. Kerry were first to do so, in the 22nd minute as Mollie O’ Carroll received a pass from Aoife O’Callaghan and she went low and hard past the Cork keeper to send Kerry ahead in the closing minutes before the short whistle. Both sides traded points entering injury time and Kerry had the  2 final kicks in the first half, first was wide from Aoife O’Callaghan Rathmore and then Fiadhna Tagney effort gave Kerry a 4 point lead at half time 1-6 to 1-2.

Cork started the second half the brightest, as they reduced the deficit by 2 from the boots of corner forward Kate Dennehy and Quirke as Cork dominated the opening 20 minutes of this half. However despite much possession, several efforts went wide as the Kerry defence put them under pressure to shoot from difficult angles. Kerry in fact didn’t register a response until the 21th min as Erica McGlynn pointed from play to restore a 3 point advantage.
Kerry made changes as they introduced Julie O’Sullivan and Céiti Ní Luing in place of Ally Ní Mhathuna and Molly Carroll and made some positional changes. Niamh Ní Chonchuir pointed as she took the pass from Brid Ryan as Kerry now held a lead of 4. But Corks reply was sharp and to the point as Kate Donnelly unmarked received a pass from outfield and drilled it to the Kerry net reducing Kerry’s advantage to a single point, Kerry 1-08 Cork 2-3 with 24 minutes gone on the clock.
Cork were laying siege to the Kerry goals but the defence stood firm. Kerry midfielder Sophie Lynch then received an injury & was replaced. On the resumption after the clock stopped McGlynn put the Kingdom ahead by 2. As the game headed towards the closing minutes Corks player of the match Katie Quirke  drilled a shot low to the Kerry net, but amid the cheers and roaring of the home supporters, the referee signalled the player had over carried the ball and both umpires crossed the flags, disallowing the goal. But Cork were unnerved as Quirke replied with Corks last score in the 37th minute to leave just 1 between the sides. Kerry then added to the late drama as a Fiadhna Tagney took a free kick, it was a high ball into the Cork square and both the Cork keeper Sarah Murphy and Kerry’s Brid Ryan both jumped high and the jury is still out on the last touch but the ball landed in the back of the Cork net to sheer relief of the travelling fans, of which there was many. Final score Kerry 2-9 Cork 2-5

Captain Ciara O’Brien Laune Rangers accepted the cup from the Munster Secretary to the joy of the Kerry team, management & supporters. It was a great achievement to retain the title for the second year, a feat which has evaded Kerry for a number of years. Next up is All Ireland Semi Final v Connacht opposition, which will take place after exams end of June.

Kerry Team:
1 Laura Teahan (Kilcummin), 2 Kate Maher (Kilcummin), 3 Ally Ni Mhathuna (Corca Dhuibhne), 4 Ciara O’Brien CAPT (Laune Rangers), 5 Anna O’Reilly (Fossa), 6 Tara Breen (Beaufort), 7 Ciara Murphy (Milltown/Listry),8 Sophie Lynch (Listowel Emmets), 9 Brid Ryan (Rathmore), 10 Fiadhna Tangney (Beaufort), 11 Erica McGlynn (Fossa), 12 Anna Clifford (Fossa), 13 Aoife Callaghan (Rathmore), 14 Niamh Ni Chonchuir (Corca Dhuibhne), 15 Mollie O’Carroll (Austin Stacks).

SUBS Used: 17 Labhaoise Walmsley (Castleisland Desmonds) for A.Clifford; 21 Julie O’Sullivan (Rathmore) for A Ní Mhathuna; 23 Céiti Ní Luing (Corca Dhuibhne) for M. Carroll, 22 Jadyn Lucey (Na Gaeil) for S. Lynch (Inj) and 19 Rachael Fitzgerald (Rathmore) for A. O’Callaghan..

Subs: 16 Dasha Puzanova (Dr Crokes), 18 Kayla O’Connor (Castleisland Desmonds), 20 Kate Stack (Dr Crokes), 24 Ellen O’Sullivan (Inbhear Sceine Gaels).

 

This weekend saw the commencement of the Randles Bros Nissan Dealers Senior Championship. In a preliminary round game Southern Gaels hosted combination outfit Killarney (Kilcummin/Fossa/Dr.Crokes) in Con Keating Park Caherciveen. The home side who have a wealth of experience were simply too strong for the young Killarney side, many of whom had been in action 24 hours earlier in a Munster Final. Final score was Southern Gaels 5-18 to Killarney 1-09, goals from Anna Galvin, Linda Cronin and Deirdre Corridan for the home side, while Debbie Murphy who put in a great shift for the travelling side got the away sides goal. The South Kerry side will now travel to North Kerry to face combination outfit of Listowel Emmets/ Abbeydorney in a quarter final. In other action of the day, Inbhear Sceine Gaels defeated a very young depleted Na Gaeil side on a scoreline of 3-12 to 0-06 in Kenmare. In Tralee, Beaufort made a welcome return to senior action after a hiatus of a few years to face combination side Tralee (John Mitchels/Firies). The Mid Kerry side played very well with the home side chasing shadows on occassions. Final score Tralee 1-06 Beaufort 7-22, goals for the away side from Bernie Breen, Sarah Houlihan, Fiadhna Tangney, Amy Foley & Maria O’Shea. With Katelyn O’Sullivan scoring the Tralee side’s goal. In repeat of last years Randles Bros Nissan Dealers Senior Championship Final Castleisland Desmonds were home to Rathmore/Spa side. In a tight first half, the home side pulled away in the second half to win on a final scoreline of  Castleisland Desmonds 2-21 Spa/Rathmore 1-12. Andrea Murphy & Eilis Lynch with goals for the home side, while Aoife O’Callaghan chipped in for a goal for the travelling side. Next round now is as follows:
Randles Bros Nissan Dealers Senior A & B Championship
Semi finals.
A Championship:
Southern Gaels/North Kerry v Castleisland Desmonds
Inbhear Sceine Gaels v Beaufort
B Championship:
Southern Gaels/North Kerry v Spa/Rathmore
Na Gaeil v Tralee

This weekend sees the commencement of the Randles Bros Junior A, B & C Championship. In Junior A sees the battle of the Black & Amber as Abbeydorney travel to Austin Stacks. Austin Stacks will be looking for county player Laura Rogers to lead the charge against a transitional Abbeydorney side. While Firies travel the short road to face John Mitchels, their partner in the Senior Championship. Firies who regrouped last year to win the Junior B have had a mixed season & will be dependant on Emma Sherwood. John Mitchels will be hoping to progress as they have had the past few season. Killarney sides Dr Crokes & Kilcummin have BYES. In Junior B Finuge/St Senans are home to Currow, while Causeway are home to Cloumacon/Moyvane. Spa will travel to Miltown/Listry.  Annascaul/Castlegregory have a BYE. Finally in Junior C a Killarney derby as Legion are home to Fossa, Glenflesk travel to Dingle. Beale & Kerins O’Rahillys have a BYE.