09 July 2007 Kerry Scrape Home with Fabulous Comeback Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Kerry scrape Home With Fabulous Comback All Ireland Q-final Kerry 3-13 Monaghan 4-7 By Kevin Casey in MountMellick, Co Laois A compelling game that comprised of seven goals, two missed penalties and bucket loads of goal mouth action saw the Munster champions overhaul a 16 point lead that a rampant Monaghan outfit had built up just before the interval. Whether there was a degree of complacency amongst the Kerry ranks is hard to know but they very nearly blew their chances of All Ireland glory with a disjointed first half showing. Kerry had easily accounted for Monaghan in the All Ireland blitz back at the end of May and perhaps some of the players read too much into this result as Ulster’s runners up out fought the Kerry girls in the opening period. Granted Monaghan were aided by a stiffish breeze in the opening half and Meghan Galvin and Rheanne O’Shea had cancelled out two Shauna McAnespie points early on before the goal madness began. Indeed Kerry could hardly handle the will o’ the wisp corner forward McAnespie whose Mother Brenda won three senior All Ireland with the Farney county in the 1990’s. Lisa McElvaney sent in a racking 40 yard delivery on 16 minutes that went all the way to the net via a post before McAnespie capitalised on an error in the Kerry defence to put Monaghan 2-5 to 0-3 ahead after 20 minutes. Kerry’s point came on a rare raid up field that Claire O’Sullivan tapped over as Kerry continued to labour with misplaced paces and a lack of match sharpness. Kerry were struggling without Megan O’Connell in the middle of the field and Monaghan number eight Eileen McKenna took full advantage as she got on the end of a free flowing move to grab the Northerners third goal. The travelling contingent were in a state of disbelief and were numb when the diminutive McAnespie got the goal of the game with a rasper from 20 yards off her trustworthy left boot. 4-7 to 0-3 at this stage with two minutes to the break it appeared Kerry would have nothing more than pride to play for after the break. The first inkling of a heroic comeback came when Rachel Keane played a ball over the top that Rheanne O’Shea did well to retrieve with a great blockdown. The Dr Crokes youngster who dazzled throughout took on the Monaghan cover before unleashing a shot off her weaker left foot that crashed off the crossbar. Kenmare’s Claire O’Sullivan showed great poise to plant the rebound to the net from just outside the edge of the square. A tonic goal for Kerry and they should have another moments later but their insistence to walk the ball into the net only gained them a penalty rather than a green flag as Elaine Martin was hauled down on the goal line. Norma O’Sullivan came up from centre back and unfortunately the Listowel girl’s low effort was straight at Orla McKenna. That miss left it 4-7 to 1-3 at half time and the favourites had a huge mountain to climb. The Kerry management went for broke on the resumption as they introduced injured Southern Gaels pair Megan O’Connell and Leanne Curran. Both players were superb in the Munster final and their big game experience from winning Feile the week previous told as they along with Rheanne O’Shea and Megan Galvin did most to haul Kerry back into proceedings. The comeback was gradual though as first O’Shea had a point before Curran played in the same player on three minutes and her low shot squirmed under the body of the Monaghan keeper. Kerry went another eight minutes before O’Shea and Galvin points left it 4-7 to 2-6. Megan Galvin had a goal disallowed before Curran got on the end of a super five player move to shoot low to the net on 18 minutes. Marie Quirke had a gem of a point from the right wing to make it a three point game before Kerry nerves were tested yet again as Karen Boyle won Monaghan a fortuitous penalty on 20 minutes. Midfielder Niamh Brennan sent it to the right of Mairead Foley who guessed correctly to pull off a fantastic save before McAnespie crashed the rebound into the side netting. Monaghan were clearly rattled and visibly tiring as O’Connell in the centre continued her tour de force display to set up points for Galvin, O’Shea and Curran as Kerry gained parity, 4-7 to 3-10 with four minutes to go. Substitute Shauna Finn put Kerry ahead with an effort from 20 yards before Curran chipped in with another entering injury time. Kerry’s defence soaked up a bout of Monaghan pressure ( amazingly the Northerners failed to score after the break) before fittingly Megan O’Connell applied the finishing touches with a soaring point from all of 40 yards to keep this Kerry’s side U-14 All Ireland dream alive. Kerry: Mairead Foley (Beaufort), Aoife Godfrey (Kenmare), Heather O’Rourke (Listowel), Sorcha McNulty (Duagh), Maura O’Connor (Firies), Norma O’Sullivan (Listowel), Rachel Keane (Listowel), Katie Spillane (Castlegregory), Meabh Barry (Na Gaeil), Elaine Martin (Corca Dhuibhne), Rheanne O’Shea (Dr Crokes 1-4, 0-2 frees), Michelle O’Connor (Kenmare), Claire O’Sullivan (Kenmare 1-1), Meghan Galvin (Listowel 0-3, 1 free), Marie Quirke (NaGaeil 0-1). Subs: Megan O’Connell (Southern Gaels 0-1) for Spillane, Leanne Curran (Southern Gaels 1-2) for Martin, Shauna Finn (Castlegregory 0-1) O’Connor. Monaghan: Orla McKenna, Niamh Maguire, Kady McKenna, Laura McKenna, Claire O’Brien, Naimh Tierney, Rebecca Malone, Eileen McKenna(1-1), Niamh Brennan, Lisa McElvaney(1-0), Ciara Duffy, Caoimhe Mohan(0-2), Shauna McAnespie (2-3), Karen Boyle(0-1) and Ailbhe Quinn. Referee: Des McEnery Share this Article 0 0