The Kerry U16 management have named their starting line up and panel for today’s Munster Final clash against Tipperary in Mallow at 4.45.

Munster U/16 Ladies Final 

Kerry v Tipperary Mallow May 5th @4.45 pm 

Kerry U/16’s will face old rivals Tipperary in the Munster U/16 final on Saturday May 5th in Mallow. The sides have a history of meeting each other since U/14 level and will be well aware of each others strengths – and weaknesses. 

The sides met in the first round of the Munster competition on March 19th but Kerry were on fire that day and recorded a 5-13 to 1-4 victory. Kerry took a 4-11 to 1-1 lead in at half time, and the shell shocked Tipperary outfit had no answer to Kerry’s pace and power. Kerry had 8 different scorers on that occasion, a fact that is bound to have pleased their manager Rory Kilgallen. 

Next up for the Kingdom girls was a home tie at John Mitchels complex against Cork. Once again Kerry were irresistible and romped to a 5-14 to 1-6 victory.  

Tipperary had a very mixed Munster campaign. After the initial loss to Kerry they also suffered a hiding at the hands of Cork when they went down on a 3-14 to 1-5 scoreline. This meant that Tipperary had to meet Cork again to have a shot at the Munster final, and they upset all of the odds as they recorded a 3-6 to 1-8 victory. Centre half forward Ava Fennessy was on fire that day and slotted over 7 points. She will have to be watched but Tipperary also had excellent performances from Caitlinn Kennedy, Queva O’Meara, Leah Cohen, Ashling Ryan and Maeve McGuigan.  

Kerry have plenty quality in their ranks as well, but they will have to be wary of the Tipperary challenge. Players like goalkeeper Ciara Butler,Rachel O’Connor, Maud Kelly, Aoife Dillane, Gemma Kearney, Rachel Dwyer,Ava Doherty, Mary O’Connell,Aisling O’Connell, Danielle O’Leary, Siofra O’Shea, Clodagh Evans,Mary O’Connor, Ella Teahan and Rachel Kilgallen have been performing very well for their side, but in fairness there is quality all through this Kerry squad. 

The team will line out as follows;

1. Ciara Butler (Castlegregory)
2. Maud Kelly (Fossa)
3. Rachel O Connor (Corca Dhuibhne)
4. Ava Doherty (Glenflesk)
5. Gemma Kearney (Castleisland Desmonds)
6. Rachel Dwyer (Southern Gaels) Captain.
7. Aoife Dillane (Austin Stacks)
8. Mary O Connell ( Na Gaeil)
9. Aisling O Connell ( Ballymac)
10. Rachel Kilgallen ( John Mitchels)
11. Danielle O Leary (Rathmore)
12. Ella Teehan(Miltown/Listry)
13. Clodagh Evans (Miltown Listry)
14. Siofra O Shea (Southern Gaels )
15. Mary Collins ( Rathmore )
16. Claire Feeley (laune Rangers)
17. Rachel Evans (Laune Rangers )
18.Ciara Mc Carthy (Abbeydorney)
19.Chloe O Connor (Firies)
20.Tara Murphy (Killarney Legion)
21.Ciara Fitzgerald (Currow)
22. Aoife Flaherty (Finuge/St Senans)
23.Fodhla Houlihan ( Laune Rangers)
24.Kerrie Ann Hanrahan (Killarney Legion)
25.Cliona Murphy( Southern Gaels)
26.Susan Cahill (Rathmore)
27.Maggie Kingston(Beaufort)
28. Andrea Nolan (Laune Rangers)
29. Elaine O Donoghue (Firies)
30. Roisin Griffin (Cromane)
Team Manager: Rory Kilgallen Selectors : Frank Mc Loughlin , Christina
Murphy, Daniel Fleming,Mick Hannafin,Joby Costello,Frances Bowler.
Physio : Lorraine Wall
Extended Panel:Paris Mc Carthy,Ellie Mc Elligott ,Lauren O Leary,Lisa Ni
Gearailt,Aoilbhe Mangan,Mairead Ni Chriobhain,Orla Dunphy,Maggie West.

Munster U/16A Championship.

Kerry 1-13 Tipperary 4-5

There was disappointment for the Kerry U/16 ladies when they exited the Munster A championship after a heartbreaking one loss to Tipperary at the John Mitchels Complex in Tralee last Saturday. Kerry also lost by the same margin to Cork the previous week, and they needed to defeat the Premier county to keep their interest in the championship alive. Kerry will certainly feel that it was a game that they could have won, but unfortunately lady luck wasn’t on their side for the second week in a row.

Kerry played with the benefit of a strong breeze in the first half and racked up 4 early points from Ceiti Ui Luing (free), Katie Buckley, Niamh Ni Chonchur and Anna Clifford. Tipperary did start to get their hands on a lot of ball and after 13 minutes Marie Creedon waltzed through the Kerry defence to tuck away a decent goal. Kerry replied once more when the lively  Niamh Ni Chonchur pointed after good support from Julie O’Sullivan. Ceiti Ui Luing put 3 between the sides when she pointed a free in the 18^th minute. Tipperary weren’t lying down and Emma Morrisson put over the bar after Robyn White in the Kerry goal saved from point blank range.From the kickout Ella Teahan scored a good point for Kerry to put them 3 head once more and while Dervla Heffernan did reply once more for Tipperary , flying Kerry winger Anna Clifford put over 2 points on the bounce on the stroke of half time to send Kerry into the dressing room with a 4 point lead, 0-9 to 1-2.

Both teams swapped early wides at the start of the second half but disaster then struck for Kerry when Ruth Butler goaled to bring the contest back to one point game. Ella Teahan and Caitlinn Kennedy of Tipperary swapped points before Anna Clifford ,with her 4^th point of the game, and Danielle O’Leary with her first off the bench,  pushed Kerry 3 ahead once more, 0-12 to 2-3 , with just 12 minutes left in the contest. Tipperary weren’t finished however and in the next 5 minutes of the game struck a fatal blow to the hearts of the Kerry girls. In the 52nd and 53rd minutes Leah Coen and Caoimhe Ryan pointed, they were followed a minute later by a Marie Creedon goal to propel Tipperary into a 2 point lead, 3-5 to 0-12. The hard working Siofra O’Shea steadied the Kerry ship with a point a minute late but Marie Creedon struck for her third goal of the game seconds later to put Tipperary in a 4 point lead ,4-5 to 0-13 with time running out. Kerry pushed on and attacked in waves as they fought to keep themselves in the game, and in the Munster Championship, but they just couldn’t get the scores to save the game. They did score a goal in the 61^st minute when Julie O’Sullivan finished to the net from close range, but it was too little too late as the final whistle sounded. Tipperary now march on to the Munster final against Cork,while Kerry are left to lick their wounds and think of what might have been.

Kerry Robyn White Rachel O Connor, Mairead Lehane Kayleigh Mc Glashan Julie O Sullivan (I goal) Kayla O Connor Meabh Mc Elligott, Siofra O Shea (0-1),Mary O Connell, Emma O Sullivan,Ceiti Ni Luing(0-2f) Anna Clifford(0-4)) Katie Buckley(0-1) Niamh Ní Chonchúir(0-2), Ella Teahan(0-2)

SUBS (Unlimited ) Cora Joy Captain,.Danielle O Leary(0-1),Caoimhe Evans, Gemma Kearney,Maedhbh Rochford .Ciara Randles  Andrea Nolan Ellen Coffey ,Aoife Dillane ,Ava Doherty Maud Kelly, .Jillian Courtney, .Rachel Kilgallen .Tara Murphy.