KERRY WERE CROWNED TG4 Munster senior football champions for the third year in succession after a hard-fought one-point victory over a spirited Waterford side at Kilmallock GAA grounds.
In many ways, Kerry had to be extremely thankful to the brilliance of goalkeeper Mary Ellen Bolger, who saved from point-blank at the death to deny Laura Cusack what surely would have been the winning goal.
A hugely entertaining first half saw the sides share three goals in a whirlwind opening 30 minutes.
Niamh Carmody and Karen McGrath shared early scores before the first goal of the game arrived in the third minute after a lightning Kerry move involving Carmody and Niamh Ní Chonchuir saw Leah McMahon palm to the back of the Waterford net.
KellyAnn Hogan replied with a free but then, in the eighth minute came Waterford’s opening goal when Katie Murray finished after a brilliant run and pass from Aine O’Neill.
We didn’t have to wait long for Kerry’s second goal, and it came in the 10th minute after a brilliant move involving Anna Galvin and Mary O’Connell who passed across goal and Emma Costello raced in to volley past Katelyn Gardner.
Hogan replied with a point for Waterford, but Bolger had to save from Clare Walsh, and frees from Hogan and a Brid McMaugh special from downtown pushed Waterford 1-6 to 2-1 ahead.
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Siofra O’Shea got three on the bounce for the winners (two frees), Hogan replied from a free after a Kerry breach, and with Kerry’s Jadyn Lucey (free) and Lauren McGregor trading scores, the sides went in level at half time, 2-5 to 1-8.
Bolger was forced into a superb block from Emma Murray three minutes into the second half before Murray and O’Shea (free) traded scores. McGregor had a chance of a goal but shot straight at Bolger. Katie Murray did reply to push the Déise one ahead, 2-5 to 1-9.
O’Shea levelled matters with a free, but Katie Murray raised another white flag for Waterford. Drama followed when Kerry’s Niamh Carmody was sent to the bin, while Roisin Rahilly scored a neat point and McMaugh replied straight afterwards.
Aishling O’Connell was denied a goal for a small square infringement, but Siofra O’Shea wasn’t to be denied when she slotted over to level the contest.
With both sides looking for a winner it was Kerry that came up trumps when substitute Danielle O’Leary slotted over, although the winners will be thankful to Bolger who saved them with her last-ditch wonder save.
As Munster champions, Kerry now go into Group 2 of the All-Ireland series with Kildare and Tipperary whilst Waterford go into Group 1 and will face Armagh and Cork.
Meanwhile, when they held off Tyrone, also by the narrowest of margins, with a 2-13 to 1-15 win in Owenbeg.
Armagh led by 1-9 to 1-8 at the break with Aoife McCoy finding the net before Slaine McCarroll responded for Tyrone.
There was little between the sides in the second half but Caoimhe McNally’s goal was decisive as Armagh held on to their crown.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Armagh manager Gregory McGonigle. “Any time you beat a Tyrone team it’s a brilliant day.”
Corner back Cait Towe was equally satisfied with the win. “We were slow to start but finished strong. Our hard work throughout the sixty minutes paid off.”
Clare won the Munster SFC B crown with a 4-13 to 2-8 win over Cork.
Scorers for Kerry: S O’Shea 0-5 (3f), L McMahon 1-0, E Costello 1-0, J Lucey 0-1f, N Carmody 0-1, R Rahilly 0-1, D O’Leary 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: KA Hogan 0-5 (4f), K Murray 1-1, B McMaugh 0-2, K McGrath 0-1, L McGregor 0-1, E Murray 0-1.
KERRY: M E Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, A Dillane; A Galvin, M O’Connell; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; J Lucey, L McMahon, S O’Shea.
Subs: D O’Leary for J Lucey (HT), E McGlynn for L McMahon (51).
WATERFORD: K Gardner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Browne; C Walsh, R Casey, K McGrath; E Murray E Power; Á O’Neill, K Hogan, K Murray; M Daly, B McMaugh, L McGregor.
Subs: C Fennell for M Daly (49), L Ní Harta for E Power (56), L Cusack for A O’Neill (60).
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Kerry secure Munster three-in-a-row after hard-fought win over Waterford
LAST UPDATE | 24 May
Kerry 2-9 Waterford 1-11
Armagh 2-13 Tyrone 1-15
KERRY WERE CROWNED TG4 Munster senior football champions for the third year in succession after a hard-fought one-point victory over a spirited Waterford side at Kilmallock GAA grounds.
In many ways, Kerry had to be extremely thankful to the brilliance of goalkeeper Mary Ellen Bolger, who saved from point-blank at the death to deny Laura Cusack what surely would have been the winning goal.
A hugely entertaining first half saw the sides share three goals in a whirlwind opening 30 minutes.
Niamh Carmody and Karen McGrath shared early scores before the first goal of the game arrived in the third minute after a lightning Kerry move involving Carmody and Niamh Ní Chonchuir saw Leah McMahon palm to the back of the Waterford net.
KellyAnn Hogan replied with a free but then, in the eighth minute came Waterford’s opening goal when Katie Murray finished after a brilliant run and pass from Aine O’Neill.
We didn’t have to wait long for Kerry’s second goal, and it came in the 10th minute after a brilliant move involving Anna Galvin and Mary O’Connell who passed across goal and Emma Costello raced in to volley past Katelyn Gardner.
Hogan replied with a point for Waterford, but Bolger had to save from Clare Walsh, and frees from Hogan and a Brid McMaugh special from downtown pushed Waterford 1-6 to 2-1 ahead.
Siofra O’Shea got three on the bounce for the winners (two frees), Hogan replied from a free after a Kerry breach, and with Kerry’s Jadyn Lucey (free) and Lauren McGregor trading scores, the sides went in level at half time, 2-5 to 1-8.
Bolger was forced into a superb block from Emma Murray three minutes into the second half before Murray and O’Shea (free) traded scores. McGregor had a chance of a goal but shot straight at Bolger. Katie Murray did reply to push the Déise one ahead, 2-5 to 1-9.
O’Shea levelled matters with a free, but Katie Murray raised another white flag for Waterford. Drama followed when Kerry’s Niamh Carmody was sent to the bin, while Roisin Rahilly scored a neat point and McMaugh replied straight afterwards.
Aishling O’Connell was denied a goal for a small square infringement, but Siofra O’Shea wasn’t to be denied when she slotted over to level the contest.
With both sides looking for a winner it was Kerry that came up trumps when substitute Danielle O’Leary slotted over, although the winners will be thankful to Bolger who saved them with her last-ditch wonder save.
As Munster champions, Kerry now go into Group 2 of the All-Ireland series with Kildare and Tipperary whilst Waterford go into Group 1 and will face Armagh and Cork.
Meanwhile, when they held off Tyrone, also by the narrowest of margins, with a 2-13 to 1-15 win in Owenbeg.
Armagh led by 1-9 to 1-8 at the break with Aoife McCoy finding the net before Slaine McCarroll responded for Tyrone.
There was little between the sides in the second half but Caoimhe McNally’s goal was decisive as Armagh held on to their crown.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Armagh manager Gregory McGonigle. “Any time you beat a Tyrone team it’s a brilliant day.”
Corner back Cait Towe was equally satisfied with the win. “We were slow to start but finished strong. Our hard work throughout the sixty minutes paid off.”
Clare won the Munster SFC B crown with a 4-13 to 2-8 win over Cork.
Scorers for Kerry: S O’Shea 0-5 (3f), L McMahon 1-0, E Costello 1-0, J Lucey 0-1f, N Carmody 0-1, R Rahilly 0-1, D O’Leary 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: KA Hogan 0-5 (4f), K Murray 1-1, B McMaugh 0-2, K McGrath 0-1, L McGregor 0-1, E Murray 0-1.
KERRY: M E Bolger; R Rahilly, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, A Dillane; A Galvin, M O’Connell; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; J Lucey, L McMahon, S O’Shea.
Subs: D O’Leary for J Lucey (HT), E McGlynn for L McMahon (51).
WATERFORD: K Gardner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Browne; C Walsh, R Casey, K McGrath; E Murray E Power; Á O’Neill, K Hogan, K Murray; M Daly, B McMaugh, L McGregor.
Subs: C Fennell for M Daly (49), L Ní Harta for E Power (56), L Cusack for A O’Neill (60).
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).
*****
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