Risteárd Ó Fuaráin on Kerry camogie team’s win over Clare on Saturday…

Kerry 1-13

Clare 0-6

Kerry made the journey to Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday to take on the home team in the semi-final of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship.

The Kingdom were hoping to get back to the decider following their loss to Dublin in last year’s final.

Kerry really started with intent and executed a strong running game that ensured that the Banner Girls could not get a foothold.

Indeed, it was the 25th minute before Clare registered their first point. Kerry continued in the same vein and led at halftime on a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-3 with the Kerry goal coming from the stick of Julianne O’Keeffe who latched onto the end of a Patrice Diggin free.

Continued below…

The second half was 5 minutes old when there was a moment of magic from Patrice Diggin when she dispossessed her Clare marker and flicked the ball forward before gathering it again and pointing.

Julianne O’Keeffe added to her tally shortly after. Kerry then made two substitutions when Norette Casey replaced Jessica Fitzell and Clodagh Walsh replaced Bríd Horan.

Clare battled hard with Regan Conway doing her utmost to break through the Kerry defence but the Kerry backs stood firm.

Ruan’s Louise McDonnell wearing No. 11 was another player who tried hard but her attacking potential was curtailed due to her need to shore up the defence as Kerry continued to attack.

Clare tagged on two points from a free and play in the 20thand 22nd minutes but Julianne O’Keeffe replied for Kerry in the 26th.

Kerry continued to run the bench with Eilish Harrington replacing Niamh Leen and Alanna Maunsell replacing Rachel McCarthy.

Clare had a free in the 57th minute but the Kerry defence continued to deny Clare the goal that they so badly needed.

Kerry then made their final substitution when Ann-Marie Leen replaced Laura Collins. Kate O’Gorman completed the Clare scoring in the 60th minute and Patrice Diggin did likewise for Kerry in the 3rd minute of injury time when she converted a free.

Final Score was Kerry 1-13 Clare 0-6. Kerry will face Limerick in the final on 8 September.

Kerry Team & Scorers: Aoife Fitzgerald, Liz Houlihan, Niamh Leen, Michelle Costello, Patrice Diggin 0-7 (0-5f), Sara Murphy, Aine O’Connor, Elaine Ryall, Rachel McCarthy, Jessica Fitzell, Laura Collins, Olivia Dineen 0-1, Bríd Horan 0-1, Jackie Horgan, Julianne O’Keeffe 1-4.

Substitutions: Norette Casey for Jessica Fitzell, Clodagh Walsh for Bríd Horan, Eilish Harrington for Niamh Leen, Alanna Maunsell for Rachel McCarthy, Ann-Marie Leen for Laura Collins.