Munster title on the line for ladies

LADIES MUNSTER SFC FINAL Kerry v Waterford Saturday, July 8 Mallow GAA Complex Throw-in at 3.15pm

FOR the first time since 2003 the Munster Senior Football Final will see two counties other than Cork contest for provincial honours. Back in 2003 Kerry and Waterford went head to head, and the same two will come together in Mallow on Saturday to see who relieves Cork of their title. After a spell in the Intermediate ranks, Waterford only returned to the senior grade in 2016, which makes their appearance in this year’s final all the more remarkable. That they beat Kerry and Cork on their way to Saturday’s finale only underlines the great strides the Deise women have made in those couple of years.

Kerry were somewhat surprisingly beaten by Waterford in Dungarvan in the opening round, and had to bounce back to see off Cork in the second round in Killarney a couple of weeks ago to ensure a rematch with Waterford.

That 2-9 to 1-9 win for Waterford over Kerry - coupled with their victory against Cork - will probably make the Deise slight favourites on Sunday, but it would be trite and pointless for either side to talk up the other into hot favouritism. The reality is that a score or two is all that should be between the teams by the close of play in Mallow.

Kerry manager Graham Shine was pleased with his team’s performance against Cork and rightly so. If Kerry’s first half performance that evening was strong, it was perhaps their mental fortitude to recover late in the game after slipping behind to a resurgent Cork that was the real take away from the game. If things start to go badly against Waterford, the Kerry players will they have it in them to dig deep and battle their way out of adversity.

Of course, they will need the players and the football to do that, and in Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh, Laura Rogers and Sarah Houlihan they have the inside forward to cause Waterford a lot of pain.

Further back Anna Galvin, Lorraine Scanlon and Ciara Murphy will be relied upon to keep a steady supply of decent ball going to those inside forwards.

Defensively, there’s always room for improvement, and the two goals conceded to Waterford and then Cork will hardly be acceptable.

Waterford, having already beaten Kerry, will be under pressure to repeat the dose, but Kerry have more consistent in putting it up to Cork over the last decade. Two Munster titles for the Kingdom in the last five years proves that on their day they are a very strong football force, and with Cork out of the way - though not out of the All-Ireland Championship - Kerry will want to win here and go the direct route

The Kerry Primary School Boys and Girls teams with mentors Colm Hanafin, Tomás Hanafin, Mary Jo, Kevin Enright, Joanne Brosnan at the Munster Senior and Minor Football finals at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Sunday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin