The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Westmeath win all but send ladies to Division 2
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LIDL NFL DIVISION 1 ROUND 7 Kerry 1-6 Westmeath 1-12
KERRY Ladies find themselves more than likely back in Division 2 for 2019 after Westmeath defeated the home side at Strand Road last Sunday in a probable winner takes all contest. Westmeath were the better side for a good share of the game, but Kerry will look back at a number of bad wides that ultimately cost them in the finish.
Kerry manager Graham Shine admitted that their wastfulness in front of goal proved to be their undoing. “We had a lot of the ball but just didn’t take our scores. We didn’t take our chances, the girls gave it 100% but unfortunately it wasn’t good enough. It’s disappointing to go down a division but the championship is in a few weeks again so we will just have to rise ourselves again for that.”
Kerry did get off to a dream start when Amanda Brosnan scored a goal in the very first minute after fielding a good diagonal ball that she slotted confidently to the back of the net. Westmeath responded immediately with a point from a free by Karen Hegarty, before Eilish O’Leary and Sarah Houlihan replied with points for the Kingdom to put them 1-2 to 0-1 ahead. As the windy and wet conditions continued, Westmeath took control of proceedings and put over three points on the bounce, with the accurate Hegarty kicking two more frees and Maud Annie Foley putting over the first of her three points on the day to leave the visitors within a point of the hosts.
Kerry began to get their hands on good primary possession and put together some good passages of play, but four bad wides didn’t help their cause. The unavailable Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was a major loss for Kerry up fron,t and her scoring prowess was sorely missed. Westmeath took advantage of Kerry’s wastefulness when Kelly Boyce Jordan pointed to level the contest in the 26th minute. Disaster struck for Kerry in the third minute of injury time when Fiona Claffey finished off a good Westmeath passing move to score a goal to leave Westmeath three points ahead at the break, 1-5 to 1-2.
Westmeath came out with all guns blazing in the second half, and after Maud Annie Foley scored her second point of the game, Kerry goalkeeper Laura Fitzgerald was forced to make a superb save from Karen Hegarty’s goal bound shot. Caoimhe O’Sullivan pointed for Kerry, but soon afterwards Westmeath took firm control of affairs and scored three unanswered points from Foley, Laura Brennan and Hegarty to push them 6 points ahead. Kerry’s Sarah Houlihan (free) and Westmeath’s Fiona Claffey traded points. In fairness to Kerry they kept trying to the last, but despite points from Amanda Brosnan and Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Westmeath pushed on with a Nicole Feery free kick and a Leanne Slevin point from play, to seal a six-point victory for the visitors.
KERRY: Laura Fitzgerald, Laoise Coughlan, Aislinn Desmond, Aisling O’Connell, Amy Foley, Sarah Murphy, Kate O’Sullivan, Lorraine Scanlon, Eilish O’Leary, Emma Dineen, Sarah Houlihan, Andrea Murphy, Siobhan Burns, Amanda Brosnan (1-1), Meabh Barry. Subs: Caoimhe O’Sullivan (0-2) for E Dineen (H/T), Clodagh O’Connor for S Burns (44), Siobhan Goodwin for M Barry (58).
WESTMEATH: Karen Walsh, Rachel Dillon, Amie Giles, Nicole Feery (0-1f), Fiona Coyle, Jennie Rogers, Laura Brennan (01), Karen McDermott, Fiona Claffey (1-1), Johanna Maher, Maud Annie Foley (0-3), Lucy Mc Cartan, Karen Hegarty (0-4, 2f), Laura Lee Walsh, Kelly Boyce Jordan (01). Subs: Leanne Slevin (0-1f) for J Maher