The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Late Cork scores deny Kerry minors title
IT’S an old cliché to say that sport can be a cruel business but it was never so apt as last Monday when Cork produced an electric last 12 minutes to score a goal and four points and snatch the Munster title from a Kerry side that had seemed to be in cruise control up to that point.
Kerry didn’t start the game well and they found themselves four points down after 15 minutes as they struggled to get their passing game going. Cork very nearly scored a goal as well but Sinead Warren got down smartly to deny Rachel Murphy. The wind was a factor as well as it was favouring Cork, but some of the Kerry forwards were playing too deeply to make an impact on the rebels rearguard.
A good combination between Erika McGlynn and Hannah O’Donoghue led to the latter being fouled, and Fiadhna Tangney stepped up to stroke the free kick over the bar. Kerry were finding it difficult to gain clean possession from their restarts and they had to be thankful to Warren once more as she produced her second great save of the game to deny Fiona Keating. The Kerry backs were under some serious pressure but coping quite well, with Kayla O’Connor and Ciara Murphy particularly prominent.
Kerry got a massive boost in the 27th minute of the half when Aoife O’Callaghan scored a goal following a lung busting run from Niamh O’Connor. Cork attacked straight afterwards and Emma Cleary pointed after her side had initially kicked two bad wides.
There was still one final act in Kerry, however, and Anna Clifford scored a super point after Fiadhna Tangney showed great vision to pick her out. The half time whistle sounded soon afterwards and, with the sides level at 1-2 to 0-5, Kerry went in to the dressing room the happier of the two sides having played second fiddle to their opponents for a large chunk of the first half.
Cork attacked Kerry straight from the throw in and Warren had to produce her third great save of the game to deny Emma Cleary after just 36 seconds. Kerry were unlucky themselves soon afterwards when Aoife O’Callaghan’s shot came crashing off the crossbar when a goal looked certain.
The wind was rising in Mallow, and so was Kerry’s performance as a duo of points from Hannah O’Donoghue and Fiadhna Tangney nudged them two ahead. Cleary replied with a free kick for Cork, before Kerry hit a purple patch with points from Tangney and O’Donoghue and Brid Ryan fed Tangney for a superb goal.
Kerry’s tails were well up at this stage, and with Ciara O’Brien playing some great football in the backs, O’Donoghue scored another brace of points with Cleary replying from a free kick for Cork to make it 2-8 to 0-8 with 49 minutes gone. It was from here on that the tide began to turn in Cork’s favour. A good move involving Georgia Gould and Sarah O’Brien led to Cleary pointing once more. Cork were then awarded a penalty when Fiona Keating was pushed inside the parallelogram, and Cleary struck the ball low and hard into the back of Sinead Warren’s net to make it 2-8 to 1-9.
Cork continued to attack in droves and Abbie O’Mahony made it a one-point game with a massive score. Kerry did have a goal chance soon afterwards but Hannah O’Donoghue’s shot was well saved by Sarah Murphy in the Cork goal.
Time was running out and Kerry began to play keep ball, but a costly turnover in the 60th minute saw Georgia Gould pass to Cleary and she made no mistake to level the game with a fine point. Kerry attacked straight afterwards but shot wide , and from the kick out Cork drove down the field and were awarded their second penalty of the game. Cleary opted to put the ball over the bar this time to put her side one ahead deep into injury time.
Kerry tried desperately to find an equaliser, but time was not on their side and the final whistle sounded soon afterwards. Cork were crowned champions, whilst the Kerry players collapsed to their knees in anguish.
KERRY: Sinead Warren, Mairead Lehane, Kate Maher, Ciara O’Brien, Kayla O’Connor, Ciara Murphy, Anna O’Reilly, Tara Breen, Brid Ryan, Sophie Lynch, Fiadhna Tangney (1-2; 1f), Anna Clifford (0-1), Hannah O’Donoghue (0-5), Erika McGlynn, Niamh O’Connor. Subs: Aoife O’Callaghan (1-0) for E McGlynn (24), Labhaoise Walmsley for B Ryan (46), Katie Buckley for M Lehane (48), Brid Ryan for S Lynch (55).
CORK: Sarah Murphy, Katie Horgan, Claire O’Shea, Rachel Sheehan, Georgia Gould, Sarah Leahy, Jenny Murphy, Ciara McCarthy, Eve Mullins, Laura O’Mahony, Emma Cleary (1-9; 1-0 pen, 0-1 pen, 4f), Rachel Murphy (0-1), Ellie Jack, Katie Quirke, Fiona Keating (0-1). Subs: Sarah O’Brien for E Jack (38), Abbie O’Mahony (0-1) for E Mullins (50).
REFEREE: Jason Mullins (Limerick)