U16’s retain Munster title after titanic battle.

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Congratulations to our U16 “A” Munster Champions

 

Kerry 2-9 Cork 2-5.
Kerry had to dig deep and endure a last 10 minute running battle with Cork to retain their Munster crown, which played in wet greasy conditions in the Mallow GAA Complex and was your typical championship game as both sides refused to lie down.

Erica McGlynn opened the score for the visitors in the opening 4th minute from play as their first 2 attempts, both from frees sailed wide of the posts, Cork had one attempt in the 8th as Cork captain Ciara McCarthy let loose from inside the 20′ and Kerry were relieved and had the crossbar to thank as the ball rebound and Kerry cleared their lines.
But Cork then applied more pressure as McCarthy and full forward Ava Looney worked a ball to player of the match Katie Quirke who raised the green flag and the Rebels lead by 2, but Kerry then replied with 3, 2 from play from Erica McGlynn and 1 from a free from Fadhna Tagney to give Kerry a slender 1 point lead at the end of the first quarter..
In the 17th minute Anna Clifford put Kerry 2 ahead and Cork reduced the margin again to one as Quirke pointed from a free as Aileen McGrath was fouled just outside the 13m line. Both sides stood solid and it was the game of backs and forwards as both sides attempted to break each other down and Kerry were first to do so, in the 22nd minute as Mollie O’ Carroll received a pass from Aoife O’Callaghan and she went low and hard past the Cork keeper to go ahead in the closing minutes before the short whistle. Both side traded points entering injury time which was about 3 minutes as Cork’s corner back took a knock and was replaced and Kerry had 2 efforts, first was wide from Aoife Callaghan and the Fadhna Tagney effort gave Kerry a 4 point lead at half time 1-6 to 1-2.
At the restart Cork further reduced the deficit by 2 from the boots of corner forward Kate Dennehy and Quirke as Cork dominated the opening 20 minutes of this half and had several efforts go wide much to the relief of the opposition as Kerry in fact didn’t register a response until the 21th min as Erica McGlynn pointed from play to restore a 3 point advantage.
Kerry made changes as they introduced Julia O’Sullivan and Céiti Ní Luing in place of Ally Ní Mhathuna and Molly Carroll and positional changes instilled a push forward and Niamh Ní Chonchuir pointed as she took the pass from Brid Ryan as Kerry now hold a lead of 4 and Corks reply was sharp and to the point as Kate Donnelly unmarked received a pass from outfield and drilled it to the Kerry net reducing Kerrys advantage to a a single point, Kerry 1-08 Cork 2-3 with 24 minutes gone on the clock.
As Cork were continuously advancing and really upping the ante, the clock stopped for an injury to Sophie Lynch and this gave Kerry breathing space and on the resumption McGlynn again put the Kingdom ahead by 2 and not for the faint hearted, the pulsating closing minutes of this Munster U16 “A” final had spectators on the edge of their seats as Corks player of the match Katie Quirke drilled one low to the Kerry net, but amid the cheers and roaring of the home supporters, the referee signaled the player had over carried the ball and both umpires crossed the flags, disallowing the goal. Quirke replied with Corks last score in the 37th minute and Kerry then added to the late drama as Fadhna Tagney launched a high ball into the Cork square and both the Cork keeper Sarah Murphy and Kerry’s Brid Ryan both jumped high and the jury is still out on the last touch but who ever or what ever the name on the goal will not bother Kerry as the full time whistle blew on the kick out and Kerry had the ability to make crucial scores, when the chips were down and Cork pressing down on them in the final minutes, is what saw them through. Final score Kerry 2-9 Cork 2-5

Congratulations to captain Ciara O’Brien, our U16 Management and her team mates for serving us a fantastic, trill a minute and nerve wrecking Munster U16 “A” final victory.

 

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Kerry Team:
1 Laura Teahan (Kilcummin), 2 Kate Maher (Kilcummin), 3 Ally Ni Mhathuna (Corca Dhuibhne), 4 Ciara O’Brien CAPT (Laune Rangers), 5 Anna O’Reilly (Fossa), 6 Tara Breen (Beaufort), 7 Ciara Murphy (Milltown/Listry),
8 Sophie Lynch (Listowel Emmets), 9 Brid Ryan (Rathmore), 10 Fiadhna Tangney (Beaufort), 11 Erica McGlynn (Fossa), 12 Anna Clifford (Fossa), 13 Aoife Callaghan (Rathmore), 14 Niamh Ni Chonchuir (Corca Dhuibhne), 15 Mollie O’Carroll (Austin Stacks).

Scores:

SUBS Used: 17 Labhaoise Walmsley (Castleisland Desmonds) for Ava Clifford, 21 Julia O’Sullivan (Rathmore) for Ally Ní Mhathuna, 23 Céiti Ní Luing (Corca Dhuibhne) for Molly Carroll, 22 Jadyn Lucey (Na Gaeil) for Sophie Lynch (Inj) and 19 Rachael Fitzgerald (Rathmore) for Aoife Callaghan..

Subs: 16 Dasha Puzanova (Dr Crokes), 18 Kayla O’Connor (Castleisland Desmonds), 20 Kate Stack (Dr Crokes), 24 Ellen O’Sullivan (Inbhear Sceine Gaels).

Management Team
Manager: Graham Shine (Listowel Emmets).
Selectors; Joanne Brosnan and Julie Brosnan (both Scartaglin).