The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Do or die for Kerry ladies against Cork
Fitzgerald Stadium Saturday, June 17 at 6pm
WHEN Waterford defeated Kerry by three points in the first round of the TG4 Munster Championship back in May, it sent shockwaves thoughout the world of ladies football. Kerry were expected to turn up in Fraher Field and win comfortably, but Waterford were much the hungrier side on the day and deservedly took the spoils.
It was a tough start for manager Graham Shine in his first championship game with the senior team, and he readily admitted afterwards that Waterford played a lot better than his charges did.
“It was very disappointing day. We thought that we were in a good place before the game but Waterford were that bit better than us. They were up to championship pace and we weren’t. They took their chances, we didn’t and they punished us.
“We had a bit of soul searching to do after the game and we think that we will be well up for it when we meet Cork next Saturday in Fitzgerald Stadium.”
The Munster Senior ladies Championship is run on a round robin basis and as both Kerry and Cork have both lost a game each, it really is a winner takes all contest.
Waterford proved that their win over Kerry was no fluke when they also put Cork to the sword in Fraher Park two weeks ago with a six-point victory over the reigning Munster and All Ireland champions.
If the win over Kerry was a shock, then this was an even bigger one, and it propelled Waterford into the Munster final where they will await the winners of Saturday’s contest.
Cork did start that game with just six of the side that won last year’s All-Ireland final against Dublin and the concession of two early goals didn’t help against a Waterford side that were ravenous for the ball.
Dual star Rena Buckley is not committing to football this year and her experience and leadership are a huge loss to the Cork set up. As well as Buckley, two of the O’Sullivan sisters are in Canada at the moment while another of the talented family, Doireann, is back training after injury but will play no part on Saturday.
Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald is looking forward to the game.
“We were poor against Waterford,” he conceded.
“We kicked 14 wides and didn’t play well but we will have to put that behind us now as the game against Kerry is going to be a massive battle. We are missing a share of players with travelling and other commitments but if we can get over Saturday we should have them back for the All Ireland series. We had a number of championship debutants against Waterford and although we finished on the losing side, hopefully the experience will stand to them the next day.”
Kerry can report a clean bill of health for the game although former All Star Aislinn Desmond remains on the injury list. Desmond missed the game against Waterford due to a severe grade 2 hamstring injury, but she has been making good progress over the last couple of weeks and is on an intensive rehabilitation program. Saturday’s game comes a little too early for the Rathmore club woman, and she will be a huge loss to the Kerry defence.
The last time that Kerry played Cork was in the very first game of the National League back in January, and Kerry conceded six goals in a 16-point defeat that day. Kerry have made steady progress since then, and although the Waterford result was a setback, they will be confident of taking Cork’s scalp on Saturday.
Kerry will be looking to the likes of Caroline Kelly, Lorraine Scanlon, Sarah Houlihan, Laura Rogers and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh to guide them to victory against the old enemy. There is no doubt that the team will need to up their intensity tenfold if they are to stand a chance. A performance of the type produced against Waterford just won’t do.
Cork have match winners in the dangerous Orla Finn and Eimear Scally, and they will have to be watched if Kerry are to prevail. Niamh Cotter and Jess O’Shea form a solid midfield, whilst the experienced Brid Stack is the glue that holds their defence together.
Kerry have experienced problems with their own kickouts against Cork in the past, and they will be hoping for a much higher percentage of clean possession this time around. A good early start is vital, and if Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Houlihan are on their game up front then Kerry could book their place in the Munster final. The Kerry bench has also been strengthened with the inclusion of a number of new up and coming minor starlets.
A tentative vote for Kerry and Fitzgerald Stadium is bound to be worth a few points to the home side. Cork are stinging from the loss to Waterford however, and will certainly travel with the determination to atone for their poor display that day.
Kerry also know that they are capable of much more and the prospect of dumping Cork out of the Munster Championship is all the motivation they need. All in all, it promises to be a cracker, and there will only be a kick of a ball in the game in the finish.