Kerry booked their spot in the Munster Final after Round 2 of the Munster Senior Championship, Tipperary and Cork will meet next weekend to determine who faces them. Limerick will meet Cork in the B Final as they had a convincing win over Kerry B. Leitrim also had a comfortable win over Sligo in their encounter in the Connacht Intermediate Championship.
TG4 Munster Senior Championship Round 2
Kerry 1-14 Cork 1-10, Brosna
Kerry secured passage to the Munster Senior decider as 1-4 from Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh inspired the Kingdom to a four point win over their oldest rivals in Brosna. Tipp beating Waterford has next weekend’s tie as a winner takes all.
Cork started the better, racing into a 0-3 to 0-1 before Kerry started to settle. Niamh Carmody, Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Danielle O’Leary all struck points as Kerry fought back to lead inside the final 10 minutes of the half. Lydia McDonagh was keeping Cork within arms length but another O’Leary was followed by a goal from Ní Mhuircheartaigh after Camrody supplied a perfect ball inside. Kerry ahead 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.
Kerry tallied four quick points to start the half in strong fashion, they had survived a late scare at the end of that first half when EIlis Lynch made a goal line clearance to prevent a certain goal. The Rebelettes would get their goal, Melissa Duggan put the head down and darted right through the Kerry defence and slotted low to the net to make it 1-11 to 1-8 with 12 minutes or so left.
Two yellow cards were brandished for Kerry in succession, Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Kayleigh Cronin both sent to the bin. Despite that O’Leary extended the buffer to four as Cork had taken their chances well but in pursuit of a goal Kerry held firm.
Tipperary 4-05 Waterford 0-11, Bansha
Tipperary certainly raised eyebrows as they powered home to victory in Bansha and blew the Munster Championship wide open as either them or Cork will meet Kerry in Mallow.
It was a closely fought game until late goals from Emma Morrissey and Emer McCarthy propelled Tipp into a lead they would not squander.
Anna Rose Kennedy was the star of the show for Tipp bagging 2-1. The first goal gave Tipp the early lead but Waterford hit right back Annie Fitzgerald and three Kellyann Hogan points giving them the lead as the end of the first quarter loomed.
Kennedy grabbed a second goal before the break and as the sides swapped scores the teams would be tied at the break 2-1 to 0-7.
Again the second half was cagey with the sides still exchanging points as Tipp did hold a slender lead. With minutes left that lead would be furthered when Morrissey’s attempted point landed in the net and soon after McCarthy squeezed a shot to the net. Waterford rallied but not enough to keep their Munster campaign alive.
Munster Senior B Championship Round 2
Kerry B 0-10 Limerick 5-21, Fr Casey’s GAA, Abbeyfeale
Limerick booked their place in the Munster Senior B Championship Final with a convincing win over Kerry and meet Cork in a dress rehearsal next weekend.
It took awhile for Limerick to get going but by the break their lead was 1-15 to 0-3. Maedhbh McNamara netted the goal in the opening half as Limerick were well able to take their chances.
The Treaty women added four further goals in the second half as in the finish they cruised to victory. Máiréad Kavanagh, Karen O’Leary, Aoibhin Murphy and Cathy Mee all bulged the Kerry goal in the second half. While Deborah Murphy, Áine Cleary, Caoimhe McNamara, Grace Lee, Ellie Woulfe and Lauren Ryan all supplied points to aid their victory.
TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship
Leitrim 7-20 Sligo 0-07, Shane McGettigan Memorial Park, Drumshanbo
Leitrim powered to victory over Sligo as they recorded a win to start their Connacht Intermediate Championship campaign on a winning note.
While the game started with the sides exchanging scores Michelle Guckian found the net to move Leitrim ahead 1-1 to 0-2. Aine Redician soon found the net for a second goal for the hosts. Guckian and Muireann Devaney tallied on points before Ailbhe Clancy bagged their third goal for a 3-6 to 0-3 lead.
Laura O’Dowd added the fourth goal before the break and points by Vivienne Egan and O’Dowd had Leitrim ahead 4-7 to 0-3 at the interval. Guckian added her second goal early in the second half as Leitrim were ruthless in attack.
Muireann Deavney and Siomha Quinn added goals six and seven a short time later. Leitrim kept the board ticking over with a flurry of points, Devaney, Elise Bruen, Sarah Reynolds, Redican, O’Dowd, Guckian and Clancy all finding the target.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.