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By Risteárd Ó Fuaráin
The Kerry Camogie Team will face Roscommon in the Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 Final after a strong performance against Clare at Tom Healy Park, Abbeydorney on Sunday.
Prior to the game, a minute’s silence was observed to remember Oisín Cahill and Darragh Killeen, brother and cousin of Clare fullback Becky Cahill, who lost their lives in a car accident on the outskirts of Ennis on Easter Sunday.
When proceedings got underway, it was Kerry who started the brighter. In the 3rd minute Rachel McCarthy had a shot on goal but her attempt was saved.
Kerry opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Patrice Diggin tapped over a free and a minute later the same player added a point from play.
Captain Jackie Horgan extended the lead in the 9thminute and in the 10th, 12th and 14th, Patrice Diggin scored 3 points from play to give Kerry a 0-6 to 0-0 lead.
In the 18th minute, Aisling McMahon opened Clare’s account with a free and within a minute Niamh Mulqueen had raised another white flag for the visitors.
In the 21st minute a free was floated into the Kerry square but despite some anxious moments, the Kerry defence were able to clear their lines. In the 22nd minute Aisling McMahon was again successful with a free to leave the score at 0-6 to 0-3.
Kerry then had an opportunity for a goal but Sara Murphy’s penalty was saved. A Patrice Diggin free in the 1st minute of injury time left the halftime score, Kerry 0-7 Clare 0-3.
Upon the resumption, a Patrice Diggin free in the 32ndminute, a point from play from Alannah Whelan in the 33rd and another free from Patrice Diggin in the 36th extended Kerry’s lead to 0-10 to 0-3.
Aisling Malone replied for Clare in the 43rd but the visitors needed a green flag to get them back in the game.
However, a Patrice Diggin free in the 48th and a well-worked goal by the same player in the 55th gave Kerry a comfortable victory on a scoreline of Kerry 1-11 Clare 0-4.
Kerry will face Roscommon in the final this weekend. Date, time and venue to be confirmed.
Kerry Team and Scorers:
Alanna Maunsell, Liz Houlihan, Niamh Leen, Michelle Costello, Elaine Ryall, Sara Murphy, Aine O’Connor, Patrice Diggin 1-9 (0-5f), Laura Collins, Caoimhe Shanahan, Aoife Behan, Orla Young, Rachel McCarthy, Jackie Horgan 0-1, Alannah Whelan 0-1.
Substitutions: Clodagh Walsh for Rachel McCarthy, Jessica Fitzell for Aoife Behan, Norette Casey for Alannah Whelan, Kate Buckley for Jackie Horgan. Julianne O’Keeffe replaced Laura Collins.
