LGFA ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP C ROUND 1
Kerry 3-10
Galway 3-8
Kerry survived a late onslaught from Galway to say a massively necessary win within the first spherical of the All Eire collection with a efficiency that confirmed that they’re nicely as much as the velocity of senior championship soccer and can worry nobody going ahead.
The depth of the Kerry show was splendidly supplemented with some excessive octane work-rate all through the competition, they usually had been nicely deserving winners in opposition to a Galway group that discovered it tough to deal with Kerry’s urgent sport, regardless of a five-star efficiency from Tracey Leonard who completed with six factors for the losers.
A serious key to the Kerry victory was the show of Cáit Lynch who was assigned a marking function on Galway hazard girl Olivia Divilly, and never solely did the Desmonds star maintain Divilly scoreless from play, however she additionally popped over a left-footed level in the beginning of the second half and ended up securing the TG4 Participant of the Match award.
The turning level of the competition most likely got here within the ninth minute of the second half when a free kick from Louise Nà Mhuircheartaigh uncharacteristically fell brief – Nà Mhuircheartaigh was largely unerring all through the sport and completed with 0-8 – however as Paris McCarthy and Erica McGlynn challenged for the ball it regarded like McCarthy bought the ultimate contact and guided to the again of the web to push Kerry right into a 2-8 to 1-6 lead.
If that aim was barely lucky, then Kerry’s third aim 4 minutes later was a factor of magnificence. McGlynn was concerned as soon as extra and she or he confirmed nice imaginative and prescient to search out Niamh Carmody in house 25 metres out from the Galway aim. Carmody had just one factor on her thoughts and she or he struck a superb shot to the highest nook of Alanah Griffin’s aim for a web puncher that was harking back to Jack O’Shea’s pile-driver in opposition to Offaly in 1981.
Kerry led by 3-10 to 1-7 with simply 4 minutes left within the contest and with a nine-point lead it regarded like it will be a fairly comfy experience coming into the house straight. Then, as if startled by the benefit of their impending victory, the Kingdom ladies made life very tough for themselves with two gamers going to the sin bin within the last few moments that reignited a Galway hearth that appeared to be very a lot extinguished.
Lorraine Scanlon, who gave an enormous efficiency at midfield, was the primary to see yellow within the 56th minute, and seconds later it was the flip of Nà Mhuircheartaigh after one other cynical foul that belonged to the ‘thou shalt not move’ mantra. With Kerry all the way down to 13 gamers Galway pushed up on their kickouts and it paid some wealthy dividends.
Some extent from an Olivia Divilly was supplemented by a aim a minute later by Louise Ward and following the kick out the Kerry defence was pressured right into a scrambling block as Galway attacked the Kerry aim with venom. Galway had been vast from the next ’45’ however smelling blood, the Tribeswomen pressed on the Kerry restart as soon as extra and Leanne Coen was on the tip of a superb transfer to attain their third aim.
Time was in opposition to the Connacht champions although and the ultimate whistle sounded quickly afterwards, a lot to the reduction of the Kerry gamers and administration.
The primary half was removed from classic however the Kingdom regarded the higher aspect and brought about Galway all types of trouble, as they blended an extended and brief sport to good impact. Galway had been unfortunate to not aim within the seventeenth minute as Kerry goalkeeper Ciara Butler did nicely to maintain out a Lynsey Noone effort but it surely was a portent for what was to come back afterwards.
The Galway aim within the seventeenth minute was spectacular with the fluidity of it’s motion with Olivia Divilly, Mairead Seoighe, Andrea Trill and eventually Leanne Coen concerned with the Corofin maestro Trill punishing Kerry with a palm to the web, regardless of the heroic efforts of Ciara Butler to maintain the ball out.
Galway centre half again Tracey Leonard added a degree quickly afterwards to push them 1-3 to 0-3 forward however Kerry struck again because of a superb aim from Lorraine Scanlon. Dr Crokes Kayleigh Cronin sprayed a beautiful excessive move into Scanlon who had ghosted contained in the Galway cowl, and regardless of being surrounded by three Galway gamers the midfielder had the composure to hit an excellent shot to the again of the web.
The previous couple of minutes of the primary half belonged to Kerry as Nà Mhuircheartaigh added three frees, though they had been denied what regarded like a sound sufficient penalty shout when Ciara Butler regarded to kick the ball away as Galway’s Andrea Trill went to choose it off the bottom. To be honest to referee Maggie Farrelly she was probably enjoying a bonus for an earlier foul and with a free known as again outdoors the 21-metre line, Kerry had been glad that they bought away with that one.
Kerry’s 1-6 to 1-3 lead at half time was nicely; deserved and the way at which they pushed on within the second half was very pleasing. What wasn’t as likeable was the self induced nervous moments near the end line, however in the event you mentioned to managers Quill and Lengthy earlier than the sport that they’d win by two factors they’d have bitten your hand off.
Kerry’s subsequent task is a house contest in opposition to Armagh on June 25 at Fitzgerald Stadium, a sport that the Kingdom will go into with large confidence.
KERRY: Ciara Butler (Castlegregory); Aoife Dillane (Austin Stacks), Kayleigh Cronin (Dr Crokes), Eilis Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds); Aishling O’Connell (0-1) (Éire Óg Cork), Cait Lynch (0-1) (Castleisland Desmonds), Ciara Murphy (MKL Gaels); Emma Costelloe (Firies), Lorraine Scanlon (1-0) (Castleisland Desmonds), Niamh Carmody (1-0) (Finuge/St Senans), Anna Galvin (Southern Gaels), Niamh Nà Chonchúir (Corca Dhuibhne), Danielle O’Leary (Rathmore), Erica McGlynn (Fossa), Louise Nà Mhuircheartaigh 0-8 (5f) (Corca Dhuibhne). Subs: Paris McCarthy (Castleisland Desmonds) for N Carmody (temp, 4 minutes), Paris McCarthy (1-0) for N Nà Chonchúir (20 minutes), Siofra O’Shea (Southern Gaels) for E McGlynn (46 minutes), Caoimhe Evans (MKL Gaels) for D O’Leary (53 minutes), Clodagh O’Connor (Éire Óg Cork) for A Dillane (56 minutes), Mary O’Connell (Na Gaeil) for N Carmody (61 minutes).
GALWAY: A Griffin; S Molloy, S Nà Loingsigh, E Gavin; C Cooney, N Ward 0-1, Okay Geraghty; A Davoren, L Ward 1-0; L Coen 2-0, A Trill, M Seoighe; L Noone, O Divilly 0-1, T Leonard 0-6 (1f). Subs: Okay Slevin for A Trill (26), C Trill for Gavin (30), S Divilly for Davoren (30), A Morrissey for Seoighe (36), A Molloy for S Molloy (52).
Referee: M Farrelly (Cavan).
