Mixed results for underage girls teams
ON Saturday Kerry’s U14 team faced a strong Waterford side in the Munster A semi-final in Castletownroche.
Waterford got a goal in the early minutes but the young Kerry girls replied with a point seconds later from Kayla O’Connor and within five minutes were level with scores from Cora Joy and Anna Clifford. Kerry then powered ahead with scores from Maeve Rochford and Ceiti Long. Waterford struck for another goal to bring it level, but Kerry captain Niamh Ni Conchuir pointed to leave Kerry ahead at the break 0-7 to 2-0.
Waterford re-started the brightest with two points. Kerry got back into the game with a goal from Ally O’Mahony, followed quickly by an Ella Teahan point. Waterford struck for a third goal and followed this up with two more points. Kerry earned some frees which were not converted, and Waterford got their fourth goal in the 22nd minute.
Kerry didn’t throw in the towel and got another goal through Ella Teahan to leave just two points between the sides. The last minutes were frantic as Kerry desperately tried for a third elusive goal, but their efforts fell short as Kerry lost by 2-8 to 4-4. ON Sunday the U16 team had a comprehensive win against a very depleted Cork side in Donoughmore in a second round Munster tie. With Cork resting key players it was a skewed result and a much tougher test awaits in the Munster final against the same opposition.
What was pleasing from a Kerry point of view was the movement and team work of the team with retaining a possession in a smart way being a key indicator of their game while the off the ball running and space created by the forwards was also very pleasing but there is still work to be done which will be the message driven home to the players by manager Graham Shine.
Kerry had 3-10 by end of the first half to Cork’s 1-5, with the two Cork keepers making wonderful saves it would have been more. Goals coming from Ciara Murphy, Aoife O’Callaghan and Hannah O’Donoghue. In the second half it was pretty much the same with Kerry cutting through the defence and racked on an additional four goals, two each from Hannah O’Donoghue and Rebecca Murphy. Kerry 7-17 Cork 1-9. IN the County League in Division 1 Southern Gaels travelled to an injury-hit Castleisland Desmonds and came away winners by 5-15 to 2-6. In other Division 1 clash Laune Rangers used home advantage to get an edge over Scartaglen as they grounded out a 2-12 to 1-8 win, with Scartaglen missing two penalties.
In Division 2 Dr Crokes travelled to meet Austin Stacks. In a nip tuck game, it finished in a draw, Stacks 1-4 to Crokes 0-7, badly needed points for both sides. In the remaining game in Division 2 newcomers Annascaul beat Beale by 5-6 to 2-7. ON Friday the Kerry Ladies Football Board First year post-primary blitz took place in Fossa. Teams participating teams were St Bridget’s Killarney A and B, Colaiste na Sceilge A and B, St Josephs and St Ita’s Abbeyfeale A and B, Mounthawk A and B, Milltown Pres A and B, Tarbert A and B, Intermediate School Killorglin A and B, Gaelscoil Tra Li A and B, Pobail Scoil Corca Dhuibhne and Sliabh Luachra Rathmore.
Colaiste na Sceilge A, the group 1 winners beat St Josephs and St Ita’s A, group 3 winners in the first semi-final and group 2 winners St Bridget’s B defeated their classmates St Bridget’s A in the other to set up a final between Colaiste na Sceilge A and St Bridget’s B in the Cup Final.
The defeated semi-finalists played a B final and which St Josephs and St Ita’s Abbeyfeale won. Mercy Mounthawk were so reluctant to leave and had such an appetite for football they persuaded Mike Hickey to referee a game between their A and B teams. THE National Feile this year has been changed in relation to teams entry. Nationally Kerry has been selected to send 2 teams - one from Division 1 and another from Division 3. Teams from 2 and 4 can enter at the discretion of their board. The county Féile competition will run on Saturday with 8 teams in Fossa for the Division 1 competition - Fossa, Rathmore, Corca Dhuibhne, Austin Stacks, Miltown/Listry, Cromane, Castleisland Desmonds and Abbeydorney. THE Diviison 3 section will take place in Tralee venue TBC with teams - Firies, Spa, Kilcummin, Currow, Ballymac, Finuge/St Senans and Kerins O’Rahillys. ON Sunday the Kerry senior team faces Cork in the National League semi-final in Dromcollogher, Co Limerick at 2pm. There’s a feeling of déjà vu about the fixture as it is the same fixture as 2014, down to time and venue.
That day Cork came away winners, finishing strong. Kerry’s aim the past two years has been to maintain their Division 1 status, and this year under new manager Alan O’Neill, they have used the league to expand the panel and try things out.
The team is very positive at the moment and players are working hard, according to O’Neill. The team will be announced later in the week.