Gavin O’Connor talks to Kerry ladies football team manager, Alan O’Neill, about the All-Ireland semi-final against the Rebels on Saturday…
LAST Sunday the Kerry senior team managed to get a monkey off their back in beating Tyrone at Croke Park.
This weekend it’s the turn of the ladies to try and turn over Cork who have dominated the ladies scene over the last decade or so.
Last month, Kerry dispatched Cork in the Munster Final by nine points, but the Rebels have comeback to defeat Kerry on previous occasions and have only been beaten four times in Championship football in 11 years.
Crucially, three of those those losses came at the hands of their closest neighbours and rivals, so there is a sense that Kerry’s day is coming.
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The Kerry team celebrate following their Munster Final success in July. Photo Kerry Ladies Football Facebook.
The Tralee link is strong with the panel boasting six players from town teams. Na Gaeil’s Maria Quirke is a regular in the side, while Austin Stacks, Laura Rogers, has bounced back from a cruciate injury that put her out for a year, to push once again for a starting place in the side.
Na Gaeil sisters Eilis and Brid O’Connor have been important squad members for the side all summer.
Kerry manager, Alan O’Neill, is happy to report an injury free panel and that things are building nicely for Saturday’s encounter.
“We’ve all our work done really, we had our last training session last night, so we’re happy where we are,” said Alan O’Neill.
“Laura Rogers has made a huge impact in the games she has brought in. She came on in the Munster Final and in the Mayo game, so it’s great to have her back from injury,” he said.
“Eilis and Brid O’Connor have been fantastic, they are pushing very close to getting on the team. They’re two players who are definitely ones for the future. Maria Quirke is a vital member of the squad at this stage with her experience. We’re really happy with all of them from Tralee.”
“Every team has struggled to beat this Cork side, they’re always hard to beat, but I don’t think there is any fear factor anymore it’s just about us getting our own performance right on the day.”
“There was huge support at the Munster Final and there was a big crowd in Gaelic Grounds for the Mayo game, so definitely support is growing. With the success of the U16 and U14 teams who won the All-Ireland final, there’s huge support for Ladies football in Kerry and it’s growing all the time.”
• Kerry v Cork takes place at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, on Saturday at 6pm. It’s live on TG4.
