The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Ladies get the nod to get the job done
LIDL LADIES NFL DIVISION 2 ROUND 1 Cavan v Kerry Sunday, January 26 Denn GAA Club, Cavan 12.00
THE Kerry Ladies embark on their National Football League Division 2 journey next Sunday away to Cavan at Denn GAA club, and whilst the game is far away from the bright lights of Croke Park, it is no less important to the ambitions of this particular Kingdom side.
In many ways the fixture represents a new era for the ladies with a number of changes to their set up in recent times. Declan Quill and Darragh Long have assumed the role of joint managers and there is also a new captain in Southern Gaels Anna Galvin. There are a number of changes in personnel to the squad as well, with the most significant being the retirements of three-time All Star Sarah Houlihan, and former captain Amanda Brosnan.
The retirement of Houlihan in particular leaves a gap in the Kerry forward line that will prove almost impossible to replace. Houlihan gave a sense of unpredictability and verve that very few players in the country possess. A once in a generation talent.
The show must go on and as one chapter closes another begins. The new management have been very pro-active in pursuing every possible player for their panel, and the training squad of 36 players sees the return of girls that have represented Kerry in the past. Megan O’Connell is back to challenge for a midfield slot, whilst Maria Quirke, Elaine O’Sullivan, Eilish O’Leary, and Andrea Murphy have all worn the Kerry senior jersey in the recent past.
Joint manager Darragh Long was effusive in his praise of some of the returning players.
“Andrea Murphy is lifting, she’s going well, she’s got really, really, strong. Megan O’Connell of Southern Gaels is flying, she’s really fit as well, and Elaine O’Sullivan will be putting in a good challenge for the goalkeeper spot. Sarah Leahy of Legion is back in with us as well, she has bags of pace and is doing well.
“The competition is great. We are limiting our match day squad to 26 players so the carrot is there for players to push on to claim a place. New players like Caoimhe Teahan, Anna Clifford, Julie O’Sullivan and Niamh O’Connor will be challenging for a spot.
“We also have five players from the minor squad in training with us. The whole panel has put in a huge amount of work so it’s going to be tough to leave players out.”
Whilst there are a number of new and returning faces around the Kerry panel, there is also the familiar sight of some of the players that have been around the squad for a number of years. Stalwarts like Lorraine Scanlon, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Anna Galvin, Eilis Lynch, Aislinn Desmond, and Aisling O’Connell remain an integral part of the set up. The addition of some of the new face in the panel has re invigorated the older players, and Long says that the enthusiasm is clear to see at the training sessions.
“If Sunday morning was tomorrow morning then the girls would be delighted. They are all chomping at the bit. When something is good everyone wants to be part of it and that’s the thing at the moment because everyone is enjoying it, and nobody wants to miss out.
“Scan [Lorraine Scanlon] won our beep test last Wednesday night. Scan is 28 like, and she left the rest for dead. Dessie [Aislinn Desmond] is jumping out of her skin. She’s like a two-year old. The youngsters enthusiasm is rubbing off on the older players and vice versa.”
Kerry will have 13 weeks training done by the time the Cavan game comes around next Sunday. After that the games against Wexford and Armagh will come in quick succession which is something that Long sees as a positive for his side going forward.
“We are away to Cavan and Wexford first and after that it’s Armagh at home. The games are coming pretty quickly at the start and then we will have a break before facing Tyrone in Killarney.
There will be very little training done in between the first three games.
“They will be out of the Kerry jersey and back into it straight away again. There will be a good old buzz around, especially if we have picked up a few wins. Winning is a habit and if we get into that habit it’s addictive, and they will want it all the time and it will be a different animal then.”
In last year’s corresponding fixture Cavan had a 4-16 to 4-9 victory over the Kingdom. They will provide a formidable challenge once more, but Long says that the Kerry management have been doing their homework ahead of the game.
“We’ve done a bit of work on them. They played UCD in a challenge last week and we had someone in Dublin that went to the game so we have little bits of work done with regards to their kick outs etc, and we watched a few of their games from last year online as well.
“I suppose the big thing we want to get across this year though is that we are going to concentrate on ourselves. If we perform with the intensity and work rate that we are asking the girls to go with and somebody beats us, then we will hold our hands up and say fair play. If the work rate isn’t there and we get beaten, then we have a problem. It’s up to the players when they cross the white line, and for the work that they have put in they deserve a good start up in Cavan.”
An away trip to Cavan is a tough start for this new Kerry management. Players like Donna English, Neasa Byrne and Aishling Maguire will have to be watched. Key forward Aisling Sheridan will be a loss to the side as she has taken up a WAFL contract with Collingwood in Austalia.
Kerry will be up against it, and if they can depart the Breffni county with three points it will be a massive boost for the confidence of the team. The good news coming from the Kerry camp is that Hannah O’Donoghue and Fiadhna Tangney are showing great form. They will have a massive say in the Kingdom’s fortunes this Sunday. Kerry have the talent to take the win, and I give them a hesitant vote to do so.
Verdict; Kerry
FIXTURES
Round 1: January 26
Cavan v Kerry - Denn GAA Club
Round 2: February 2
Wexford v Kerry - Enniscorthy
Round 3: February 9
Kerry v Armagh - Austin Stack Park
Round 4: February 23
Kerry v Tyrone - (TBC )
Round 5: March 8
Kerry v Monaghan - Austin Stack Park Round 6: March 22
Meath v Kerry
Round 7: March 29
Kerry v Clare - Kerins O’Rahillys Relegation/Play-offs: April 4/5 & April 11/12 Final: April 18/19