Kerry U14s triumph

ALL IRELAND U-14 A CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL Kerry 3-16 Cavan 4-3

A HUGELY impressive second half performance guided Kerry to a comprehensive 10 point victory over Ulster champions Cavan in the All Ireland U14 A semi-final played in St Rynagh’s GAA club Banagher last Sunday.

Although Kerry were clearly the better team in the first period, they over elaborated at times when in good scoring positions and only led by a single point 0-5 to 1-1 at half time.

The Kingdom girls did start brightly and scored two early points through Rachel Dwyer(free) and Keri Ann Hanrahan with Lucy Grant responding with a pointed free for Cavan.

Both sides missed decent enough goal chances before Cavan punished slack play from Kerry when Ava Sheridan goaled after a goalmouth scramble. Kerry continued to dominate but time and again wasted gilt edged opportunities when close to goal.

The livewire Maura O’Keeffe did settle Kerry once more with a point from play and Kerry threatened for goal soon afterwards but the Cavan netminder pulled off a great stop from Jade Potts to prevent a certain three-pointer.

It was then Kerry’s turn to defend and Ciara Butler in the Kerry goal showed brilliant reflexes to save smartly as Cavan began to come more into the game Kerry upped the ante once more and Rachel Dwyer and impressive substitute Paris McCarthy put over two on the trot to leave Kerry one point ahead at the break.

The Kerry supporters were nervous at half time as a one point lead really didn’t reflect their dominance during throughout the half. They needn’t have worried however as Kerry completely put Cavan to the sword in the second period.

Rachel Dwyer slotted over two early frees and Siobhan Ni Chunaigh replied with two from with Cavan’s reply coming from the boot of Saoirse Kiernan. It was soon all Kerry again though and after Maura O’Keeffe put over her second point of the game Keri Ann Hanrahan scored Kerry’s first goal after excellent play in the teak tight Kerry defence.

Kerry continued to attack and with Katie Brosnan very impressive in the backs, points were added by Rachel Dwyer (2) and rangy full-forward Jade Potts with a goal and a point to push Kerry 2-13 to 1-2 ahead with just 10 minutes left in the game.

In fairness to Cavan they did not lie down and they pulled two goals back from Casey Mulvey and Lucy Jane Grant but credit to Kerry who responded once more with points from Dwyer, O’Keeffe and Aoife O’Flaherty.

Cavan rocked Kerry with a Casey Mulvey goal and point from Grant but it was too little too late as Jade Potts sealed a place for Kerry in the All Ireland U-14 A final with her second goal of the game on the stroke of full time.

Galway will await Kerry in the final on either July 1 or 2. The Connacht champions were very impressive 6-23 to 3-3 winners over Dublin in the other semi-final and will possibly start as favourites in the decider.

This is a very good Kerry team however and if they can iron out some of the mistakes that they made on Sunday then they have a fantastic chance of lifting the title.