B Munster Final

U-16 Sharon O’Keeffe B Final

By Anthony Newman

Kerry 8-18

Limerick 2-6

Kerry were crowned Munster U16 B Sharon O’Keeffe Ladies Football Cup winners at Mallow on Saturday.

The Kingdom were outstanding as a team, but their captain Grace O’Sullivan certainly led by example as she finished the game with 5-6 to her name.

They had other impressive performances as well, including the likes of Holly Ryan, Erin Evans, Holly Burke, and Ali Bowler.

Limerick were in front inside the first minute when Ciara Murphy pointed from a free.

It didn’t take Kerry long to equalise, as from the restart Erin Evans played Maire Eilis Nic Gearailt in to score.

Kerry took the lead from the kick-out when Sadbh Dowling got their second point.

They put two between the sides when Grace O’Sullivan made it 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes.

A minute later and they scored the game’s first goal, with Dowling and O’Sullivan combining for the latter to find the back of the net.

Erin Evans added a point, before Kerry had two more goals in less than a minute.

O’Sullivan turned provider this time as she put Holly Burke through to score. Less than a minute later Ally Russell set up O’Sullivan for her second goal, to make it 3-4 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.

Limerick were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Sophia Neville’s effort came back off the post and the dang

er was cleared.

Murphy got Limerick’s second point, from another free, as they started to settle into the game.

They got the goal they deserved after 17 minutes when a long free in broke to Medb Kiely and she made no mistake, to make it 3-4 to 1-2.

But Kerry didn’t panic and worked the ball up the pitch as O’Sullivan got her third, and Kerry’s fourth, goal to keep them well in front.

O’Sullivan added another point, before Evans struck for their fifth goal, to make it 5-5 to 1-2 after 25 minutes.

Caoimhe O’Sullivan and Holly Burke added points for the Kingdom before Limerick got their second goal.

A free in from Emma Sommers was caught by Ava Walsh and she turned to score.

Grace O’Sullivan got a late point for Kerry as her side led by 5-8 to 2-2 at half-time.

Murphy got the first score of the second half, when she pointed from a free for Limerick with Evans replying at the other end.

Evans scored another point before Grace O’Sullivan got another goal, as the Kerry captain was well and truly leading by example, 6-10 to 2-3.

Murphy added a point for Limerick and with 45 minutes played it was 6-11 to 2-4 in Kerry’s favour.

Amy Moriarty added two points for the Kingdom, not long after coming on as a sub, before Dowling struck for their seventh goal, after 48 minutes.

Grace O’Sullivan and Evans were among late point scorers for Kerry as they ran out deserving winners on the day.

Scorers for Kerry: G O’Sullivan 5-6, E Evans 1-5, H Burke, S Dowling 1-1 each, A Moriarty 0-3, M Nic Gearailt, C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Limerick: M Kiely, A Walsh 1-0 each, C Murphy 0-5 (3f), K O’Connor 0-1.

KERRY: G O’Regan; A O’Sullivan, L O’Sullivan, E Greaney; K Griffin, A Bowler, E Allman; C O’Sullivan, A Russell; S Dowling, H Ryan, M Nic Gearailt; H Burke, E Evans, G O’Sullivan.

Subs: A Sweeney, C McNamara Moore, A Kelly, A Moriarty, M O’Connor, A O’Connor, C Heasman, E Quill, K Crowley, R Curran, E Tangney, A Noonan.

LIMERICK: K Sherin; K Dooley, A Williams, M Madigan; C Clifford, S Finnerty, K Sheehan; E Sommers, K O’Connor; K Hogan, C Murphy, M Kiely; S Neville, A Walsh, E Madigan.

Subs: G O’Donnell, C O’Sullivan, G Burton, A Dore, M O’Connor, T Doyle, O O’Connor, E Ryan, M Gleeson, R Barry, M Collins, M Conway, C Mulcahy.

Referee: David Grogan, Tipperary