Kerry Senior Championship Final
BY DAN KEARNEY
Bon Secours Senior Championship Final
Southern Gaels 3-12 Na Gaeil 3-6
Picture by David Corkey
After the heartbreak of two losing finals, Southern Gaels made it third times the charm as they overcame a spirited Na Gaeil challenge by six points. The winners were inspired by a towering second half performance from county star Siofra O’Shea as she took the game to the Na Gaeil challenge, along with Muireann Teahanaround the middle who was a leading light throughout. Shonagh Fitzpatrick and Mayers Lyons were also very effective.
In many ways this game was decided in the first half. Southern Gaels, playing with the breeze, were hugely economical. The opposite could be said of Na Gaeil. With Eilis O’Connor and her sister Brid inspiring in the engine room the Killeen out spurned three fine goal chances and indeed kicked five poor wides. At the other end Southern Gaels refused to be as wasteful and made the most of every opportunity that came their way. The game began in a welter of excitement and Southern Gaels got off the best possible start when Irish basketball international Muireann Teah hit the top corner of the net after two minutes with the assist courtesy of Siofra O’Shea. Thirty seconds later and it was Na Gaeil’s turn to hit the back of the onion sack. Megan O’Connor, a leading light for Na Gaeil all through, played a great ball over the top and
ghosting inside the cover was Maria Quirke who hit the back of the net with venom. A carbon copy of the save move saw Quirke blast over close to goal and from the subsequent kickout another goal chance went abegging when the ball was kicked wide.
Down came the winners at the other end and Katie Foster shot over a fine point after good spadework from Ellie O’Connell. Na Gaeil attacked from the kickout, and excellent cover defence kept Quirke out when through on goal. Jess Gill made inroads and combined with Siofra O’Shea who bobbed and waved to put over the black spot. Unbelievably, Southern Gaels were 1-2 to 1-1 ahead despite Na Gaeil making most of the early running.
Similar to how they played against Desmonds in the semi final, Southern Gaels were lethal on the counter attack and the veteran Mayers Lyons pointed with Siun Fitzgerald following up soon afterwards after good work involving Rachel Dwyer and Lyons. Siofra O’Shea slotted a fine free from the large arc to push her side 1-5 to 1-1 ahead in the 20th minute and pressed high on the Na Gaeil kickout. Mayers Lyons added her second of the contest to push her side 5 ahead. Then came a lifeline for Niall Lucey’s side when Anna Galvin was sent to the sin bin after a
high challenge on Megan O’Connor but it was Southern Gaels who manufactured the next score when a fine turn over in defence from Cara McCrohan saw Siun Fitzgerald punish at the other end.
The last two scores of the half belonged to Megan O’Connor and Mary O’Connell though after good assists from the Eilis and Brid O’Connor but it was the south Kerry outfit that led by 1-7 to 1-3 at the break.
With the wind at their backs for the second period, it was expected that Na Gaeil would make the early running. Not so, said Southern Gaels and they really flexed their muscles in the first ten minutes of the second period. Three minutes in and a fine catch in the middle of the field from Muireann Teahan saw the now returned Anna Galvin involved and she in turn fed Rachel Dwyer who finished expertly to the back of Emma Glynn’s net. Immediately afterwards a Siofra O’Shea shot was brilliantly saved by Glynn but on the follow up the impressive Ellie O’Connell pointed when with a small bit more luck she would have hit the back of the net. O’Shea combined with Katie Foster to put the winners nine ahead in the 40 th minute and Na Gaeil looked like a beaten docket. They needed a response and in fairness to them they
provided it. From a kick out Mary O’Connell punched down to Eilis O’Connor who in turn found the rampaging Megan O’Connor. The angle was tight but O’Connor made it look easy as she finished low to the back of Mary Ellen Bolger’s net. Southern Gaels responded through Muireann Teahan and a Rachel Dwyer free, but Na Gaeil hit goal number three in the 49 th minute through the brilliant Brid o’Connor (assist Maria Quirke).
Suddenly Na Gaeil were just four behind and with the wind at their backs anything was possible. Dwyer pointed another free but Quirke responded for Na Gaeil. Then in the 59 th minute came the goal that sealed the contest when Siofra O’Shea slalomed through the Na Gaeil defence and finished in style. Jadyn Lucey popped over a late free but it was to be Southern Gaels day and Dan Fitzpatrick’s side were worthy winners.
Southern Gaels: Mary Ellen Bolger; Clodagh Dwyer, Emily O’Sullivan, Kiera Furey; Jess Gill, Anna Galvin, Cara McCrohan; Shonagh Fitzpatrick, Muireann Teahan 1-1; Mayers Lyons 0-2, Ellie O’Connell 0-1, Katie Foster 0-2; Siun Fitzgerald 0-2, Siofra O’Shea 1-2 (1f),
Rachel Dwyer 1-2f. Subs: Sadhbh Fitzgerald for M Lyons 55, Aoibhinn Fitzgerald for K Foster 58, Joanna Curran for C McCrohan 61.
Na Gaeil: Emma Glynn; Kateanne O’Connor, Deirdre Kearney, Nora O’Connell; Ciara
Gannon, Sarah Barrett, Aoife Barrett; Eilis O’Connor, Mary O’Connell 0-1; Megan O’Connor
1-2, Jadyn Lucey 0-1f, Brid O’Connor 1 goal; Maria Quirke 1-2, Meabh Barry, Meagan
Sheehy. Subs: Sienna Lucey for M Barry 39, Emma Jane O’Keeffe for N O’Connell 42, Avril
Doyle for C Gannon 56, Eimear Ni Shuilleabhain for M Sheehy 56.
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Finuge/St Senans).
Kerry Intermediate Championship Final
BY DAN KEARNEY
Bon Secours Intermediate Championship Final
Clounmacon/Moyvane 2-8 MKL Gaels 0-13
Intermediate: Clounmacon/Moyvane – picture by Darren Halpin
They showed courage, they showed skill, and when it mattered the most they showed the
resilience, fitness, and never say die attitude to claim a magnificent Kerry Intermediate
championship.
Not only that, but Clounmacxon/Moyvane can rightfully proclaim themselves a senior club
after they overcame a crestfallen MKL Gaels who for long periods of the game looked the
more likely winners.
When it really mattered though the black and amber dug deep and found the resolve to
battle back and get the big scores, something, it must be said, that has been the hallmark of
Brian Carty’s side over the past number of years.
It didn’t look that it was going to be their day when Tirna Murphy slotted over her fifth point of
the contest in the 39 th minute to push MKL Gaels five ahead. In a game as tight as this one a
0-12 to 1-4 lead looked hugely significant.
It was then that the north Kerry sides refusal to be beaten kicked in and led by the energiser
bunny that is Muirne Wall, they outscored their opponents by 1-4 to 0-1 for the last twenty
minutes of the game.
Strangely enough in the overall context of the game, Erin Finucane’s 46 th minute point was
actually Clounmacon/Moyvane’s first score of the second half as MKL had rattled over three
on the trot from the lively Sarah Fitzgerald and a brace from the excellent Tirna Murphy.
It was clear that Brian Carty’s side were growing into the game however. Prior to her point,
Finucane nearly took the paint off the crossbar with a rasper of a shot that hit Muirne Wall on
the way down and went harmlessly wide.
When things like that happen it looks like it’s not going to be your day. To be fair to
Clounmacon/Moyvane this was never in their script and it’s in their nature to fight on. Muirne
Wall turned provider once again, this time for another wall sister Ornaith, to make it 0-12 to
1-6.
Mikaela Mulvihill scored a fine individual effort to leave two between the sides and
Clounmacon/Moyvane were smelling blood now. MKL captain Mairead Lehane took a huge
hit that subsequently led to her having to go off, but a goal was coming for the winners.
Erin Finucane, a beautifully balanced and skilful player, sent a lovely ball into Kelly Enright
and as she bore down on goal she was hauled to the ground. Enright dusted herself down
and although she’d be the first to admit that her penalty wasn’t the greatest, it still found its
way to the back of the net.
Suddenly, with 58 minutes now gone in the contest, Clounmacon/Moyvane were one ahead,
2-7 to 0-12, and the whole complexion of the game was completely different. MKL looked out
on their feet but Caoimhe Evans, a leader all through, scored a magnificent individual point
to level the game once again.
As the game entered the 63 rd minute it looked inevitable that we would have extra time on a
dry crisp night in Austin Stack Park where, for once, the wind was non-existent.
Clounmacon/Moyvane were hungry to get the job finished and attacked again. Muirne Wall
got on yet another ball and was pushed, with Finucane easily tapping over the handy
fourteen yard free to seal victory.
MKL gave it one last shot and drove at the winners. Caoimhe Evans was fouled but it was a
good 30 metres out and Sarah Fitzgerald’s free fell agonisingly short. That was it –
Clounmacon/Moyvane were champions.
A remarkable victory for a Clounmacon/Moyvane side that looked second best for most of
the first half. True, they raced into a 0-3 to no score lead thanks to points from Kelly Enright,
Erin Finucane and Mikaela Mulvihill before MKL were into their stride when Sarah Fitzgerald
rattled over off the crossbar.
Tirna Murphy and Gillian Musgrave exchanged points, before the marauding Murphy raised
a white flag once more to leave the score at 0-3 to 0-4. MKL then had their purple patch.
Liath Lenihan brought a fine save out of Danielle Clemmer at the expense of a point,
although Kelly Enright did force Zeta Ashe into a fine stop at the other end after a lung
busting run from Laura Sheeran.
MKL had further points from Caoimhe Evans, Tirna Murphy and Sarah Fitzgerald to go 0-8
to 0-4 ahead with Clounmacon/Moyvane now scoreless since the 12 th minute. They needed
something and it came in the 28 th minute.
Gillian Musgrave and Erin Finucane were involved and with Kelly Enright coming off the
shoulder like a steam train, her magnificent shot left Ashe in the MKL goal helpless as the
ball struck the back of the net with venom.
Fitzgerald pointed a free for MKL to leave the score at 0-9 to 1-4 at half time but the
importance of Enright’s goal cannot be understated in the context of what was to come in the
second half.
The joy was unconfined amongst the Clounmacon/ Moyvane supporters and players as
referee John Purcell blew his final whistle and one just got the feeling that the celebrations
will last a few days.
Clounmacon/Moyvane; Danielle Clemmer; Ciara Hudson, Aisling Kelly, Ashlea Sheehy;
Ornaith Wall 0-1, Kellie McGrath, Tara Enright; Laura Sheeran; Muirne Wall; Aobha Quinn,
Mikala Mulvihill 0-2, Kelly Enright 2-1 (1 goal pen); Gillian Musgrave 0-1, Erin Finucane 0-3
(1f), Fiona Buckley. Subs: Catherine Flavin for C Hudson, Grainne Stack Mulvihill for T
Enright both 41, Ava Fitzgerald for A Quinn , Grainne Musgrave for C Flavin inj 45.
MKL Gaels: Zeta Ashe; Katie Pigott, Ellen Kelliher Roisin Daly; Eabha O’Callaghan,
Mairéad Lehane, Chloe McHugh; Ciara Murphy, Niamh Broderick; Lily Clifford, Caoimhe
Evans 0-3, Sarah Heasman; Sarah Fitzgerald 0-4 (1f), Tirna Murphy 0-5, Liath Lenihan 0-1.
Subs: Seoladh Flynn for L Clifford 37, Emma O’Sullivan for E O’Callaghan 43, Meadhbh
Rochford for L Lenihan 55, Sadhbh Curran for M Lehane inj 60.
Referee: John Purcell (Kilcummin).
