Kerry Ladies Football Inter County

[Mickmack]

On TG4 at 6.30 today against Armagh.

Best of luck to them.

[Mickmack]

KERRY FOOTBALLER CAROLINE Kelly knew that she had a decision to make.

Caroline Kelly and Ciara McAnespie
Source: Lorraine O'Sullivan/INPHO


After seven years of commuting from Naas to Kerry for county training, the nine-hour round journeys were starting to impinge on her football.

Hamstring injuries were becoming an issue and she was also suffering from back pain.

All of the aches were attributed to the excess driving, and although she enjoyed her life as a teacher based in Naas,

Kelly knew she had to take action if she wanted to preserve her career for a while longer.

It definitely was a struggle and I was quite happy in Naas, but at the same time something had to go — the football or the job,” she told The42 at the launch of the TG4 All-Ireland football championships.

“The job in Wicklow left and I relocated back home. Definitely, it is much easier now and definitely as I get older, the car journeys took their toll a bit more on me and it was time for me to move back home.”

Now captain of the Kerry seniors, Kelly resides in Killarney, which is just a half hour’s drive from Kerry’s training base in Tralee.

It’s a notable reduction on the time she spent driving to training previously.

There would be Wednesdays,” she continues, “and I would go to work as normal, get straight into the car, down to Tralee for training. Train for around an hour and a half or two hours, and by the time I’d get back up to Naas, it’s gone past midnight.

“You have Thursday free, you’re exhausted and you’re back down the road again on Friday.

“I suppose you’re just so focused on why you’re doing it. It’s almost looking back now you that you’re realise it probably was a bit of madness.

“At the time, you’re in the zone and you want to do everything you can, everyone has the same goal.
“My body decided to relocate. I’m back down in Killarney now and it’s so much easier. I appreciate the half hour drive to training.”

Kelly guided Kerry to a senior Munster title earlier this season, following a two-point victory over a Waterford side who have just joined the senior ranks after winning the All-Ireland intermediate title last year.
Kerry accounted for old rivals Cork on the way to provincial glory, but were previously beaten by Waterford earlier in the campaign.


The Kingdom, according to their captain, were guilty of putting out an error-strewn display against the Déise that day, and were eager to atone for their mistakes when the sides met again in the decider.

Previous Munster championships were primarily contested by Cork and Kerry, and Kelly remarks that Waterford have increased the level of competition in the senior championship since their arrival.

“They’ve really rejigged the Munster championship this year in beating Cork as well as ourselves. Credit to them, they have stepped it up completely. Their intensity the first day was something that we definitely couldn’t match.

“We struggled at certain times in the Munster final and thankfully, we got over the line. But yeah, they’re an up and coming side and I wouldn’t fancy meeting them in the qualifiers.
“We made very basic errors that day against Waterford, very uncommon handling errors for us. It probably was our first day out and maybe we weren’t up to the pace of championship. Waterford certainly were that day and were deserved winners because of it.”

Following on from that Munster title triumph last month, Kerry are finally resuming their championship campaign today, as they take on Armagh in the TG4 All-Ireland quarter-final.

Cork remain in the hunt to defend their All-Ireland title, having come through their assignment against Monaghan last weekend. And although there is talk of an apparent decline in the reigning champions due to the loss of some key players, they are still favourites to be in the All-Ireland final again this September.


Kerry are one of the few teams who have beaten Cork in previous championship campaigns, and yet, they would not be considered one of the teams expected to join Cork in that All-Ireland decider.

But Kelly insists that a quietly confident Kerry are happy to prepare in peace, while others put the expectations on Cork and Dublin.

We’ve absolutely no problem giving the attention to Cork and Dublin, but we feel that we’re up there with the rest of them as well. We mightn’t get the publicity but that’s not our concern in the slightest.

“We’re happy to keep working quietly away in the background. We’re going to try and just work hard for the next few weeks.

“I think maybe teams mightn’t have that psychological fear of Cork as it goes on. Teams are changing, and even the Cork team are changing.

“When it came to the campaign this year, there was a lot of players in the Cork panel that I didn’t recognise, whereas other years I would have known every single player nearly after playing them so many times.

Things are changing but you’re never going to write Cork off. Any team that would, would be foolish to do so. They’re always going to be fantastically strong.”

Kelly is into her 14th year of playing senior inter-county football for Kerry, and this is the first season in which she has held the honour of captaining the side since getting the call-up.

She appreciates the level of responsibility that this role brings, and crucially, she’s pleased to see the team evolve from being a side that struggled to find the answers when games went against them, into a composed unit that can recover and work their way back into the tie.

Bringing home the Munster trophy is a nice way to reward the Kelly family for the years they have invested in supporting their daughter’s endeavours, and Caroline hopes to bring home more trophies in the future.

She’s working away quietly with Kerry to make that happen.

“It was lovely, and it was nice for my family as well who have been following along for years. At least, they have a trophy at home now for all their hard work over the years as well.

“It was extra special, but we’ll see what comes next.”

[Mickmack]

Fourth successive semi spot on the line for Dublin, Déise drive, and Armagh look to unlock the Kingdom

There’s an All-Ireland quarter-final double-header down for decision in Nowlan Park today.


ladies football Waterford and Dublin, and Armagh and Kerry are all vying for All-Ireland semi-final spots.

WE’VE WELL AND truly hit the business end of the All-Ireland ladies senior football championship.

Provincial campaigns have been left in the past, the qualifiers are over, and we’re down to the last eight sides in the country. The first of the quarter-finals are down for decision this weekend, with a highly anticipated double-header on the agenda in Nowlan Park.

The earlier of the two clashes sees last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Dublin lock horns with in-form Waterford [throw-in 4.45pm, live on TG4].

Having coasted through Leinster, Mick Bohan’s Sky Blues face their toughest test to date in the Déise, who tallied up massive wins in Munster over ladies football kingpins Cork and Kerry.

Despite falling to the Kingdom on their second meeting — the provincial decider — Pat Sullivan’s charges have since backed up their sensational win over the Rebels with a gutsy comeback to beat Cavan two weeks ago.

Their potent inside forward line of Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty and Aileen Wall — who bagged a vital late goal to secure their quarter-final place — will have a huge say if they are to swing the result in their direction and knock Dublin out of the championship.



Meanwhile, Bohan has chosen an experienced starting fifteen to rise to the challenge, 12 of whom started in last year’s All-Ireland final. Three-time All-Star forward Lyndsey Davey’s return from injury will come as a huge boost to the Leinster champions, but there’ll be huge pressure on their star-studded defence to manage Waterford’s numerous threats.
In this year’s campaign to date, Dublin haven’t been truly tested as such, so they’ll be expected to step up to the mark and prove their worth in Kilkenny if they are to reach their fourth All-Ireland semi-final in-a-row. Waterford, on the other hand, have come through an intense, competitive provincial championship, on top of their titanic battle with the Breffni, which should stand to them.

“Dublin and Waterford don’t have a lot of history in the last decade,” former Dublin goalkeeper Cliodhna O’Connor noted this week on the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s video preview of the fixture.

“There’s a bit of the unknown which can be challenging. You don’t really know what you have to deal with, for both sides.
“Dublin have been ok so far this year. They’re not the finished article, they’ve a lot of room to improve. They really have to attack Waterford fast, and catch them off guard.

“Waterford are good, but I don’t think they’re at Dublin’s level yet.”

The last time the two counties met in the championship was 10 years ago. On that day in 2007, Dublin came out on top by a single point. Since then, their last competitive fixture was in the 2011 Division 2 National League. A host of players who contested the Dublin victory that year will feature today.

In the second quarter-final tie of the day, newly-crowned Munster champions Kerry face a stiff challenge in the form of an energetic Armagh side [throw-in 6.30pm, also live on TG4].

The Kingdom have been knocking on the door throughout the All-Ireland stages over the past few years, but before their Croke Park appearance in 2012, they hadn’t featured in a decider since their win in 1993.

“They’ve been threatening for the last number of years, but they have not delivered,” O’Connor says. “They will be ambitious that they want to be All-Ireland contenders.

“I think they need to prove themselves against Armagh. If they really and truly believe they can win an All-Ireland — this is the thick of championship now — they have to start producing performances that make us, and themselves, believe that they really have quality.

“There’s no doubt about it that Kerry are good, it’s are they good enough? They keep falling short, and they’re just missing key pieces every year. They’re nearly there. But what’s going to be different this year?”

Graham Shine’s charges are another side who will draw huge confidence from their Munster campaign this year, having won the title and edged Cork en route to the final.

With Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh, Anna Galvin and Laura Rogers just three of their dangerous forwards, Kerry boast a strong side on paper, while the Orchard county have several stars of their own.

Despite an early provincial exit at the hands of eventual champions Donegal, and a qualifier scare to Westmeath two weeks ago, Armagh will fancy this as their real chance to break through and make a mark.

If they are to do so, they’ll look to the abundance of talent and experience of stalwart midfielder Caroline O’Hanlon, along with one of the most promising forwards in the country Aimee Mackin.

Both sides met earlier this year, with Kerry running out 0-11 to 0-9 victors in the Division One National League. After an up-and-down campaign, Armagh were relegated, but they pulled off shock wins over Cork and Dublin on their way down from the top-flight.

That’s all in the past now though. All eyes are on Nowlan Park today, and the coveted All-Ireland semi-final spots on offer.


With reigning All-Ireland champions Cork and last year’s semi-finalists Mayo through to the last eight to face Galway and Donegal respectively next weekend, the focus is on today first as we discover our first semi-final pairing.


All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-finals:
Dublin v Waterford (Nowlan Park, 4.45pm)
Kerry v Armagh (Nowlan Park, 6.30pm)

[Mickmack]

If the Kerry men have James O'Donoghue (JOD), then the ladies have HOD or Hannah o Donoghue. She is 16 years of age and was an absolute revelation today scoring 1.04 from play and winning the equivalent of MOTM. She wore 25 and played at corner forward. Uncannily like JOD, i wonder is she related to James.

Kerry won by 4 points in the end and now face Dublin in the semi final.

The main thing is that Kerry are no longer depending on Loiuse Moriarity for scores.

The Kerry keeper is weak on the kickout but made two brilliant saves to atone.

They might not be physically strong enough for Dublin but they will give it a mighty rattle and deserve our support.

[Mickmack]

By Jackie Cahill at Nowlan Park

RTÉ Sport reporter

Teen sensation Hannah O’Donoghue produced a sparkling senior debut as Kerry stormed into the TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship semi-finals.

The Kingdom will face Dublin in a mouth-watering clash on August 26, after claiming a six-point victory over Armagh in Saturday evening’s quarter-final at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.

O’Donoghue, an underage Republic of Ireland soccer international, collected 1-4 from play, while experienced attacker Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh added 1-3 for the Munster champions.

Graham Shine’s Kerry were two points down at half-time, 2-7 to 2-9, but they outscored Armagh by 1-7 to 0-2 in the second half.

Kerry were much the better side after the break – and Armagh suffered a massive blow with 11 minutes left when Niamh Marley was sin-binned.

While 16-year-old O’Donoghue caught the eye for Kerry, Aimee Mackin was superb for Armagh, particularly in the first half.

The Shane O’Neills player went into battle nursing a hand injury but still finished with 2-4, including 2-3 in the opening half.



O’Donoghue was a late inclusion in the Kerry starting line-up and the Beaufort star, who won two All-Ireland U16 medals under Shine’s guidance, more than justified that call-up.

She opened the scoring with a point in the first minute and Kerry added two more to lead by 0-3 to 0-0 within eight minutes.

They also had goalkeeper Laura Fitzgerald to thank for a brilliant stop from Mackin – while the Na Gaeil player would do even better late in the half with one of the finest saves you’ll ever see.

O’Donoghue netted in the tenth minute for Kerry, finishing off good approach play from the lively Sarah Houlihan and Laura Rogers, and Shine’s charges had a 1-3 to 0-0 lead.

But Armagh roused themselves to register 2-5 without reply, as Kerry struggled on their own restarts.

Mackin netted twice in a minute midway through the half to turn the game on its head and both were cracking finishes past Fitzgerald.

But the goalkeeper produced a magnificent tip-over save three minutes before the break to deny Mackin a hat-trick goal – when it seemed certain that the net would bulge.

Anna Galvin drew Kerry level at 2-7 apiece with a 28th minute goal but Armagh’s response was impressive, as scores from Aoife McCoy and Lauren McConville established a two-point half-time lead.

It could have been even better as Armagh registered seven first half wides – and Fitzgerald produced those two fine saves - but the turnaround from six points down early on was impressive.

Sean O’Kane’s team needed to build on that platform against the pre-match favourites but they were rocked back on their heels just 20 seconds after the restart, as Ní Mhuircheartaigh scored Kerry’s third goal.

From there until the finish, they would not be caught, as McCoy and Mackin scored Armagh’s only points of the second half.


Mackin’s 36th minute point was verified by ‘score assistant’, in use for the second time after Ciara McAnespie’s goal for Monaghan was awarded against Cork last Monday.

That score kept Armagh in touch, as they trailed by just two points, 2-11 to 3-10, but Kerry on the spin to close the game out, with the Orchard County scoreless after Mackin’s effort.

They were four adrift, 2-11 to 3-12, when Marley was yellow-carded for a tackle on Ní Mhuircheartaigh, and there was no way back.

Armagh conceded just two further points after that but despite the fact that they were chasing the game, they still packed players behind the ball and Kerry were comfortable as they booked a massive date with Dublin.

That game, in a fortnight's time, will mark Kerry's first semi-final appearance since 2015.

Scorers for Kerry – H O’Donoghue 1-4, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 1-3 (0-1f), S Houlihan 0-4 (2f), A Galvin 1-0, L Scanlon 0-2, E O’Leary 0-1.

Scorers for Armagh – A Mackin 2-4, A McCoy & F McKenna (2f) 0-3 each, L McConville 0-1.

Kerry – L Fitzgerald; E Lynch, A Desmond, A Leonard; C Kelly, C Murphy, S Murphy; L Scanlon, E Sherwood; L Ní Mhuircheartaigh, A Galvin, D Hallissey; S Houlihan, H O’Donoghue, L Rogers.

Subs – A O’Connell for S Murphy (37), F Tangney for Rogers (45), E O’Leary for Galvin (52), J Lucey for O’Donoghue (55).

Armagh – K Mallon; S Marley, C McCambridge, M Sheridan; M McGuinness, M Tennyson, S Reel; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; A Mackin, A McCoy, N Marley; L McConville, B Mackin, F McKenna.

Subs – T Grimes for Sheridan (36), N Reel for McGuinness (55), A Donaldson for B Mackin (55).

Ref – J Murphy (Carlow)

[kerrygold]

The ladies game seems to be following the ways of the mens game, increased fitness levels, lots of players behind the ball and lots of hard running up and down the field. O, and the quick restart in the ladies game as with the mens game is also causing bedlam.....................

[kerrygold]

www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/kerry-book-semi-final-meeting-with-dublin-1.3185095

[kerryfanatic]

Congratulations to kerry today. Well done and now against dublin in semi. V exciting and well deserved :-)

[kerrygold]

Who are the favourites for the Dublin Kerry game?

[veteran]

Well done to the Kerry ladies but they may as well stay at home the next day of they cannot do something about their kicks out. In the first half in particular , I cannot recalll an occasion when a team was so wiped out from their kicks out. They went long every time and repeatedly it came back in . This was one occasion when the goalkeeper cannot be solely blame, of at all. There was no movement by the full backs to receive a short one . I do not know if this was due to laziness or lack of confidence but something radical needs to be done for the semifinal. Kerry survived because they were the better balanced team and because our goalie made a couple of great saves.

Young Hannah O'Donoghue, age sixteen, was a sensation . She is a cocky little thing too on the evidence of her post match interview. That is good. However , even Hanah was outshone by the Mackin girl in the Armagh forward line. She was dynamite in the first half when ball supply was liberal. Luckily she was starved in the second half when Lorraine Scanlon was a dominant figure for Kerry at midfield although Carol O'Hanlon was a hugely impressive figure in that sector for Armagh. That essentially was Armagh"s problem. They had some great iindividuals but a lot of chaff.

But sweet Lord, those Kerry kicks out- suicidal.

[himself]

"A minute later Hannah almost completed her hat-trick with a gloriously audacious lob on the run, but the ball squirmed just millimeters wide – as intuitively brilliant a piece of GAA skill as you could ever hope to see on any pitch."
I wrote that for a match report on the U16 All Ireland Final in 2015. Hannah and her sister Faye were the brightest luminaries in a team of stars managed by Graham Shine (now the senior manager). Hannah scored 3-2 in that game. I remember commenting at the time that the above, when a left leg instinctive volley in full flight flashed just left of the Galway goal, was the best piece of skill that I had ever seen anyone, even including James O'Donoghue, produce. Colm Cooper was watching the same day (Colm's neice Ciara Murphy, a superb footballer herself, was on that team) - he might confirm it - or laugh at me; it's probably a 50/50 chance.
I interviewed Hannah, Faye, and their father Sean subsequently, I thought that they were lovely people as well as supremely talented. I have seen nothing since to change my mind.

[Mickmack]

I though Anna Galvin put in a massive performance too till she was substituted near the end. A sister of Paul Murphys was playing too.

[givehimaball]

Aug 12, 2017 21:34:42 GMT Mickmack said:

If the Kerry men have James O'Donoghue (JOD), then the ladies have HOD or Hannah o Donoghue. She is 16 years of age and was an absolute revelation today scoring 1.04 from play and winning the equivalent of MOTM. She wore 25 and played at corner forward. Uncannily like JOD, i wonder is she related to James.

James does have first cousins out in Beaufort but they aren't O'Donoghue, so I'm nearly sure that Hannah isn't a relative.

[kerrygold]

Lineage in the current ladies team going back to the Kerry teams of the 50s and 60s.

[Mickmack]

DUBLIN V KERRY TG4 SF
Aug 22,2017
TG4 All Ireland Semi-Final

Saturday August 26th, 6:30pm

Dublin v Kerry

Semple Stadium, Thurles



Only four teams remain in the hunt for the Brendan Martin cup. This coming Saturday Dublin and Kerry will go head to head in Thurles in the first of this seasons semi-finals, at stake is a place in the 2017 All Ireland final on September 24th.



Galway and Donegal provincial champions of Connacht and Ulster respectively both exited the championship last weekend with many citing the long gap between their provincial finals on July 2nd and the quarter finals on August 19th as one of the main factors in their demise.



Dublin come into Saturday’s semi-final having played 3 championship games to date against Laois (Leinster SF), Westmeath (Leinster final) and Waterford (QF) respectively.



Their opponents Kerry have 4 championship games under their belt, 3 games in Munster along with their quarter final victory over Armagh.



The two side’s last meet in championship fare back in August of 2014. On that occasion Gregory McGonigle’s side saw off the challenge of the Kingdom on route to the All- Ireland final with a 2-12 to 1-10 victory in Birr.



Interestingly Lindsay Peat (Dublin) and Louise Galvin (Kerry) played crucial roles for their respective Counties in that game with both players now members of Tom Tierney’s, Ireland Womens world cup rugby squad.



Of the starting 15 that lined out for Dublin back in 2014, Rachel Ruddy, Leah Caffrey, Martha Byrne, Sinead Goldrick, Noelle Healy, Niamh McEvoy, Carla Rowe, Lyndsey Davey, Molly Lamb and Sinead Aherne are all likely to feature in Mick Bohan’s team for Saturday’s crunch tie.



Kerry can still call upon the services of Ashlinn Desmond, Aisling Leonard, Caroline Kelly, Emma Sherwood, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Sarah Houlihan, Lorraine Scanlon and Laura Rogers, all of whom played in the 2014 encounter.



Kerry manager, Graham Shine has introduced 10 of the 2017 Kerry Minor squad into his senior panel. Three of whom, Hannah O Donoghue, Fiadhna Tangney and Jadyn Lucey all played a part in the Kingdom’s victory over Armagh.



Indeed the impressive O’Donoghue was named as the TG4 Player of the Match having bagged 1-04 in her senior championship debut.



Despite the injection of youth into the Kingdom’s ranks, both sides still have an abundance of seasoned experienced players amongst their ranks which should ensure that Saturday’s game will be an interesting encounter.



Yesterday, TG4 announced that they will be steaming the remaining semi-finals and finals of the championship on FACEBOOK live from this weekend.



Saturday’s game will also be broadcast live on TG4 with the Intermediate SF Tipperary v Meath commencing at 4:45pm followed by Dublin v Kerry at 6.30pm.

[Mickmack]

Best of luck to the ladies.

Its a pity its not the curtain raiser in Croker tomorrow.

[kerrygold]

Agreed, a missed opportunity for all concerned.

[glengael]

Best of luck to the team and management.

[glengael]

I see the Mayo ladies beat Cork yesterday so new champions there too.

[boherbee]

Sept 3, 2017 13:09:22 GMT glengael said:

I see the Mayo ladies beat Cork yesterday so new champions there too.


I see Cora Staunton scored 1-9 , has played Senior football for Mayo for 22 years ,starting in 1995 , incredible achievement !