Kingdom's class shines through
Editorial Department • Published 16 Feb 2012 13:00
0 Comments
Kerry 3-23; Fermanagh 4-08;
Fermanagh travelled to the Kingdom in hope rather than in anticipation of a victory. Kerry has contested the last two All Ireland Senior football semi-finals and are a strong outfit. In the end their class shone through as they shrugged off the Erne challenge. Fermanagh were without the services of Edel McGovern and Aine McBrien last Sunday and made one other change from the Cavan game, naming Niamh Gillen in nets as the management continue to rotate their choice of keepers.
Three goals from Caroline Little and one from Lynne McFrederick pushed the home side all the way. But the Kerry ladies with the help of All Stars Bernie Breen, Aisling Leonard, Louise Ni Mhuirtceartaigh and Sarah Houlihan in their ranks were too strong as they sealed a comfortable victory in the end.
Fermanagh began with great fervour, taking a 1-01 to 0-02 lead after 10 minutes. Aisling Moane registered the first point before Caroline Little capitalized upon an error in the Kerry defence, finding the net with great pleasure.
Kerry then kicked five consecutive points, Mary O'Keefe, Sarah Houlihan, Deidre Corridan and Louise Ni Mhuirtceartaigh amongst the scorers. Caroline Little pulled one back for Fermanagh before Aisling Moane tagged on two quick points, to reduce the deficit to a single point.
With ten minutes remaining in the first half the Erne ladies had dragged themselves right back into this game but then a lapse in concentration let Kerry through at the back. Mary O'Keefe bagged Kerry's first before Deidre Corridan blasted home for their second. As half time neared the home side added two further points whilst Fermanagh could only muster a single score from the boot of Caroline Little.
In the second half, Kerry controlled the pace of the game with O'Keefe pointing before they netted their third goal of the match, courtesy of Patricia Dennehy. Their dominance continued as they stretched their lead kicking five unanswered points. With the game entering the final quarter Fermanagh were awarded a penalty after Zoe Leonard was fouled. Caroline Little took the resultant kick, to leave the score line 3-16 to 2-05.
Fermanagh were not finished yet though, Lynn McFrederick finished off a fine move with a third goal before Caroline Little got her hat-trick. Kerry stepped up their performance in the final ten minutes as they exerted pressure on the Fermanagh defence. Seven consecutive points for the Kingdom sealed a comfortable and deserved win for the home side.
Fermanagh's search for league points continues but Joint Manager Darren Boyle believes the problem is self belief:
"We competed well but I think what cost us was that we didn't believe we were capable of beating them (Kerry)."
Yet the Kinawley man says there are positives to take from the performance:
"We showed a never say die attitude and even the Kerry PRO commented on that after the game. It was a big improvement on the Cavan game the previous week. We scored 4-08 and for two of those goals we worked the ball well."
There are nevertheless elements of their game that need to be improved he admits:
"We're capable of getting goals but we seem to have a problem shooting from distance. We're not taking responsibility individually. Our defence wasn't 100 per cent either, we just didn't seem to be switched on from the start," says Darren.
Looking ahead to their third round tie against Tipperary this weekend he says: "We're on the road again and it'll be a very tough test. Cavan played them last (Tipperary) weekend and they (Cavan) beat them by four points. Having spoken to the Cavan manager they are a big, physically strong team. But if our players put in a shift like last week and for the full hour, I think we can get three points on the board," concludes Boyle.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 16 Feb 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
