The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Ladies lose heavily to clinical Cork
LADIES NFL DIVISION 1
Cork 5-17 Kerry 1-11 IT was always going to be a tough task for new Kerry senior ladies manager Graham Shine last Sunday. Facing into a National Football league Division 1 campaign against the reigning champions Cork was never going to be easy, and with just over three weeks to prepare his team for the challenge the Kerry girls were certainly put to the sword by a ruthless Cork machine.
The National League is usually a slow burner for the Cork ladies, generally it takes them a few weeks to build momentum as they get back from the winter break.On Sunday in Mallow however, they left a statement of intent for others to see and in scoring five goals and 17 points put out a signal that quite simply they are not going to give up the National League title that they won in 2016 in a hurry. That Cork won the game so convincingly with just seven of the team that won last September’s All Ireland final should put shivers of fear into the other teams in the top tier of the ladies National football League.
On the other hand the fact that Kerry had such limited preparation definitely told against them on the day. There is no doubt that they will improve as the league goes on and will pick up points, there is quality in this Kerry side but their fitness level isn’t at the required standard yet.. At times on Sunday they played some good football but Cork were just that little bit sharper and fitter.
Kerry needed a good start to the game but it was Cork that raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead with only 7 minutes gone with 2 pointed frees from Orla Finn and one from play by Orla Farmer.
Kerry’s reply came courtesy of a sweet Megan O’Connell point but then disaster struck for the Kingdom when Ciara O’Sullivan struck for the first of her two goals following a misplaced Kerry kick out. In fact Cork began to completely dominate the Kerry kick out, winning four in a row, and struck for another goal from the crafty Orla Finn as well as points from Ciara O’Sullivan, who was calling all sorts of problems to the Kerry defence, and midfielder Niamh Cotter, to push them into a 2-5 to 0-1 lead.
Credit to Kerry who fought back with points from Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh, Sarah Houlihan and Megan O’Connell but Cork continued to dominate the exchanges and points from Libby Coppinger, and Ciara O’Sullivan were followed by a second goal for O’Sullivan to put Cork into an unassailable 12-point lead, 3-8 to 0-5, with only 20 minutes gone in the first half.
Kerry were in disarray and Cork continued to press forward and added points through Orla Finn and Eimear Scally but Kerry’s Anna Galvin showed dour resistance when she pointed for Kerry following a lung bursting 50-metre run through the Cork defence. Sarah Houlihan pointed for Kerry following the Cork kick out, but two minutes later the Kerry defence was dismantled once more and Brid O’Sullivan goaled after Kerry goalkeeper Elaine O’Sullivan’s save from Libby Coppinger fell at the feet of O’Sullivan who easily finished to the empty net. Kerry did have a genuine shout for a penalty soon afterwards when Ni Mhuircheartaigh appeared to be fouled when bearing down on goal but referee Jason Mullins waved the Kerry appeals away. Megan O’Connell scored a lovely point from an acute angle but Kerry were grateful to hear the half time whistle as they despondently trotted to the dressing room 13 points down, 4-10 to 0-9.
Kerry needed a good start to the second half and they almost got it when Cork goalkeeper Martina O’Brien was forced to make a good save when Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh’s goal-bound shot was parried away at the expense of a ‘45 when a goal looked certain. Farmer pointed for Cork but soon afterwards Amanda Brosnan gave Kerry a glimmer of hope when she goaled following a courageous run through the middle from Ni Mhuircheartaigh.
Cork responded with two pointed frees from Orla Finn and an exquisite goal from Eimear Scally who lobbed Elaine O’Sullivan after a good pass from Coppinger, to leave Cork 5-12 to 1-10 ahead with just 15 minutes left on the clock.
Both teams rang the changes from the bench and the addition of the substitutes seemed to disrupt the flow of the game as the two sides committed some sloppy turnovers.
There was still time for Farmer, Ciara O’Sullivan, Niamh Cotter and Aine Hayes to point for the Rebels with Kerry’s solitary reply coming from the boot of Laura Rogers in the final minute. KERRY: Elaine O Sullivan, Ciara Murphy, Aislinn Desmond, Eilish Lynch, Laura Rogers (0-1), Caroline Kelly, Denise Hallissey, Lorraine Scanlon, Emma Sherwood, Anna Galvin (0-1), Amanda Brosnan (1-0), Miriam O’Keeffe, Sarah Houlihan (0-3), Megan O’Connell (0-3), Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh (0-3,1f). Subs: Patrice Dennehy for O’Connell (44), Rheanne O’Shea for Galvin (44), Erin Finucane for Houlihan (49), Sarah Murphy for Hallissey (52), Bruggener for E O’Sullivan (54), Niamh Carmody for O’Keeffe (55). CORK: Martina O’Brien, Marie Ambrose, Roisin Whelan, Melissa Duggan, Sinead Cotter, Roisin O’Sullivan, Shauna Kelly, Niamh Cotter (0-2), Ashling Hutchings, Libby Coppinger (0-2), Ciara O’Sullivan (2-3), Orlagh Farmer (0-3), Eimear Scally (1-1), Brid O’Sullivan (1-0), Orla Finn (1-5, 0-5f). Subs: Louise Colohan for Hutchings (48), Jess O’Shea for Kelly (48), Eimear Meaney for Coppinger (48), Emma Spillane for S Cotter (48), Mairead Corkery for B O’Sullivan (51), Grace Kearney for Finn (51), Emma Farmer (0-1) for Scally (55). REFEREE: Jason Mullins (Limerick)
MAIN PLAYER Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh was Kerry’s stand-out player but Ciara O’Sullivan for Cork was the main difference between the sides, though, and 2-3 was a testament to her fine performance. KEY MOMENT Cork’s two early goals set the tone for the day and Kerry never fully recovered from their concession. TALKING POINT The strength of the Cork panel seems to be getting stronger and stronger. Worrying for the rest of the country.