04 August 2015 Kingdom Reign in the Rain Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Kerry 7-15 Galway 3-3 WHAT a few weeks it has been for ladies football in the Kingdom. First, their seniors defied the odds to beat Cork, the standard-bearers of the modern game, and win the Munster title and on Wednesday evening in Bruff they served notice that their production lines are also in excellent working order as their U-16s turned on the style to claim the All-Ireland A Championship. 29 July 2015; Kerry captain Faye O’Donoghue lifts the cup after victory over Galway. All Ireland U16 A Ladies Football Championship Final, Galway v Kerry, Bruff, Co. Limerick. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE Graham Shine’s team led from pillar to post and added Galway’s scalp to a campaign that previously brought wins over Waterford, Cork (twice) and Dublin. It was their first success at the grade since 2011 and their third-ever since the competition’s inaugural year in 1976. It was a cruel defeat for the Galway girls. They saw off Mayo in a thrilling Connacht final and defeated Tyrone in the last four. Very little went right for them in Wednesday’s decider, however, when they simply came up against a superior side at the peak of their powers. No shame in that. Seven goals came in Kerry’s emphatic win. Fiadhna Tagney scored their first inside ninety seconds and two more followed from corner-forward Hannah O’Donoghue. They would have added to that tally but for some superb last-ditch defending from Galway defenders Laura Corcoran, Orla Canney Bronagh Quinn as well as some fine saves from Laura Hession. Kerry had 3-6 racked up shortly after the quarter-hour mark but Galway managed to stem the tide for the next ten minutes and a Niamh Daly goal on the stroke of half- time left the Kingdom 3-9 to 1-2 in front. Even though the Connacht champions restarted with the wind at their backs, there was little or no let up from Kerry. Further second goals arrived from O’Donoghue, who completed her hat-trick on 43 minutes, two from Aoife O’Callaghan and finally Elizbeth Mohan in the closing stages. To their credit, Galway never stopped battling and were rewarded with two goals of their own from sub Emily Donnelly arrived entering the final quarter. But it was Kerry’s day and several late scores pushed out the final margin. They had stars all over the pitch and it was a slick, polished performance from 1 to 15. Their teamwork, support play and execution of the basics were all first rate in what were greasy conditions at the Limerick venue. On top of all that was a ruthlessness in front of the posts that saw them turn their dominance into scores. KERRY: L. Teahan (Kilcummin); K. Maher (Kilcummin), F. O’Donoghue (captain, Fossa), T. Breen (Laune Rangers); A. O’Reilly (Fossa), L. Coughlan (Rathmore), C. Murphy (0 -2, Milltown-Listry); E. Dineen (0-3, Glenfesk), L. Henry (0-1, Listowel Emmets); F. Tagney (1-3, one free, Legion), C. O’Brien (Laune Rangers), E. Mohan (1-1, Legion); A. O’Callaghan (2-2, two frees, Rathmore), E. McGlynn (0-2, Fossa), H. O’Donoghue (3-1, Fossa). Subs used: B. Ryan (Rathmore), R. Murphy (Legion), M. O’Flaherty (Moyvane). GALWAY: L. Hession (St Gabriel’s); O. Canney (Corofin), L. Corcoran (Moycullen), A. Glynn (Claregalway); R. Naughton (Annaghdown), B. Quinn (captain, Annaghdown), C. Keaveney (Glenamaddy-Williamstown); B. Ní Eallaithe (Mícheál Breathnachs), N. Daly (St Gabriel’s, 0-1); R. Kelly (Glenamaddy-Williamstown), S. Heffernan (Killannin), N. Daly (Kilconly, 1-0); L. Noone (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), L. Coen (Corofin, 0-2, one free), M. Ní Chearnaigh (Clonbur). Subs used: L. Davis ((Glenamaddy-Williamstown), K. Screene (Menlough-Skehana), M. Mitchell (St Brendan’s), E. Donnelly (Corofin, 2- 0), R. Connolly (Tuam-Cortoon). REFEREE: Niall McCormack (Laois). Share this Article 0 0