Munster U16 A Championship
Round 1
Waterford 1-08 Kerry 1-08
The A fixture that threw in at 2pm saw both sides share the spoils in a low scoring encounter. Jessie Lynch opened the scoring for the home team before Waterford scored two on the bounce to go into an early lead. Alana Kirwan from play and Saorlaith Mernin from a free. Just like the seniors these sides have had tough battles over the years and Saturday was no different. Little separated the sides as the half wore on. Kerry began to get on top of the game in the final period of the first half with points from five different players. Jessie Lynch, Lily Riordan, Doireann O’Neill and substitute Sadhbh O’Halloran all getting on the scoresheet. The crucial score coming with one minute of normal time remaining. Kelsey Cummins after a fine run dispatching to the back of the net as Kerry went in at the break with a seven-point lead. Much like the first game the second have failed to live up to the same as the first for the kingdom. Waterford dominated the scoreboard in the second half allowing them to claw back the seven point gap. Kerry didn’t look in danger of losing this game but a goal by Waterford with seven minutes remaining gave them hope of causing an upset. Kerry did have chances late on take all three points but failed to capitalise on them. Kerry were reduced to fourteen in the closing stages when captain Leah Griffin received a yellow card. The home side had a chance late on but failed to covert as the sides finished all square.
Waterford:
L Bresford, M Byrne, C Cullinan (C), A O’Connor, R Shankey, N McGrath, N Woods, A Power (0-01), S Connolly, A Kirwan (1-03), F McCann, C Fennell, S Mernin (0-04 – 4f), K Desmond, M De Paor
Subs: C Beresford for A O’Connor, E Coady for C Fennell, S Daly for F McCann
Kerry: C O’Mahony, N O’Connor, E Dillane, E O’Sullivan, M O’Reilly, T O’Sullivan, S Flynn, L Griffin (0-01) (C), A Brosnan, L O’Riordan (0-01), J Lynch (0-03 2f), K Kirby, L Ní Chiobháin, D O’Neill (0-01), K Cummins (1-01)
Subs: S O’Halloran (0-01 for L O’Riordan, N Murphy for L Ní Chiobháin, I Wynton for K Kirby, S Chute for S Flynn, E Larkin for E Dillane
Referee: Mairead Dullea (Cork)
Munster U16 Sharon O’Keeffe Tournament
Round 1
Waterford 1-06 Kerry 3-11
This round 1 fixture that got moved to Dr Crokes in Killarney on Friday as Ardmore was deemed unplayable saw Kerry come away with the victory. Kerry were the better team in the early exchanges in the first half and opened up a six point lead with only ten minutes gone in the game. Grace O’Sullivan with four points as Waterford struggled to contain the full forward. Amy Moriarty and Erin Evans (free) also getting on the scoresheet. Grace O’Sullivan was alert in the Kerry goals to prevent a Waterford goal chance just before they registered their first score in the twelveth minute with a free from Ali Lyons but it did little to stem the tide as Kerry kept dominating the scoreboard. Captain Grace O’Sullivan with a further 1-01 saw the Kingdom open up a twelve-point lead with four minutes of normal time remaining. Both sides exchanged points before the interval, Doireann Power for the Déise and Erin Evans for Kerry. The second half failed to live up to the same intensity of the first. Kerry were reduced to fourteen players in the seventh minute of the second half when Katie Griffin received a yellow card. It spurred Waterford on when they scored a goal shortly after. They had a chance of another goal but Grace O’Regan pulled off another fine save. The sides exchanged points in what was turning out to be a scrappy end to the game. Kerry’s first win and the exploits and performances of forward Grace O’Sullivan and keeper Grace O’Regan proving decisive in victory for the Kingdom.
Kerry: G O’Regan, E Greaney, L O’Sullivan, E Allman, K Griffin, A Bowler, C McNamara Moore, C O’Sullivan, A O’Connor, S Dowling, E Evans (0 – 02 – 1f), M Eilís Nic Gearailt, H Ryan (0 – 01), G O’Sullivan (3 – 06) (C), A Moriarty (0-02)
Subs: C Heasman for A O’Connor, A Sweeney for S Dowling, A O’Sullivan for E Allman, A Noonan for M E Nic Gearailt, K Crowley for C McNamara Moore, M O’Connor for A Moriarty, H Burke for H Ryan, E Quill for K Griffen, A Kelly for G O’Regan
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork)
