The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kingdom through to knock-out stages
ALL IRELAND PREMIER JUNIOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP Kerry 1-13 Roscommon 0-3
KERRY claimed their second win of the 2017 Premier Junior Camogie Championship with a comprehensive 13 point win over an under strength Roscommon side played in Austin Stack Park.
Kerry now top their group on six points with victories against Roscommon and Armagh previous as they have made this year’s semi-final stages with Dublin and Westmeath looking favourites from Group 1 to be possible opponents.
The game was a strong performance from the Kerry team who limited Roscommon to only scoring three points all coming from frees, however, the thirteen point win margin could have been a lot more but for Kerry playing against a strong wind in the opening half as they missed four chances early on before Jessica Fitzell had them ahead with four minutes played.
The home side looked comfortable early as Roscommon were shaking the cobwebs off the early morning travel as they trailed by four points with eighteen minutes played 0-5 to 0-1.
Kerry had many chances to extend their lead throughout the half, but failed in their efforts to raise the green flag as the Roscommon full-back line held firm for the remainder of the half as Kerry lead 0-6 to 0-3 going in to the interval.
The second half the Kingdom were the most dominant from the first whistle to the last as they scored two quick-fire points before Sara Murphy got the point of the afternoon, catching the Roscommon puck out and racing through to point just outside the 21 yard line.
With 46 minutes played Kerry finally got the Goal they truly deserved, lovely play by Jacqueline Horgan resulted in Ann Marie Leen having a goal bound shot saved before Captain Aoife Behan dispatched the rebounded effort passed the Roscommon goalkeeper .
Roscommon did not score in the second half but had many chances to do so but the Kerry defence was superb all game with Niamh Leen starring in full-back making an amazing catch of a dangerous long ball to ensure the Kerry goal would not be breached in this game.
Two scores in the last 10 minutes from Aoife Behan and Julianne O’Keeffe had the result secured as Kerry saw the game out.
Kerry now meet Clare on Saturday July 29 in the last Round game with time and venue TBC.
Scores
KERRY: A Behan 1-2, P, Diggin 0-5 (3 ‘45’, 1f), L, Collins, A,Whelan, J, Fitzell, J, Horgan, J, O’Keeffe, S, Murphy 0-1 each
ROSCOMMON: S Spillane (0-1f), F, Connell (0-2f).
KERRY: A, Maunsell, M Costello, N Leen, L Houlihan, O Young, S Murphy, E Ryall, O Dineen, P Diggin A, Behan, L Collins, AM Leen, J Fitzel, J Horgan, A, Whelan Subs: S Horgan for J Fitzell, R McCarthy for A Whelan, A O’Connor for L Houlihan, J O’Keeffe for A Behan, N Casey for J Horgan)