Cork delight as they win Munster U16 LGFA title thanks to strong first against Kerry
The Cork team celebrate after winning the Munster U16 A ladies football championship at Banteer.
A superb first half, after which they led Kerry by 2-7 to 0-3, proved to be the springboard for Cork to power on and claim the Munster LGFA U16 A Championship title at Banteer recently.
Goals proved crucial for Cork, two in the first half from Isabelle O’Callaghan and Shauna Keane, and a third late in the game from inspirational captain Orla O’Brien as Kerry threatened a comeback.
O’Brien had to be replaced with just minutes remaining following an injury, but she had led from the front for the preceding 60 minutes.
If the goals were decisive then so was the contribution of midfielder Niamh O’Connor, whose four points from play kept the scoreboard ticking over.
O’Connor and her Ballincollig clubmate Ella O’Sullivan shaded midfield in a game where the Rebels never trailed.
The two Lucys, O’Brien and Kelleher, were also dominant in the central defensive roles and crucial in transitioning play from defence to attack.
Maria Humphreys also had a licence to roam forward, with the local Banteer player scoring a fine point, before having to go off with a leg strain late in the game.
Cork’s blistering start stunned Kerry who struggled to get to the pace of the game in the first half. However, the Kingdom were much better in the second thirty minutes when they outscored Cork by six points, 1-8 to 1-2, with the outstanding Casey Shanahan leading the revival.
The Southern Gaels player converted a stunning penalty that would have graced any game at any level, as well as kicking four points in a row, three from frees and one a superb score from play.
Máire Eilís Nic Gearailt, Taylor Kate Keane and Ellen Barry were also creating more room upfront than they had in the first and Kerry ate into the Cork lead.
After a difficult first half, the defence also tightened up, with Danni O’Sullivan, Sarah Chute, and Sophie O’Shea putting in big games.
The sides shared the first four points as it looked like a tight contest was about to unfold. Cork gained possession from the throw-in, and following quick inter-passing between Niamh O’Connor and Aoife Harte, Shauna Keane slotted over the opener in just twenty seconds. O’Connor doubled the lead in the next move before Kerry replied with two scores of their own, from a Taylor Kate Leane free and Nic Gearailt from play with Ellen Barry and Leane involved in the build-up.
But Kerry were to score only once more in the half as Cork racked up 2-5 in an exhibition of attacking football.
Isabelle O’Callaghan restored their lead and then O’Connor doubled it before they struck for their first goal in the 12th minute.
The defence was cut open with sublime play from O’Connor, Keane and Evie McMahon before a looping shot from O’Callaghan deceived Kerry keeper Maebh Kennedy and nestled in the net.
The play was all towards the Kerry goal as Cork followed up with three points on the bounce – Maria Humphreys kicking over following good work from O’Connor – who appeared to be involved in all of Cork’s best moves – then O’Connor herself following a quick break from defence and Abbie Ní Scannláin to make it 1-7 to 0-2 six minutes from the break.
They maintained the pressure and, a move started by Lucy O’Brien in defence was finished by Shauna Keane to the net for an 11 point lead, 2-7 to 0-2. A late free from Casey Shanahan cut that to ten points at the break.
Kerry made two changes for the second half, Anna Mangan and Mary Anne O’Shea replacing Aideen Duffy and Sadhbh Dowling. They knew the urgency for a quick start, and Aideen Power pointed an early free. Shauna Keane cancelled that out with a Cork free before a goal after eight minutes energised the Kerry revival.
A Kerry forward was brought down in the square following a goalmouth scramble, and Casey Shanahan’s penalty into the top left-hand corner was unstoppable.
Niamh O’Connor replied with a Cork point, her fourth of the game, before a Kerry purple patch brought them right back into contention.
The pressure on the Cork goal was relentless, with Shanahan, Nic Gearailt and Leane leading the charge, and the Cork defence was forced into fouling.
Shanahan duly punished that with three pointed frees, and followed up with another from play after great work in the build-up from Mary Anne O’Shea.
When Nic Gearailt kicked another point, it left just one goal between the sides, 2-9 to 1-9, with ten minutes left to play.
The momentum was very much with Kerry, but against the run of play, Cork struck for their third, and decisive, goal. It was a well-worked move, with substitute Nell Kinsella providing the final pass for Orla O’Brien to rattle the net.
Kerry came back with points from Aideen Dwyer and Ellen Barry, but couldn’t get through for the second goal that they really needed.
Referee Patrick Smith’s final whistle led to rapturous celebrations from the Cork players, subs, management and supporters, as they proved to be the province’s best with a thrilling U16 A title win.
Team captain Orla O’Brien was fully recovered from her late knock and accepted the cup from Munster LGFA president, Lorraine Royle.
S Keane 1-2 (0-1 f), N O’Connor 0-4, I O’Callaghan 1-1, O O’Brien 1-0; M Humphreys, A Ní Scannláin 0-1 each.
C Shanahan 1-5, (1-0 penalty, 0-4 f), M Eilís Níc Gearailt, Aideen Dwyer (0-1 f) 0-2 each, E Barry, Taylor Kate Leane (0-1f) 0-1 each.
L Hodman (Naomh Fionnbarra); A Walsh (Ibane Ladies), L O’Brien (Douglas), M Humphreys (Banteer); E Lynch (Rathpeacon), L Kelleher (Kinsale), M Whelton (Ibane Ladies); E O’Sullivan (Ballincollig), N O’Connor (Ballincollig); A Harte (Ibane Ladies), E McMahon (St Valentine’s), I O’Callaghan (St Valentine’s); O O’Brien (St Valentine’s), A Ní Scannláin (Naomh Aban), S Keane (St Valentine’s).
S McCormack (Mallow) for E Lynch (38), N Kinsella (Kilmacebea) for A Ní Scannláin (42), C Hanrahan (Ballycastle Gaels) for E McMahon (47), A McCarthy (Castlehaven) for A Harte (52), C Brennan (Inch Rovers) for M Humphreys (54); A O’Mullane (Mourneabbey) for Orla O’Brien (60).
M Kennedy; A Duffy, D O’Sullivan, B Ní Shúilleabháin; E O’Connor, S Chute, S O’Shea; A Dwyer, E O’Sullivan; M Eilís Nic Gearailt, TK Leane, E Barry; C Shanahan, L Keane, S Dowling.
A Mangan for A Duffy, MA O’Shea for S Dowling (both ht), H Burke for L Keane (38), L O’Sullivan for E O’Connor (52), D Sheehan for H Burke (56).
Patrick Smith, Waterford.
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