1. Goals key to Kerry’s charge
By half-time, Kerry had one hand on the Brendan Martin Cup. With 15 minutes to go, they were inevitable winners and by the time their third goal arrived, they were coasting through a victory lap.
They had 12 points to spare at full-time, with goals from Aoife Dillane, Hannah O’Donoghue and Emma Dineen accounting for much of the damage. Dillane was the first to lift a green flag with a brilliant run from half-back to complement some clever link play between Niamh Carmody and Aisling O’Connell before looping her shot over the head of Galway goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower, who was caught too far forward from the goal line.
With just 30 seconds remaining in the first half, that score put Kerry into a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the break. Substitute Hannah O’Donoghue supplied the second goal shortly after her introduction to put Kerry 11 points clear. There was no way for Galway at that point but Emma Dineen turned the screw again with Kerry’s third goal to leave the scoreline reading 3-14 to 0-10.
Galway kept their net clear in the semi-final win over Cork and only conceded one goal against Dublin in the quarter-final, while scoring five of their own across both games. Kerry had scored just one goal across the quarter-final and semi-final victories against Meath and Armagh. The prospect of ending that long wait for an All-Ireland title inspired a three-goal feast in Croke Park.
2. Kerry’s big players stand up
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh had one of her quieter games in last year’s All-Ireland final, where Dublin defender Leah Caffrey limited her to 1-1 from play. She cut a far more dominant figure yesterday, with four from play and looked far more involved in general play. And after 17 years of service to Kerry, she was honoured with the All-Ireland medal that had always eluded her.
Anna Galvin, another experienced player in the team, was excellent at midfield. She tapped over a point from play and carried possession through the middle strongly throughout the game. Team captain Niamh Carmody was also lively as was Síofra O’Shea who curtailed Nicola Ward’s influence with her performance at centre-forward.
Full-back Kayleigh Cronin was named the Player of the Match after anchoring a defensive effort which kept Galway to just seven points from play. Her opponent Emma Reaney was also the first Galway player to be withdrawn in the game after 24 minutes.
3. Inexperience costs Galway
Sisters Nicola and Louise Ward were all on the pitch for Galway’s 2019 All-Ireland final defeat to Dublin, as were Olivia Divilly and Charlotte Cooney.
But that experience from five years ago was simply no match from the hurt that Kerry had accumulated in their 2022 and 2023 All-Ireland final defeats. Galway had just three points on the board by half-time, one of which was a Róisín Leonard free. That, allied with the goal late in the first half, left Galway with too much of a mountain to climb in the second half.
Nicola Ward, who normally devastates teams with her surging runs, was too occupied by O’Shea to add to their attacking play. Divilly left Croke Park yesterday with two points from play while Cooney also split the posts in the second half.
Of their six starting forwards, Divilly, her sister Niamh, and Leonard were the only ones to score from open play. Their combined tally was 0-8, including four frees. After taking a major scalp in the quarter-finals by eliminating defending champions Dublin, and overcoming Cork in the semi-final, Galway were unable to produce another performance of that quality in the decider.
4. Kerry’s faith in management team
In the aftermath of their win, the Kerry players pointed to the management team of Declan Quill and Darragh Long as being critical in summoning another effort after consecutive All-Ireland final defeats. The inclusion of some of their more experienced players was conditional on Long and Quill remaining at the helm.
The pair had even privately agreed to step down after last year’s defeat to Dublin. But after speaking to players in the aftermath of that defeat, they endeavored to come back with the single focus of winning the All-Ireland.
Ní Mhuirtcheartaigh spoke of her affection for the duo when she spoke to the Sunday Game after the final and how crucial they were to Kerry’s success.
“When Darragh and Declan came in to help in 2019, we knew there was something in them. They got us to believe again. When they came in, the belief was down on the ground. We didn’t believe at all that this dream would ever come true. They instilled that belief in us. It was frightening how fast they did is as well. I absolutely love them; I’m forever grateful for every single one of that management team.”
5. One-sided final a disappointing spectacle
The Ladies All-Ireland final triple-header opened with two absorbing contests. The junior decider saw Fermanagh barely edge Louth by two points, while Leitrim managed to withstand a late fightback from Tyrone to clinch the intermediate crown.
The senior final was intended to be the blue riband event, and a tight contest was the forecast for Kerry and Galway. But it was essentially over as a contest by half-time after that Aoife Dillane goal. Galway, to their credit, tried to eat through the gap in the second half but Kerry’s defensive line was impenetrable.
Dublin were the clear winners in last year’s final, but the difference was just five points at full-time in that clash while Kerry’s three-goal display put a considerable difference between the sides in this year’s final.
Additionally, there seemed to be less of a focus on the build-up for the 2024 final which may have been caused by a clash with the Olympics. A crowd of 30,340 was recorded in Croke Park which is down from the attendance numbers at Ladies All-Ireland finals in recent years. Dublin and Meath were in some of those finals, counties which are closer to Croke Park, but other factors may have contributed to the lower turnout.
There were men’s club championship games in Kerry at the weekend, along with the senior hurling final where Abbeydorney ended a 50-year wait to become champions. That may have diverted attention away from the Kerry Ladies. After last weekend’s All-Ireland men’s final against Armagh, many Galway fans may not have been able to travel to Dublin again in successive weekends. Their county is also in the camogie All-Ireland final against Cork this coming weekend.
Unfortunately that was like watching a game from 2018/19 Limericks persistent fouling not being blown. Jack O’Connor had 3 Limerick lads hanging out of him at one stage and no free. Maybe just an Alan Kelly thing but hopefully the powers that be haven’t stepped in here because of Kielys comments against Galway
@Jamie Bent: stick to old Trafford jamie
@Jamie Bent: bang on. Cork B team wasn’t too bad. The young lads did ok
@Jamie Bent: in fairness Jamie I think you’ve been influenced greatly by the whole narrative about limerick fouling. The same used be said about the great kk team. Its a tough game, let them at it, I think the refs are blowing for the softest stuff now. There wasn’t a dirty stroke in that game, it’ll get a lot more intense in championship, do we want refs blowing up everything? If there’s no dangerous shots then let them play
@Jamie Bent: talking out through your hoop
@Jamie Bent: ah start beating a different drum lad, getting beyond boring now.
@Sean Barry: nothing to fear in 4 weeks so, should be wiping that Limerick team outta the way once the A team is back. Roll on qualifiers for us.
@Sean Barry: what about the b limerick team.
@Jamie Bent: did you actually watch the game, pretty sad trolling bud.
@Jamie Bent: So limerick didn’t foul in 2020 when they won everything and went unbeaten.Fair point.
@Daniel Roche: Too easy rattle the Cork biys. Limerick missing almost as many as Cork tonight.
@Jamie Bent: hurling might not be for you lad. They’re a big physical team, like the tipp teams of past, or KK, or even Cork themselves during Diarmuid Ó Sullivan time. If you can’t mix it and match it at inter County level then go home. Waterford were well able for them a few weeks ago and galway before that.
@Jamie Bent: get over yourself. Limerick by far the better team. It’s a contact sport. 4 weeks time will be alot closer….
@Daniel Roche: Limerick had 9 of their all Ireland team, that B. Cork had a bunch of kids
@Sean Barry: so missing over a third of the team,ya and we will need to really improve, very poor from limerick.
Limerick will take some beating this year. Cop on media and give them a break. They only won an all Ireland a few weeks back ye expect them to hit the ground running. And stop putting the pressure on referees to influence the way they play the game. They are super team who play on the edge the way every county would love to see their team playing. I love watching them and their hunger and desire to compete is incredible. Shades of the greatest team to play the game a few years back. From a Kilkenny man.
@James Fox: only people putting pressure on the refs are KK former players and limerick people.
@James Fox: 25 weeks back wasn’t it?
@Shane Roche: yes about that. So if the All Ireland was the middle of August as it should be would you expect them to be back hitting the ground running in the middle of December. No I didn’t think so
Lynch an absolute wizard
Limerick needed to put that performance out. Absolutely dominant in all aspects. Allowed Kiely to put out his whole bench early into second half. Always felt like limerick took the foot off the pedal and looked like they had a few more gears if they wanted. Cork definitely aiming to bang goals and to be fair when they did get on those 1v1 situations they looked dangerous and have a few youngsters that look like solid future players. Limericks tackling is improved they are clearly trying to be more accurate in the tackle and its working. Nonsense hearing people give out about the swarm when no fouls are being committed it’s just crowding out the oppositionplain and simple. Any team in the country would give anything to have the ferocity and work rate limerick bring to the tackle.
Limerick were utterly dominant but it was a very inexperienced Cork team. I hope we learned some valuable lessons in terms of puck outs but I won’t hold my breath. Limerick must be red hot favourites in 4 weeks time.
UTR
@Harry Corry: not red hot but favs all the same, your forward line is easily one of the most deadliest when given space, let’s not build this up to be a Limerick cakewalk, it will be far from it. Given space and some clinical finishing, goasl there for that Cork side, but replicate the same puckout strategy and you’ll need the 4 or 5 goals to keep in it, gonna be a cracker.
The fact Cork look so nervous doing the short game says it all. Needs to change. Not a major gulf in scoreline in the end but cant help but feel Limerick had a few more gears if needed.
Limerick very dominant today but that was a very young and inexperienced Cork team and I’m going to call it that Cork are keeping their cards close to their chest this year and it wouldn’t surprise me if they win Munster this year .
@Finnster: think none of the teams are fully firing yet , you could pick a name out of the hat at the moment for Munster, Tipp, Cork, Waterford will all fancy their chances and we will have to be at it from the start to justify being favourites.
Will be a great battle this year for Liam , Kilkenny and yourselves will be up for it also and will not fear anyone.
Can’t wait for championship to start.
Cork not at much tonight. Limerick did as well as expected. Championship will be a different kettle of fish.
Really laid down a marker there i must say. Last few weeks put to bed. The new guys adding to competition as well.
@Conor Houlihan: Not so sure about that. The game was pretty much shadow boxing by Cork. They lacked the work rate of the first 3 games.
Between scores and wides Limerick had in excess of fifty scoring attempts. Challenge match type stuff.
Delighted with that all the moaning will stop now for a few weeks
Delighted to get a good performance. Might get the pundits to lay off limerick about how they weren’t scoring enough and giving away 2 may frees. Ok they did give a good few in the second half.I know Cork were missing players, limerick were also. 4 weeks time will be alot closer but good preparation anyway. Also said limerick don’t get goals but if u can score 30 plus pints and 22 wides. U don’t need goals.
Lot of limerick fouling but this is what cork have to face. All these years they still get blown out of every tackle. I know they were kids but still
@Finbarr O Donovan: cork put more fouls in than limerick , two very young teams out there , both teams giving players their chances . Young leaving cert students o neill And Coughlan for limerick are finds of the season , kiely will manage them well . Limerick are still only building up momentum , not at their best at all yet .
Most boring match I have seen for a while. Limerick play like robots
@SandraMeyler: so you don’t like watching skillful players,Cian lynch is one of the most skillful players in the country,if that is like robots,hope more copy him.
@SandraMeyler: so what do ye know in Carlow about hurling?