Munster Ladies Gaelic Football Association

TG4 Senior Munster Championship – Result & Match Reports

Kerry hold off Waterford to retain TG4 Munster crown

TG4 Munster SFC final

Kerry 2-9

Waterford 1-11

By Dan Kearney

Kerry were crowned TG4 Munster SFC for the third year in succession after a hard fought one point victory over a spirited Waterford at Kilmallock GAA grounds.

In many ways Kerry had to be extremely thankful to the brilliance of goalkeeper Mary Ellen Bolger who saved from point black at the death to deny Laura Cusack what surely would have been the winning goal.

A hugely entertaining first half saw the sides share three goals in a whirlwind opening 30 minutes.

Niamh Carmody and Karen McGrath shared early scores before the first goal of the game arrived in the third minute after a lightning Kerry move involving Carmody and Niamh Ní Chonchuir saw Leah McMahon palm to the back of the Waterford net.

KellyAnn Hogan replied with a free but then in the eighth minute came Waterford’s opening goal when Katie Murray finished to the back of the net after a brilliant run and pass from Aine O’Neill.

We didn’t have to wait long for Kerry’s second goal, and it came in the tenth minute after a brilliant move involving Anna Galvin and Mary O’Connell who passed across goal and Emma Costello raced in to volley past Katelyn Gardner.

Hogan replied with a point for Waterford but Bolger had to save from Clare Walsh, but frees from Hogan and a Brid McMaugh special from down town pushed Waterford 1-6 to 2-1 ahead.

Siofra O’Shea got three on the bounce for the winners (2 frees), Hogan replied from a free after a Kerry breach, and with Kerry’s Jadyn Lucey (free) and Lauren McGregor trading scores, the sides went in level at half time, 2-5 to 1-8.

Bolger was forced into a superb block from Emma Murray three minutes into the second half before Murray and O’Shea (free) traded scores. McGregor had a chance of a goal but shot straight at Bolgerbut Katie Murray did reply to push the Déise one ahead, 2-5 to 1-9.

O’Shea levelled matters with a free but Katie Murray raised another white flag for Waterford. Drama followed when Kerry’s Niamh Carmody was sent to the bin but it was the winners Roisin Rahilly that scored a neat point although McMaugh did reply straight afterwards.

Aishling O’Connell was denied a goal for a small square infringement, but Siofra O’Shea wasn’t to be denied when she slotted over to level the contest.

With both sides looking for a winner it was Kerry that came up trumps when substitute Danielle O’Leary slotted over, although the winners will be thankful to Bolger who saved them with her last ditch wonder save.

As Munster champions Kerry now go into Group 2 of the All-Ireland series with Kildare and Tipperary whilst Waterford go into Group 1 and will face Armagh and Cork.

Scorers – Kerry: S O’Shea 0-5 (3f), L McMahon 1-0, E Costello 1-0, J Lucey 0-1f, N Carmody 0-1, R Rahilly 0-1, D O’Leary 0-1.

Waterford: KA Hogan 0-5 (4f), K Murray 1-1, B McMaugh 0-2, K McGrath 0-1, L McGregor 0-1, E Murray 0-1.

KERRY: M E Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, A Dillane; A Galvin, M O’Connell; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; J Lucey, L McMahon, S O’Shea. Subs: D O’Leary for J Lucey (ht), E McGlynn for L McMahon (51).

WATERFORD: K Gardner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Browne; C Walsh, R Casey, K McGrath; E Murray  E Power; Á O’Neill, K Hogan, K Murray; M Daly, B McMaugh, L McGregor. Subs: C Fennell for M Daly (49), L Ní Harta for E Power (56), L Cusack for A O’Neill (60).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).

By Anthony Newman

Kerry 2-9
Waterford 1-11

Kerry made it three in-a-row in the TG4 Munster Senior Ladies football championship after a hard-fought win over Waterford at Kilmallock on Sunday.

Just like last year there was nothing between the sides all through and it took a late Danielle O’Leary point for Kerry to see them emerge as winners.

A key period of the game came in the second half when Kerry were down to 14 after Niamh Carmody was sin-binned after 45 minutes.
But in the 10 minutes she was off the pitch Kerry outscored Waterford by two points to one, as the Deise failed to take advantage of the extra player.

Niamh Carmody put Kerry ahead in the first minute, with Karen McGrath replying for Waterford from their next attack.

With three minutes gone Kerry got the game’s opening goal, when Niamh Ni Chonchuir set up Leah McMahon to score, making it 1-1 to 0-1.
Kellyann Hogan pulled a point back for Waterford, before they raised a green flag.

Áine O’Neill played Katie Murray in to put her side in front, 1-2 to 1-1.
But that lead didn’t last long as with 10 minutes gone Kerry got their second goal of the half.

A mis-hit pass was pounced on by Emma Costello who volleyed the ball to the back of the net, catching the Waterford defence by surprise.
Credit to Waterford they responded in style, with Hogan hitting three in-a-row and Brid McMaugh adding another, to put them 1-6 to 2-1 in front.

Siofra O’Shea pointed from a free for Kerry and she added a second from play to level it.
With 25 minutes gone O’Shea scored again to put Kerry back in front, 2-4 to 1-6.

Waterford were back on level terms when Hogan pointed from a free after a Kerry breach.

Jadyn Lucey put the Kingdom back on front, but just before half time Lauren McGregor scored to see the sides level at break, 2-5 to 1-8.

Three minutes into the second half and it took a great save from Mary Ellen Bolger in the Kerry goal to deny Emma Murray a goal.
This was just one of several key saves she made, which saw her named as Player of the Game.

Emma Murray did get the first point of the half, with O’Shea replying at the other end.
Again, Bolger came to her side’s rescue, this time denying Lauren McGregor, to see it stay 2-6 to 1-9 after 43 minutes.

Áine O’Neill pointed for Waterford before Carmody was sin-binned.

Roisin Rahilly had Kerry back on level terms, with McMaugh scoring for Waterford.

O’Shea was on target for Kerry to level it again, before Carmody returned to the pitch, 2-8 to 1-11.

With only minutes remaining O’Leary put her side in front and late on Bolger made another save to see her side retain their title and break Waterford’s hearts again.

Scorers for Kerry: L McMahon, E Costello 1-0 each, S O’Shea 0-5 (3f), J Lucey (f), N Carmody, R Rahilly, D O’Leary 0-1 each.

Waterford: K Murray 1-0, K Hogan 0-5 (4f), B McMaugh 0-2, K McGrath, L McGregor, E Murray, A O’Neill 0-1 each.

KERRY: M E Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, A Dillane; A Galvin, M O’Connell; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; J Lucey, L McMahon, S O’Shea.
Subs: D O’Leary for J Lucey (ht), E McGlynn for L McMahon (50).

WATERFORD: K Gardner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Browne; C Walsh, R Casey, K McGrath; E Murray, E Power; Á O’Neill, K Hogan, K Murray; M Daly, B McMaugh, L McGregor.
Subs: C Fennell for M Daly (48), L Ni Harta for E Power (55), L Cusack for A O’Neill (60).

Referee: Conor McCarthy, Cork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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