By Anthony Newman
Kerry 2-10
Waterford 0-10
Kerry were crowned Munster Minor Ladies Football B champions after a highly competitive game at Banteer on Saturday.
The game could have gone either way to the end, and it was two early goals that made the difference for Kerry, who won this title for the first time since 2023.
Both teams had plenty of impressive displays with Sibeal Ni Sheaghdha, Jamie Lee O’Connor, and Muireann Teahan impressing for the winners.
For Waterford, Clodagh Power, Ruby Browne and Lauren Fagan led by example.
Kerry got off to the perfect start when they scored their first goal, after just 20 seconds.
Muireann Teahan picked up the ball from the throw-in to find Faye Lynch and her pass put Kelsey Cummins in to find the back of the net.
That start got even better three minutes later when they scored their second goal. Leah Griffin and Brid Cutin combined to put Seoladh Flynn through and she gave Gemma Corcoran no chance of saving.
Credit to Waterford they worked their way into the game with Niamh McGrath setting up Mide McCusker for their opening point.
Clodagh Power added a second and with 18 minutes played Alana Kirwan got their third, to make it 2-0 to 0-3.
Tara O’Sullivan replied for Kerry, with Curtin also scoring, to make it 2-2 to 0-3 with five minutes to half time.
Teahan and Naoise O’Donoghue added two more to stretch their lead to 2-4 to 0-3.
Waterford kept moving forward in search of scores, with Power hitting to late points to see the Kingdom lead by 2-4 to 0-5 at half time.
Power got the first point of the second half, before she came close to scoring a goal, with her shot going just wide.
Erin Evans replied for Kerry, before Waterford had another goal chance, this time Browne’s effort going just wide.
Power scored from a point with Leah Griffin replying for Kerry. Sadhbh O’Halloran and Erin Evans were on target for the Kingdom, with Power replying, to make it 2-8 to 0-9 after 53 minutes.
Power scored again, before O’Donoghue get the final point as the Kingdom ran out winners after a close and entertaining game.
Scorers for Kerry: K Cummins, S Flynn 1-0 each, E Evans 0-3 (1f), N O’Donoghue 0-2, T O’Sullivan, B Curtin, M Teahan, L Griffin, S O’Halloran 0-1 each.
Waterford: C Power 0-8 (4f), M McCusker, A Kirwan 0-1 each.
KERRY: C O’ Mahony; R Daly, A Brosnan, S Ni Sheaghdha; S Heasman, J Lee O’Connor, A Doyle; L Griffin, T O’Sullivan; S Flynn, F Lynch, M Teahan; E Evans, B Curtin, K Cummins.
Subs: N O’Donoghue for F Lynch (22 inj), S O’Halloran for B Curtin (41), E Dillane for A Doyle (48), I Wynton for S Flynn (57), A O’Sullivan for T O’Sullivan (60).
WATERFORD: G Corcoran; E Campbell, J Whelan, L Fagan; S Peters, R Browne, K Winkle; S Connolly, K Kelly; C Power, A Power, S Condon; N McGrath, M McCusker, A Kirwan.
Subs: A Lynch for M McCusker (ht), E Power for S Condon (45), S Mernin for N McGrath (55).
Referee: Michael Sheehan, Cork.
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By Anthony Newman
Cork 4-11
Clare 1-6
Goals were the difference as Cork retained their Munster Minor Ladies Football A title after their win over Clare at Banteer on Saturday.
Cork’s goals came at critical times, especially their third in the second half when Clare were coming much more into the game.
But Cork never looked like losing this one, however credit must go to Clare who made them battle all the way, especially in the second half.
Captain Lauren Walsh was just one of many impressive displays for Cork, with Aoibheann Ryan and Sheena Veirne battling hard for Clare.
Walsh opened the scoring for Cork after three minutes and from the restart they went close to scoring a goal.
Roisin Ni Liatháin picked up the ball but her shot went just past the post.
With five minutes gone Cork increased their lead when Laura Walsh scored from a free, with Lauren Finnegan making it 0-3 to after nine minutes played.
Cork took a grip on the game when Ellen Connolly set up Autumn Devereaux for their first goal, to make it 1-3 to 0-1.
Clare got off the mark when Aoibheann Ryan pointed from a free, their only score of the half.
From the restart the same player went close to scoring a goal, with her effort hitting the side netting.
Ellen Connolly increased Cork’s lead after 21 minutes, with Walsh getting her second from a free.
Ni Liatháin increased Cork’s lead before they thought they had a penalty.
Walsh and Devereaux combined to put Ni Liatháin in, and it looked like she was fouled. But the referee deemed she had overcarried the ball and gave a free out.
Just before half time Cork got their second goal, when a high ball in from Finnegan deceived the Clare defence to find the back of the net, to see them lead by 2-6 to 0-1 at the break.
Sophie Leahy got the first score of the second half, Clare’s first from play, with Cork responding through Walsh, Aoife Treacy and Sarah O’Connor.
Ryan pointed a free for Clare but when Devereaux got Cork’s third goal it was effectively over as a contest, as she made it 3-10 to 0-3.
Ryan pulled a goal back for Clare and Ella Healy added a point to make it 1-4 to 3-10.
Healy and Ryan added scores for Clare, but fittingly Walsh got the last score of the half as Cork ran out deserving winners.
Scorers for Cork: A Devereaux 2-0, L Walsh 1-5 (3f), L Finnegan 1-1, E Connolly, R Ni Liatháin, A Treacy, S O’Connor, C O’Donnell 0-1 each.
Clare: Aoibheann Ryan 1-3 (3f), E Leahy 0-2 (2f), S Leahy 0-1.
CORK: R Duggan; S Fielding, A Collins, M Barrett; E Walsh, A Coughlan, C O’Donnell; C Ni Mhocháin, S O’Connor; A Treacy, L Walsh, E Connolly; A Devereaux, L Finnegan, R Ni Liatháin.
Subs: L O’Connor for E Connolly (46), A Ashman for E Walsh (48), A Kearney for R Ni Liatháin (52), A Kelleher for A Devereaux, E McCarthy for S Fielding (both 56).
Clare: K Dowling; A Ring, K Markham, L Darcy; A Kelly, S Beirne, H Wynne; A Talty, S Cagney; S Leahy, M Treacy, K O’Shea; Allisha Ryan, Aoibheann Ryan, N Meaney.
Subs: E Healy for Allisha Ryan, N Talty for H Wynne (both 43), J Kennedy for K O’Shea (48), O McGee for A Kelly.
Referee: Billy Cummins, Tipperary.
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By Anthony Newman
Limerick 5-5
Tipperary 2-9
Three second half goals, their only scores in that half, secured the Munster Minor Ladies Football C title for Limerick at Banteer on Saturday.
In a game that was close all through the Limerick side got the vital scores to see them emerge victorious after a game that all present won’t forget for the entertainment all through.
Both sides had their periods of dominance with Grace Hogan and Claire Fitzgerald superb all through for Tipp.
Limerick had top-class displays from the likes of Evelyn Fitzpatrick, Zoe Kilbridge and Ellen Moriarty.
Grace Hogan opened the scoring for Tipperary, with Anna Madigan replying for Limerick, who were playing with the aid of a strong wind.
A free from Hogan put Tipp back in front, before Limerick got the first goal of the half.
A shot from distance by Ellen Moriarty flew straight to the back of the net, to put her side 1-1 to 0-2 in front after 14 minutes.
Emily Franklin stretched their lead when she pointed, before Evelyn Fitzgerald made it 1-3 to 0-3 when she scored from distance, after Hogan was on target for Tipp again.
With 20 minutes gone Limerick got their second goal, when Maeve Murphy burst past several defenders to score, making it 2-3 to 0-3.
Hogan got her fourth point of the half before Limerick had two more goal chances.
Gemma Leahy’s effort came back off the post and Zoe Kilbridge picked up the breaking ball. But her effort was well saved by Abbie Hassett in the Tipp goal.
Kilbridge pointed from a free before Tipp were right back in contention as they scored a goal of their own.
Claire Fitzgerald picked up the ball near the half-way line and drove forward.
After several passes, she was on the end of the move again to score a superb goal, making it 2-4 to 1-4.
Fitzgerald pointed for Limerick but, just before half time Hogan got her fifth point of the half, to make it 2-5 to 1-5 in Limerick’s favour at the break.
Four minutes into the second half and Tipp had turned that three point deficit into a three point lead.
From the throw-in Fitzgerald for her second goal to level it, with Hogan, Elena Cody and Aoibhinn Casey adding points, to make it 2-8 to 2-5 in Tipp’s favour.
They were then awarded a penalty, but Beanne Larkin saved Hogan’s effort to keep only three between them.
The sides were level again, after 45 minutes, when Emily Franklin got Limerick’s third goal, to make it 3-5 to 2-8.
Claire Fitzgerald pointed for Tipp, before Limerick got their fourth goal.
Ailbhe MacNamara picked up the ball deep in her own half, took on the Tipp defence and beat several defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the back of the net, to make it 4-5 to 2-9.
Late on they got their fifth goal, when Kilbridge scored, to seal their win after a highly entertaining game.
Scorers for Limerick: E Franklin, Z Kilbridge (f) 1-1 each, E Moriarty, M Murphy, A MacNamara 1-0 each, E Fitzgerald 0-2, A Madigan 0-1.
Tipperary: G Hogan 0-6 (3f), C Fitzgerald 2-1, E Cody, A Casey 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: B Larkin; A MacNamara, K O’Donnell, E Moriarty; G Hunt, G Fitzgibbon, E Fitzgerald; E Robertson, S Behan; G Leahy, M Murphy, C Murphy; E Franklin, Z Kilbridge, A Madigan.
Sub: A O’Sullivan for E Robertson (36).
TIPPERARY: A Hassett; Z Cosgrove, S Lonergan, S Hannafin; A Gleeson, T Doyle, U O’Farrell; E Cody, A Browne; A O’Connor, A Casey, C Fitzgerald; C O’Neill, G Hogan, A Smith.
Subs: R O’Brien for A Smith (23), Z Hennessy for A O’Connor (52), A Butler for A Browne (55), Z McCarthy for E Cody (60).
Referee: Grainne Sands, Down.
