The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry U-16 girls lose All-Ireland Final after extra-time
ALL-IRELAND U-16 LADIES FOOTBALL FINAL Galway 3-16 Kerry 3-12 (after extra-time)
THERE was heartbreak for the Kerry U16 footballers as Galway powered to a four-point extra time win in a classic encounter at Toomevara last Wednesday evening.
Kerry took a 3-4 to 2-1 lead in at half time and pushed 8 points ahead early in the second period of the game. Galway somehow managed to wrestle control of the contest, and forced a draw with a Kate Slevin point in the 61st minute to force extra time. The momentum was firmly with the Connacht champions after that, and the tired Kerry legs had to play second fiddle to a more vibrant Galway outfit.
The game started badly for Kerry and they found themselves two goals down after just four minutes when Galway full forward Aoife O’Rourke struck twice. Kerry responded in style and Rachel Dwyer’s long delivery found Siofra O’Shea who goaled from close range.
Kerry continued to pile on the pressure and points from Clodagh Evans and Ella Teahan made it a one point game although Ciara Butler in the Kerry goals had to make a good save on one of the few occasions that Galway breached the stingy Kerry defence.
With the Kerry backline on top, O’Shea struck for 2 more goals, one from the penalty spot, to push Kerry into a 3-2 to 2 goal lead. Further points were added from O’Shea and Mary Collins in the 26th and 33rd minutes with Galway’s solitary point coming from the dangerous Kate Slevin on the stroke of half time to leave Kerry leading by 3-4 to 2-1 at the break.
Laura Kelly struck first with a free kick at the start of the second half but Kerry replied with three points on the bounce from Mary Collins and two Siofra O’Shea free kicks. Kerry now led by 8 points, 3-7 to 2-2 with 8 minutes gone in the second half.
Then inexplicably the tide began to turn in Galway’s favour. Eva Noone, Niamh McPeake and Kate Slevin slotted points, although Rachel Dwyer did respond with a good effort for Kerry. Kerry began to struggle badly with their restarts however and further scores from Slevin, McPeake and Shauna Brennan brought Galway to within four points of the Kingdom by the 46th minute. Galway were now rampant and the flame haired Slevin added two more excellent scores and with Ellen Power slotting another the Galway outfit found themselves just a point in arrears.
Kerry had genuine reason for complaint when Siofra O’Shea’s hand-pass to Rachel Kilgallen was adjudged to be a throw when a goal looked certain. Sensing blood, and with tension at an all time high, McPeake struck the equaliser for Galway with just 4 minutes left on the clock. Kerry rose up one more time and O’Shea pointed a free to push them one ahead with time running out. O’Shea was unlucky to see her goal bound effort go agonisingly wide from the kick out, and with one last foray into Kerry territory. Slevin struck once more to equalise and force extra time.
Kerry were first to strike in the first period of extra time when Rachel Kilgallen pointed after 40 seconds. Slevin and O’Shea traded points, but with Kerry struggling in possession, a poor turnover in defence saw Slevin strike for a killer goal. The half time whistle sounded soon afterwards and Kerry found themselves two points adrift at the break, 3-11 to 3-13.
Slevin and O’Shea traded points at the start of the second period of extra time. The huge effort that Kerry had made throughout the game began to take its toll however, and it became obvious that Galway had the measure of their opponents. Kerry tried desperately to somehow claw their way back into the game , but Galway were the stronger and points from McPeake and Slevin sealed the All Ireland title for them.
There must be huge credit given to the Kerry players for the way that they fought to the bitter end. It wasn’t their day but the future is still bright for this talented group of footballers.
KERRY: Ciara Butler; Maud Kelly, Rachel O’Connor, Ava Doherty; Gemma Kearney, Rachel Dwyer (0-1), Aoife Dillane; Mary O’Connell, Aisling O’Connell; Rachel Kilgallen (0-1), Danielle O’Leary, Ella Teahan (0-1); Clodagh Evans (0-1), Siofra O’Shea (3-6,1-0 pen, 0-6f), Mary Collins (0-1). Subs: Ciara McCarthy for Collins (49 mins), Chloe O’Connor for Kelly (56 mins), Ciara Fitzgerald for A O’Connell (60 mins).
GALWAY: A Murray; L Coen, M Walsh, S Fahy; S Healy, E Madden, C Trill; T Kinnevey, H Noone; N McPeake (0-4), L Kelly (0-1f), S Brennan (0-2, 1f); E Noone (0-1), A O’Rourke (2-0), K Slevin (1-7, 3f). Subs: C Murray for Walsh (25 mins), E Power(0-1) for Healy (40 mins), L Hynes for O’Rourke (70 mins). REFEREE: Des McEnery (Westmeath)