KINGDOM CRUISE
O’Leary unstoppable as Kerry prove too strong for Tipperary
THE provincial championships got underway yesterday, with the Munster round-robin first up in the spotlight.
Danielle O’Leary bagged eight points as Kerry enjoyed a 2-14 to 0-5 victory over Tipperary at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, in a fixture that made up a double header with the Kerry-Cork men’s semi-final.
At sunny Dungarvan, meanwhile, Cork celebrated their first competitive win in 90 days, seeing off Waterford by 1-10 to 0-11.
O’Leary was simply unstoppable for the Kingdom, notching five points in the first half.
Kerry took a flattering 1-5 to 0-4 lead in at the short whistle.
The home side’s passes weren’t going to hand in the opening exchanges but after a series of turnovers they finally got off the mark in the sixth minute with the brilliant O’Leary popping over after an assist from hard-working skipper Niamh Carmody.
O’Leary slotted her second a minute later before Aishling Moloney hit a monster effort to get Tipperary’s first score.
Katie Brosnan fed the rampant O’Leary for her third on the quarter hour mark but Emma Morrissey, a very effective performer on the wing hit a fine individual effort to bring Tipperary to with a single score.
Kerry hit two on the trot with O’Leary once again providing the finishes, and with Deirdre Kearney dominating at the back, the game appeared to be going to script for the hot favourites. Tipperary were resilient and hit back through an Aishling Moloney free and Emma Morrissey with her second from play and with a minute left in the opening half, Kerry led by 0-5 to 0-4.
There was one last act to the half though and as Tipperary attempted to build from the back, goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick was turned over in the middle of the field by Niamh Carmody. The Kerry captain fed Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, and with an empty goal the Kerry sharpshooter shot to the net from 25 metres.
Ciara O’Brien, O’Leary, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh from a poor kick out, Carmody with her deserved first, and O’Leary with a fine individual effort for her seventh, pushed Kerry into a 1-10 to 0-4 lead before Anna Rose Kennedy got one back for Tipperary in the 50th minute.
Substitutes Lorraine Scanlon, Aoife Dillane and Niamh Ní Chonchúir slotted points before another sub Emma Dineen struck for a goal to emphasise the strength of the Kerry bench.
The final score of the game fittingly fell to Danielle O’Leary.
In the day’s other fixture, an early goal from Laura O’Mahony and five points from Katie Quirke saw the Rebelettes prevail in a provincial opener. Shane Ronayne’s side never fell behind.
Kellyann Hogan kicked four points for Waterford while Ballymacarbry colleague Bríd McMaugh got two off the bench.
Katie Quirke returned to the Cork line-up after recovering from a knee injury. Libby Coppinger gave the visitors an early lead before Kellyann Hogan equalised from a free. Emma Cleary edged Munster champions Cork back in front after Hogan was unable to lob goalkeeper Caoimhe Richmond at the other end.
In the ninth minute, Coppinger hit the inside of the post but Laura O’Mahony snapped the rebound and fired home (1-2 to 0-1). A foul on Mairéad O’Brien allowed Hogan to convert a close-range dead ball. Two Katie Quirke frees moved Cork five clear.
Quirke kicked her third free in injury time before Emma Murray got Waterford’s first point from play on 32 minutes. The ladies in red led by five at the break (1-5 to 0-3).
Aine O’Neill got a point back for Waterford. Quirke then curled over another free. Bríd McMaugh came off the bench and two points from the Ballymacarbry attacker cut the gap to a goal. Máire O’Callaghan hit back for Cork.
Déise corner back Kate McGrath then burst forward to strike a point. Alannah McNulty cleared a shot from Quirke off the line. Cork sub Sadhbh McGoldrick made it a four-point game again.
Two was as close as Waterford got. Lauren McGregor, Ellen Bolger and Hogan kicked late singles but they couldn’t find that match-saving green flag.