Kerry Scrape Home with Fabulous Comeback

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