Fourteenth spot for Kerry girls
THE Under 14 Girls Gaynor Cup side got the busy summer Inter League competition season off to a good start in their tournament in UL. This off course will be followed by the Boys Kennedy Cup from June 16 to 20 and the Under 16 Girls Gaynor (June 27 to 29) both in UL. Later on in the summer it will be the boys in action again in the Galway Cup from August 6 to 9.
In last week's Under 14 Gaynor 18 Leagues took part in three groups of six. Kerry opened their ampaign against Inishowen and were very unlucky to lose to a last minute goal. Just before that Hannah O'Donoghue was through and taken down and for a second it looked like it was inside the box. But the referee and his assistant got it just right as it was a few inches outside.
Kerry showed no ill effects of that loss and got their game against Clare off to the ideal start with a goal from Hannah O'Donoghue inside the first minute. Kerry went on to dominate the game with Hannah adding two more to complete her hat trick and Fiadhna Tagney netting a fourth. Clare to their credit kept going and got one back late on. But Kerry deserved their 4-1 and put three points on the board.
It was a scorching day in UL and the girls completed their play with a 0-0 draw against a defensively good Longford side and it left Kerry in third place in the Group behind favourite Galway and Inishowen.
Sunday was always going to be a tough day with games against Galway and Wexford. But Kerry reserved their best football of the week for the game against the Tribeswomen. Galway were looking to secure a place in the Gaynor Cup semi-final but it was Kerry who went ahead when Ciara O'Brien headed home a Fiadhna Tagney corner.
Kerry defended excellently until the last two minutes when Galway were awarded a penalty. But Edel Harnett was equal to the Galway girl and dived to her right to save the spot kick and earn Kerry the point.
Galway would go on to win the Gaynor Cup but will remember the Kerry game as their hardest of the week.
Kerry then were unlucky to meet a Wexford side that need all three points to secure a Plate semi-final spot and Kerry went down 4-1 with Hannah O'Donoghue again on the mark. It must not be forgotten that a large number of this team are underage again and will improve from this experience.
Into the playoff Kerry met Limerick County in a cracker that ended two all. Hannah O'Donoghue continued her prolific scoring rate getting both goals. Onto penalties and Hannah, Fiadhna Tagney and Kate Stack scored from the spot and Faidhan went into goal and saved two.
Kerry then met North Eastern Counties (NEC) in their last game of a tough but hugely enjoyable tournament with 13th and 14th place up for grabs.
Kerry went behind mid-way through the first half but didn't drop their heads and got level before the break. Kate Stack finished a good team move to leave the score one all at the break. Kerry continued to create chances into the second half and hit the post and crossbar, had a goal rules out for off side and the NEC defence were putting in last ditch tackles.
Kerry did not the breakthrough their play deserved and were caught with a sucker punch when they conceded a penalty with two minutes to go. NEC made no mistake to take the win and leave Kerry in 14th place.
Overall Kerry were a little unlucky in that their two losses were by the minimal margin. They deserved a top 10 finish and can take great heart in the knowledge that they held the eventual champions Galway to a one all draw.