Dublin v Kerry NFL Match Report

  • Apr 08,2011

Bord Gais Energy  Ladies NFL Div 2
Sunday 3rd of April 2011

Kerry 0-15   Dublin 2-13
 
All-Ireland champions Dublin won the battle for top spot when they showed great experience in the final five minutes of this well contested and entertaining Bord Gais Ladies NFL Division 2 clash, played at the splendid Legion Grounds, Killarney on Sunday afternoon.

If this game was to be used as a barometer to see how far Kerry had progressed, since Dublin beat them by twenty three points last Spring, then this will give William O’Sullivan and his squad tremendous optimism for the future as this game was in the balance right to the end, in fact Dublin led by a point (2-10 to 0-15) as the game ticked into added time.

It was Dublin using all their experience that held possession and caught Kerry on the break adding three unanswered points in injury time from Noelle Healy, Gemma Foy and Lindsey Davey, gave the scoreboard a rather flattering sheen.
Kerry lost this game firstly, because they conceded two very soft goals midway through the second half and their inability to create any goal scoring chances is something that will concern William O’Sullivan going forward.

Secondly Dublin were able to introduce fresh legs in the second period and both Gemma Foy ( 0-1) and Siobhan Woods ( 0-2) caused Kerry problems while the absence of Emma Sherwood, Sinead Mackessey, Louise Galvin and Deirdre Corridan meant that William was limited in his use of impact subs.

However the Kerry defence were a real positive as they defended tenaciously against a very fleet footed Dublin attack and they gave away very few frees in scoreable positions to boot.

Bernie Breen and Lorraine Scanlon were outstanding at midfield but up front while Louise Ni Mhuirthceartaigh, Patrice Dennehy and Mags O’Donoghue scored some nice points, the Kerry attack turned over the ball too often and also failed to win primary possession at vital junctures.

Dublin started the better and raced 0-5 to 0-1 clear inside the opening ten points as Kerry kept losing possession. However the home side, thanks to Breen and Scanlon, roared back into the contest and Kerry were level by the 25th minute with two points each from Patrice Dennehy and Ni Mhuirthceartaigh and one each from Loraine Scanlon and Mags O’Donoghue.

Kerry went in at half time 0-9 to 0-7 in front. The home side completely dominated in the opening ten minutes of the second half and added three points without reply from Patrice Dennehy, Steffi Corkery and another Breen special and suddenly Kerry were 0-12 to 0-7 clear and Dublin looked rattled.

However Kerry were caught cold as a quick 1-2 by Dublin levelled the contest as the game entered the final quarter. Kerry regained their composure and points from Ni Mhuirthceartaigh and Loraine Scanlon had Kerry leading by two.

Then in the 52nd minute came the sucker punch when a long delivery from Ring was allowed bounce as a Kerry defender came to claim it bit it sailed over her head and Sinead Aherne found herself one on one on the keeper and slipped the ball home and that gave Dublin a two point lead. Dublin finished the stronger to claim the points.
 
Kerry: Edel Murphy, Gina Crowley, Aisling Leonard, Aoife Lyons, Caroline Kelly, Denise Hallissey, Debra Murphy, Lorraine Scanlon 0-2, Bernie Breen 0-2, Caroline Reen, Linda Cronin, Stefi Corkery 0-1, Mags O’Donoghue 0-1, Patrice Dennehy 0-3, Louise Ni Mhuirthceartaigh 0-5 ( 0-1 free) Subs: Sarah Jane Joy for Debra Murphy (17), Sarah Houlihan 0-1 for Caroline Reen (h/t), Laura O’Sullivan for Steffi Corkery (54)
 
Dublin Cliodhna O’Connor, Grainne O’Malley, Joanne O’Sullivan, Ailish McKenna, Caitleen Barrett, Sorcha Furlong, Siobhan McGrath, Denise Masterson, Niamh McEvoy, Lindsey Davey 0-2 , Amy McGuinness 0-1 , Noelle Healy 0-2, Amy Ring 1-2, Sinead Aherne 1-1 ( 0-1 free), Elaine Kelly 0-2 Subs: Sinead Goldrick for Grainne O’Malley (h/t), Gemma Foy 0-1 for Niamh McEvoy (35), and Siobhan Woods 0-2 for Amy McGuinness (45)

Referee Michael John O’Keeffe (Cork) 
 
Report courtesy of sports@kerryseye.com