Ladies hold firm to see off late Armagh surge
KERRY made it three wins in-a-row when they defeated Armagh at wet and windy Austin Stack Park last Sunday.
The elements were far from ideal for any kind of attractive football and whilst both sides strived to do the right thing, errors and cheap turnovers prevailed throughout. Having said that, the game was very entertaining for the hardy souls that made their way to Austin Stack Park, and in truth Kerry were the far better side overall.
It looked comfortable for Kerry for long periods of the game. Their starting inside line of Hannah O’Donoghue, Fiadhna Tangney, and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh had Armagh in all sorts of bother early on, and they are developing an understanding of each others movement that is a huge positive going forward.
In general, the Kerry forward line was motoring well. All six starters got on the scoresheet and substitute Andrea Murphy also put a point to her name when she was introduced. In contrast, Armagh only had three scorers in their forward line, with inspirational mid fielder Caroline O’Hanlon slotting five free kicks and two points from play.
Credit must go to Kerry’s defensive unit also, in which Aishling O’Connell and Aislinn Desmond were outstanding. The back line was breached on occasion however, and Armagh’s brace of goals in the 59th minute of the game put them right back into it.
Kerry led by 2-12 to 0-10 and appeared to be strolling to victory but an Armagh attack saw Blaithin Mackin hit the net after Niamh Marley’s effort was blocked. From the kick out Aoife McCoy slalomed through the Kerry defence for goal number two, and suddenly Armagh were just two points in arrears.
Despite some nervy final moments, Kerry held out to secure the win.
Kerry started the game with the aid of the gale force wind as they played into the Dunnes Stores end of the ground. They had an early let off when Blaithin Mackin rattled Elaine O’Sullivan’s crossbar after five minutes, but 10 seconds later Kerry had the ball in the back of Armagh’s net.
A long ball from Emma Dineen found Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh ghosting in behind the visitors defence, and the Corca Dhuibhne star applied her trademark low finish for a lovely goal.
Hannah O’Donoghue (2), Emma Dineen, and a Ní Mhuircheartaigh free pushed Kerry 1-4 to 0-0 ahead with 11 minutes gone. Armagh, with O’Hanlon prompting at midfield, began to play some positive football and Tiarna Grimes had a goal bound shot cleared off the line.
Points followed from an O’Hanlon free and Kelly Mallon from play as the Orchard county began to grow into the contest.
The rain made a very unwelcome appearance at Stack Park, but it didn’t deter the home side as they struck four points in-a-row from Fiadhna Tangney, Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Lorraine Scanlon and Emma Dineen to push 1-8 to 0-2 ahead on 21 minutes.
It was soon Armagh’s turn to dominate, if briefly, and they slotted three on the bounce from O’Hanlon (2), and Kelly Mallon to bring them to within six once more. The last act of the half was left to Kerry wing-back Aishling O’Connell who pointed in the 30th minute to see her side take a 1-9 to 0-5 lead in at half-time.
Kerry were dealt a blow at the half time whistle when they lost ace attackers Hannah O’Donoghue and Fiadhna Tangney to neck and ankle injuries respectively. Centre half back Laoise Coughlan would also join them in the sick bay.
The changes hardly disrupted Kerry as they struck for their second goal of the game a mere 25 seconds into the second half. A superb ball over the top from Kerry captain Anna Galvin found Niamh Ní Chonchúir, and the young centre half forward showed great maturity to slot the ball away with ease.
O’Hanlon struck two frees for her side to keep them in touch, but Ní Mhuircheartaigh (free) and Eilish O’Leary did likewise for Kerry. There was a lengthy delay when Armagh midfielder Tiarna Grimes had to be replaced with a facial injury.
The break in play visibly disrupted the flow of the game, and although O’Hanlon and Mallon struck points for Armagh, a superb individual effort from Andrea Murphy pushed Kerry 2-12 to 0-9 ahead.
O’Hanlon pointed another free for Armagh and then came the two goal salvo that rattled Kerry. The home side had done enough though, and will welcome Tyrone to Fitzgerald Stadium on February 23 with their confidence high.