The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Diggin’s perfect display seals Munster camogie win
MUNSTER JUNIOR CAMOGIE FINAL Kerry 0-14 Cork 1-10
COMING of the back of an impressive victory against Waterford in Walsh Park the previous weekend, Kerry claimed a coveted Munster title with a one-point win over a fancied Cork team in Killeedy.
Patrice Diggin stole the headlines scoring 13 of Kerry’s 14-point total but this was a brilliant Kerry team performance as they matched a highly rated Cork side for skill, character and passion.
Cork registered the first two scores as Kerry struggled early on with the tough playing conditions and a resilient Cork defence, a couple of scores from Diggin and a score from captain Aoife Behan edged Kerry in front at the quarter hour mark.
Kerry were in the driving seat by the 26th minutes as they lead 0-8 to 0-3 with Diggin managing another four scores. Cork replied with a Rachel Harty point but then had a penalty well saved on the line by Sara Murphy.
As the second half began Cork came out fighting and reduced Kerry’s lead to one point with scores from Harty and Christine O’Neill. The Cork comeback was complete when substitute Michelle Brown hit an angled shot over the head of Kerry goalkeeper Alannah Maunsell into the net.
Both sides were fighting hard to win but frees were costing Cork as Diggin added to her sizeable tally,
In the 50th minute Harty pointed for Cork and Kerry heads began to drop as every attack seemed to fall just short but Diggin showed exactly why she has received a nomination for the Littlewoods Division 3 Player of the League as she hit over a monster point from just inside the 65m line.
Deep into injury-time another Diggin score put Kerry a point ahead but the game ended in real drama. Michelle Browne drilled a shot toward goal that the referee called back with most observers saying the ball had crossed the goal-line, and then the referee awarded Cork a free that Christine O’Neill converted to send the game into extra-time, 1-9 to 0-12.
Eight nervous minutes passed before Diggin edged Kerry in front from a 20m free, but Cork equalised just before the interval.
Two minutes into the half Diggin scored another free but as Cork putt the Kerry defence under some serious pressure Alannah Maunsell was excellent in the Kerry goal.
With Cork in possession deep in the Kerry half it looked as if they would score but a fantastic interception by Diggin denied the Rebels and Kerry were crowned Munster Junior champions. SCORERS KERRY: P Diggin 0-13 (9f, 1 ‘45’), A Behan 0-1 CORK: A Wallace 0-2, C O’Neil 0-4f, R Harty 0-3, M,Brown 1-0, S Mills 0-1 KERRY: A Maunsell, M Costello, N Leen, L Houlihan, O Young, S Murphy, E Ryall, O Dineen, P Diggin, R McCarthy, L Collins, A M Leen, A,Whelan, J Horgan, A Behan. Subs: S Horgan for E Ryall, C Walsh for R McCarthy, J Fitzell for A Whelan, N Casey for A Behan.