Round 2
Kerry 2-09
Waterford 0-07
Referee: J Murphy
By: Paul Murphy Kerry PRO
The Kerry minors got their provincial campaign back on track with a deserved win at home to Waterford in Cordal. The pitch was in excellent condition with a breeze running across the field. Kerry got off to a flyer with a point inside the first minute from Mary Kate Smith. Abbie Fitzpatrick responded for the visitors as both sides were showing plenty of endevour in the opening exchanges. Kerry had opened up a two point lead but Waterford were proving difficult to shake off as Kerry struggled to build on the advantage. Approaching the midway point Waterford were level with points from Clodagh Power and Treasa Ní Chrotaigh. Priya O’Donovan’s well taken score saw Kerry retake the lead as underage basketball international Muireann Teahan stretched Kerry’s lead back out to two. Waterford were not going away and would finish the half the strongest with points from Abbie Fitzpatrick and Emma Fitzgerald as the sides went in at the break all square at six points a piece.
Kerry guilty of some poor shooting in the first half saw them come out all guns blazing at the start of the second half. A well worked move saw Lucy O’Connor strike the back of the net for the Kingdom’s first goal of the afternoon. Like the first Waterford responded to reduce the deficit. It would turn out to be Waterford’s only score of the second half as Kerry showed a much improved performance in the second half. A Kerry point and another goal from Lori O’Connor saw Kerry open up a six point lead midway through the second half. Kerry substitutions played a major part in the improved second half with substitute Sadhbh O’Sullivan scoring the final point of the afternoon as Kerry ran out deserving eight point winners.
Next up for Kerry is a round three fixture away to Clare on Saturday 22nd March. Time and venue tbc at the time of print
Kerry:
A O’Shaughnessy, S Colleran, N Burke, R Daly, J Lee O’Connor, L O’Sullivan, S Randles, A O’Donoghue, L O’Connor (1-00), K Riordan (0-01, M Teahan (0-02), H Nic Gearailt, L O’Connor (1-01), M Kate Smith (0-01), P O’Donovan (0-01)
Subs: D Healy for S Colleran, S Palmer (0-01) for L O’Connor, S O’Sullivan (0-02) for P O’Donovan, R Cahill for S Randles, S Harkin for S Palmer, L O’Shaughnessy for N Burke, A McCarthy for K Riordan
Waterford:
G Corcoran, R Fitzgerald, D Roche, E Foran, G Carrigan, R Browne, M Laffan, M Kenneally, T Ní Chrotaigh, S Peters, A Butler, A Connolly, C Power (0-01), E Fitzgerald (0-03 2f), A Fitzpatrick (0-03)
Subs: K Kelly for E Foran. G O’Rourke for C Power, S Mernin for G O’Rourke, E Curran for M Kennelly, S Condon for A Connolly
