Mike O’Halloran watched the Kerry camogie team claim the Division 3 League title yesterday with victory over Roscommon…
Kerry 2-8
Roscommon 0-4
A comprehensive win then for Kerry Camogie over a fancied Roscommon team in The Ragg in Tipperary, in the final of Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League division three.
The game was played in difficult conditions both weather-wise and underfoot conditions.
This victory was forged by the scores in the first half but was steeled in the second half against all odds by a resilient Kerry defence who repelled everything that Roscommon threw at them.
Continued below…
After 36 seconds, Kerry were a point up from the stick of Caoimhe Shanahan. Patrice Diggin followed suit from a free and after 15 minutes, Patrice struck an indirect free towards the Roscommon goal. It was touched by a Roscommon player to the net.
Patrice Diggin struck over a point from play and another free putting Kerry ahead 1-4 to no score.
Rachel Fitzmaurice pucked over a point for Roscommon on 21 minutes and for about eight minutes they mounted a challenge to Kerry. Susan Spillane had their second point, but Kerry put paid to that challenge as Alana Whelan pulled on the ball to the net.
Roscommon were to have the aid of a stiff wind in the second half and were hoping that the aid of the wind might be enough to overcome Kerry.
However, Kerry were having none of this and got the first score of the second half from the stick of Aoife Behan.
Susan Spillane pointed a free for Roscommon, Patrice Diggin drilled a free over the Roscommon bar and Laura Collins pointed from play before Susan Spillane had a pointed free for Roscommon, their final point.
Aoife Behan had her second point to leave the final score Kerry 2-8 Roscommon 0-4.
Sara Murphy was immense at centre back, at full back Niamh Leen was imperious, they were well supported by Elaine Ryall, Michele Costello, Liz Houlihan and Aine O’Connor.
The Kerry management brought full forward and captain Jackie Horgan back as a sweeper to quell the threat of Rachel Fitzmaurice the Roscommon danger woman.
TEAM Kerry; Allana Maunsell, Liz Houlihan, Niamh Leen, Michele Costello, Elaine Ryall(Eilis Harrington), Sara Murphy, Aine O’Connor, Orla Young, Laura Collins(1pt), Caoimhe Shanhan(1pt)( Julianne O’Keefe), Patrice Diggin(1gl,4 pts), Aoife Behan (2pts) ( Brid Horan), Rachel McCarthy(Nolette Casey) Jackie Horgan Cpt, Alannah Whelan (Jessica Fitzell)
