Kerry V Donegal Match Report

Tuesday, 19 July 2011 22:32

Kerry opened the scoring in the 3rd minute as Clare O’Sullivan pointed from a free, which was cancelled out by Donegal’s Emma Mc Grory. Kerry at times in the first qtr had ample opportunities to forge ahead but were let down by bad finishing as they had 3 wides from inside the 20 metre line. Both teams traded scores with a Clare O’Sullivan free and Donegal’s Ciara Grant from play.

Grant converted another from play as the half back line were caught napping, then a high ball caught by Michelle O’Connor slipped from her grasp and Grant drilled it low to the net, giving Donegal a 4 point lead. Kerry were at odds and not settled, though playing with the aid of the breeze all of their efforts were going astray. Kerry made 2 major switches as Caoimhe O’Sullivan went to corner back and Maeve Barry switched with Laura Sheeran to the midfield position. Donegal’s midfielder Tanya Kennedy then passed a well fielded ball to Lorraine Molloy, who was left unmarked and Kerry paid the price for sloppy defending as she raised the green flag giving Donegal a 7 point lead. In the closing minutes of the half O’Sullivan pointed 2 efforts to reduce the margin to 5 at the half, Donegal 2-04 Kerry 0-05.

At the restart another 2 from O’Sullivan reduced the margin to 3. Then in the 5th minute Donegal’s Tanya Kennedy received a yellow card, but leaving the field with a heated exchange with referee Richie O’Connor, she then received a red. Maeve Barry took the free and Nicole O’Connor put it low past the keeper to level the game 2-04 to 1-07. Donegal edged ahead from the boot of Niamh McLaughlin but Claire O’Sullivan cancelled this out with her effort and at the end of the 3rd qtr it was level pegging Donegal 2-05 Kerry 1-08. Having the numerical advantage, Maura O’Connor left her corner back position and worked as a sweeper in front of Ciara Grant, with the aid of Eibhlis Dillon, both stopped every Donegal attack in the last quarter.

Leanne Mangan pointed from play, but Donegal did reply with their last score to level as sub Roisin Curran pointed from play. Kerry half backs of Brid O’Connor, Maura O’Connor and Megan Galvin closed ranks on Donegal and Megan Galvin failed several of Donegal’s attacks and from Galvin, a ball sent to Laura Rogers was sent in to Nicole O’Connor who pointed, giving Kerry a slender 1 point lead by the 22nd minute. Both teams in the next 6 minutes gave it everything as they both pushed each other to the limit and could not convert their effort. Until in injury time a Megan Galvin clearance to Mangan was sent in high to O’Connor who gathered outside the small square, the Donegal backs crowded her but Nicole saw O’Sullivan free and from the pass O’Sullivan pointed to give a 2 point lead. From the kick out Referee Richie O’Connor blew for full time and now Kerry advance to the All Ireland A Shield Final in a couple of weeks time.

Final Score Kerry 1-11 Donegal 2-06