ALL-Ireland Senior Champions Kerry lead the way on the list of nominations for coveted 2024 TG4 All-Star Awards.
The Kingdom, who won the Brendan Martin Cup at Croke Park on Sunday August 4, make up one-third of the 45-player long list, with 15 players in the running for the prestigious individual gongs.
Runners-up Galway have nine players nominated, Lidl National League Division 1 Champions Armagh are next in line with eight, Dublin have five players nominated, Cork have four, while players from Meath, Kildare, Tipperary and Waterford have also been included in the list compiled by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s All-Star committee.
Continued below…
.
Kerry captured their 12th TG4 All-Ireland Senior title, and first since 1993, this year and that landmark success is reflected in the list of TG4 All-Star nominations.
The 2024 list also includes six players who received TG4 All-Star Awards in 2023 – Kerry trio Eilís Lynch, captain Niamh Carmody and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, and Dublin’s Leah Caffrey, Jennifer Dunne and captain Carla Rowe.
Along with Lynch, Carmody and Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Kerry also have goalkeeper Ciara Butler, winner of the 2024 ZuCar Golden Glove Award, defenders Ciara Murphy, Kayleigh Cronin, Aishling O’Connell, Aoife Dillane and Deirdre Kearney, midfielders Anna Galvin and Mary O’Connell, and forwards Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Síofra O’Shea, Danielle O’Leary and Emma Dineen nominated for 2024 TG4 All-Star Awards.
On the 2024 TG4 All-Star team, one goalkeeper will be chosen from the shortlist of three, with three players selected from each of the full-back, half-back, half-forward and full-forward lines for inclusion, along with two midfielders from the six nominated.
The 2024 TG4 All-Star team will be announced at a gala banquet at The Bonnington Dublin Hotel on Saturday, November 16.
The 2024 TG4 Junior, Intermediate and Senior Players’ Player of the Year Award winners will also be revealed on the night, while the 2024 inductee into the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) Hall of Fame will be acknowledged.
2024 TG4 All-Star nominees:
Goalkeeper
Anna Carr (Armagh), Dearbhla Gower (Galway), Ciara Butler (Kerry).
Full Back Line
Grace Ferguson (Armagh), Clodagh McCambridge (Armagh), Melissa Duggan (Cork), Leah Caffrey (Dublin)*, Kate Geraghty (Galway), Sarah Ní Loingsigh (Galway), Kayleigh Cronin (Kerry), Eilís Lynch (Kerry)*, Ciara Murphy (Kerry).
.Declan Quill, Anna O’Donoghue, Darragh Long and Mags Fitzgerald at the table quiz for the Kerry Senior Ladies team holiday fund at The Klub at Kerins O’Rahillys on Thursday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
DESPITE the horrible weather, there was still a decent turnout at The Klub in Kerins O’Rahillys Clubhouse on Thursday night to help send the Kerry Ladies Senior Football team on a well-earned holiday.
A fundraising table quiz was held and some of the All-Ireland winning team present to test their general knowledge with quizmasterPhilip Dewey delivering the questions.
There were loads of spot prizes donated by local businesses and hopefully the money raised will contribute towards sending the champs off to the sun. Scroll down for photos…
Ciara Butler, Síofra O’Shea, Ciara McCarthy, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Niamh Ní Chonchúir at the table quiz for the Kerry Senior Ladies team holiday fund at The Klub at Kerins O’Rahillys on Thursday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean.Josephine O’Regan, Siune O’Flaherty and Mairead Mackessy at the table quiz for the Kerry Senior Ladies team holiday fund at The Klub at Kerins O’Rahillys on Thursday evening. Photo by Dermot CreanTrish Moran, Dolly Molloy, Mags Lacey and Maeve O’Reilly at the table quiz for the Kerry Senior Ladies team holiday fund at The Klub at Kerins O’Rahillys on Thursday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean.Adam Quill, Harry Rooney and Elliot Hudson at the table quiz for the Kerry Senior Ladies team holiday fund at The Klub at Kerins O’Rahillys on Thursday evening. Photo by Dermot CreanGeraldine Sheehy, Breda O’Regan and Jenna O’Regan at the table quiz for the Kerry Senior Ladies team holiday fund at The Klub at Kerins O’Rahillys on Thursday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean.Oisin O’Sullivan, Nick Lacey and Liam Cooper at the table quiz for the Kerry Senior Ladies team holiday fund at The Klub at Kerins O’Rahillys on Thursday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
.Fermanagh star Eimear Smyth, second from left, is presented with the 2024 ZuCar Golden Boot award by Allyson McCarthy, ZuCar Marketing Manager, left, and Kerry goalkeeper Ciara Butler, second from right, is presented with the 2024 ZuCar Golden Glove award by LGFA President Mícheál Naughton. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
KERRY goalkeeper Ciara Butler is the winner of the 2024 ZuCar Golden Glove award.
Ciara’s outstanding save to tip over a blistering effort from Meath’s Marion Farrelly in the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final in Tralee on July 6 won the popular vote hosted recently on the Ladies Gaelic Football Association website.
Ciara, from the Castlegregory club, was one of five nominees for the prestigious individual honour, along with Michelle Monaghan (Leitrim), Rebecca Lambe Fagan (Louth), Dearbhla Gower (Galway) and Monica McGuirk (Meath).
Continued below…
.
The ZuCar Golden Glove award for Ciara crowns a magnificent individual season for the 20-year-old goalkeeper, who was the last line of defence as Kerry claimed the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship title with victory over Galway at Croke Park on August 4.
Having suffered back-to-back final defeats in 2022 and 2023, the Kingdom recovered in style to land the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time in 31 years, with Ciara playing a huge role between the sticks.
Almost 3,500 votes were submitted for the Golden Glove award and Ciara’s save accounted for 1,583, well clear of her nearest challenger, Leitrim’s Michelle Monaghan (891).
Ciara was presented with her award at Croke Park today by Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Mícheál Naughton, and Allyson McCarthy, ZuCar Marketing Manager.
Following the conclusion of the TG4 All-Ireland Championships, Fermanagh’s Eimear Smyth was the leading scorer across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior grades and won the Golden Boot Award.
Eimear’s incredible tally of 8-48 (72 points) was 39 points clear of her nearest challenger, Louth’s Kate Flood. Eimear was also present at Croke Park today to collect her award.
.A Holy Family junior infants pupil with the Brendan Martin Cup on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
IT’S been just over a month since the Kerry Ladies won the All-Ireland final, but the excitement was still fresh in the minds of Tralee schoolchildren today.
Members of the team, Aisling O’Connell, Aoife Dillane and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, along with managers Darragh Long and Declan Quill paid a visit to a number of schools and received a raucous welcome wherever they went.
They began at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn where Declan Quill teaches and the hall was packed with green and gold-clad children greeting the visitors.
Continued below…
.
A visit to Listellick NS saw similar exhilaration in the sports hall with one pupil particularly excited. Sixth class pupil Lauren Hayes won a competition to design Kerry LGFA’s 50th anniversary jersey she said it was an amazing feeling seeing people from all over wearing the jersey.
Kerry players Aishling O’Connell, Aoife Dillane and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh with pupil Lauren Hayes who designed the Kerry LGFA 50th anniversary jersey at Listellick NS on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
The lads and ladies received a guard of honour arriving at CBS Primary School and faced a serious of question from pupils ranging from who their heroes were growing up to the benefits of playing sports.
The Holy Family pupils’ screaming reached Beatlemania levels in the school hall and teacher Ms Breathnach from Galway managed to get her hands on the Brendan Martin Cup even if her fellow countywomen couldn’t.
Galway woman Ms Breathnach gets her hands on the Brendan Martin Cup at Holy Family NS on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
The town’s biggest primary school, Scoil Eoin, equalled all the others with their enthusiasm while Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí welcomed back past pupils Darragh Long, Aisling O’Connell and Aoife Dillane who joined current pupil Amy Ní Curtáin in being feted.
In all the schools, the players and management stressed the importance of perseverance, hard work and the benefits of sport…while also announcing the primary kids had homework off on Monday and Tuesday. TGI Friday indeed! Scroll down for photos…
A captive audience at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kerry players Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Aishling O’Connell and Aoife Dillane with Niamh O’Sullivan, Donna Forrest and Maeve Kelliher at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn Montessori school on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanKerry players Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Aishling O’Connell and Aoife Dillane with youngsters at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn Montessori school on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanGaelscoil Mhic Easmainn at the school on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Colm Ó hAiniféin, Aoife Dillon and Declan Quill at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanDeclan Quill with son Mattie and Adam at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanGaelscoil Mhic Easmainn at the school on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn at the school on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanGaelscoil Mhic Easmainn pupils with members of the Kerry Ladies Football team and management on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanGaelscoil Mhic Easmainn pupils with the Brendan Martin Cup on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Young Kerry fans at Listellick NS on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanExcited Listellick NS pupils on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanDarragh Long signs jerseys at Listellick NS on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Aishling O’Connell looks at the match programme with a Listellick pupil on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanListellick NS pupils excited to welcome the visitors. Photo by Dermot CreanLouise Ní Mhuircheartaigh signs jerseys for pupils at Listellick NS on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Kerry players Aishling O’Connell, Aoife Dillane and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh with managers Declan Quill and Darragh Long with Listellick pupils on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanYoung Kerry fans greet the Kerry ladies at Listellick NS on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanChildren in the Montessori school at CBS Primary with Kerry ladies team members and management. Photo by Dermot Crean.CBS pupils excited to welcome the visitors. Photo by Dermot CreanCBS Primary School pupils gave a huge welcome to the Kerry ladies team members and management on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanCBS Primary School pupils gave a huge welcome to the Kerry ladies team members and management on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanA guard of honour from young pupils at CBS on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanCBS Primary School pupils gave a huge welcome to the Kerry ladies team members and management on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanBack to the old school…Declan Quill at Holy Family on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanDeclan Quill with his nephews on visit to Holy Family NS on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanHoly Family pupils with members of the Kerry Ladies Football team and management on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanLadies men at Holy Family on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanThe junior infants welcome the visitors to Holy Family. Photo by Dermot CreanA Holy Family junior infants pupil with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanA Holy Family junior infants pupil with the Brendan Martin Cup on Friday. Photo by Dermot CreanThe junior infants welcome the visitors to Holy Family. Photo by Dermot CreanHoly Family NS secretary Maureen Murphy welcome past pupil Declan Quill back with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot Crean
.Kerry’s Kayleigh Cronin is pictured with The Croke Park Hotel/LGFA Player of the Month award for August 2024, at The Croke Park Hotel on Jones Road, Dublin. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
KERRY’S Kayleigh Cronin has been honoured with The Croke Park Hotel/LGFA Player of the Month award for August 2024.
Kerry ended a 31-year wait for TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship glory in style with a stunning final victory against Galway at Croke Park on Sunday, August 4.
At full-back, Dr. Crokes star Kayleigh produced an exceptional performance that earned her the Player of the Match award.
Continued below…
.
Kayleigh’s final performance was in keeping with her form throughout the season, as the Kingdom made up for back-to-back final losses in 2022 and 2023 to get their hands on the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time since 1993.
A 2022 TG4 All Star, 27-year-old Kayleigh was a rock at the heart of the Kerry defence on their march to the ultimate prize, while the team managed by Declan Quill and Darragh Long also captured the Munster title for the first time since 2017.
Kayleigh was presented with her award today by Sinead Chydzik, People & Culture Manager, The Croke Park Hotel.
THE All-Ireland winning Kerry goalkeeper has been nominated for the 2024 ZuCar Golden Glove award…and she needs your vote to win it!
The ZuCar Golden Glove will be presented to the goalkeeper who wins the popular vote at the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s website page.
Kerry’s Ciara Butler, Leitrim’s Michelle Monaghan, Louth netminder Rebecca Lambe Fagan, Galway’s Dearbhla Gower and Meath captain Monica McGuirk are the five goalkeepers in with a chance of claiming the award from ZuCar, the LGFA’s Performance Partner, and sponsors of the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies U-18 Championships and Gaelic4Teens programme.
Continued below…
.
Voting is now open to crown the 2024 winner and option A is an outstanding save from Kerry’s TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship winner Ciara Butler, to tip over a blistering effort from Meath’s Marion Farrelly’s in their quarter-final clash.
Visit https://bit.ly/4cyAzy0 to vote and fans voting for their preferred choice will be in with a chance to win a ZuCar goodie pack.
The winning goalkeeper will be presented with the 2024 ZuCar Golden Glove award – and voting will close at 5pm on Friday August 23.
UNIVERSITY Hospital Kerry welcomed a special guest earlier this week in the shape of the Brendan Martin Cup.
The Kerry ladies football team have had a whirlwind week of celebrations and found time to pay a visit to the hospital where footballer Jayden Lucey works as a staff nurse.
Staff and patients in the hospital were delighted with the visit of the champions and took the opportunity to pose for photos with the silverware. Scroll down for photos…
.Kerry player Deirdre Kearney signs Róisín Hayles jersey at the Austin Stacks summer camp. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE celebrations will continue for some time after the Kerry ladies’ magnificent win last Sunday and Friday morning saw the Brendan Martin Cup take a tour of Tralee GAA clubs.
Austin Stacks, Kerins O’Rahillys, John Mitchels and Na Gaeil are all holding their summer camps this week so it was an ideal opportunity to welcome members of the Kerry team with the silverware.
Aoife Dillane of Austin Stacks was joined by Na Gaeil’s Eilís O’Connor, Mary O’Connell and Deirdre Kearney, as well as joint-managers Darragh Long and Declan Quill and they received some welcome from the boys and girls on their tour.
Continued below…
.
“It was a huge honour to bring the Brendan Martin Cup to the Tralee clubs this morning,” said Declan Quill. “We got a great welcome at Austin Stacks. The excited faces when Aoife Dillane brought in the cup was lovely to see.
“We then headed to Kerins O’Rahillys where we received a massive welcome and there was loads of photos taken. At Na Gaeil we also got a great welcome and I saw a lot of my own pupils from Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn.
Declan Quill with his wife Erica and son Tommy with the Brendan Martin Cup at the Kerins O’Rahillys summer camp. Photo by Dermot Crean
“The sun was still shining when we got to John Mitchels and everyone was in great form. It’s wonderful to see the happy faces and the kids getting their jersey signed by the girls,” added Declan.
The Cup will be traversing the county over the coming weeks and months, with school visits on the horizon in September, so many more boys and girls can share in the excitement of a glorious victory. Scroll down for photos…
Darragh Long and Aoife Dillane with Austin Stacks youngsters. Photo by Dermot Crean.Declan Quill signs the boot for a young Rockie. Photo by Dermot CreanAustin Stacks summer camp coaches with Kerry players Aoife Dillane, Eilis O’Connor, Mary O’Connell and Deirdre Kearney. Photo by Dermot CreanAustin Stacks summer camp coaches with their charges and the Brendan Martin Cup Photo by Dermot Crean.Austin Stacks summer camp coaches with their charges and the Brendan Martin Cup Photo by Dermot CreanAoife Dillane with young Rockies. Photo by Dermot CreanAustin Stacks summer camp welcomes the Kerry Ladies and the Brendan Martin Cup Photo by Dermot Crean.Former Kerins O’Rahillys player Pat Madden and his sons with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanA Kerins O’Rahillys youngster with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanKerins O’Rahillys kids with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot Crean.Kerins O’Rahillys kids with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanDeclan Quill with his sons Adam and Mattie with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanKerins O’Rahillys kids with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanMary O’Connell signing autographs for Kerins O’Rahillys youngsters. Photo by Dermot Crean.Declan Quill with a young Kerins O’Rahillys player. Photo by Dermot CreanKerins O’Rahillys kids with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanEilis O’Connor signs a fan’s jersey. Photo by Dermot CreanMary O’Connell signs a shirt. Photo by Dermot CreanKerry players Eilis O’Connor, Deirdre Kearney, Mary O’Connell and Aoife Dillane with joint manager Declan Quill and Darragh Long and Kerins O’Rahillys youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanKerry players Eilis O’Connor, Deirdre Kearney, Mary O’Connell and Aoife Dillane with joint manager Declan Quill and Darragh Long and Kerins O’Rahillys youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanKerry players Eilis O’Connor, Deirdre Kearney, Mary O’Connell and Aoife Dillane with joint manager Declan Quill and Darragh Long and Kerins O’Rahillys youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanKerry players Eilis O’Connor, Deirdre Kearney, Mary O’Connell and Aoife Dillane with Kerins O’Rahillys youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanKerry players Eilis O’Connor, Deirdre Kearney, Mary O’Connell and Aoife Dillane with Kerins O’Rahillys youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanThe Kerins O’Rahillys kids welcoming the Kerry Ladies with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanEilis O’Connor, Mary O’Connell and Deirdre Kearney bring the Cup to their home club in Na Gaeil. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil summer camp coach Sarah Slattery with her charges. Photo by Dermot CreanCáit Uí Chonchúir and Na Gaeil PRO Helen Cooper with Kerry players Deirdre Kearney, Aoife Dillane, Mary O’Connell and Eilis O’Connor. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil youngsters with coaches and the Kerry Ladies. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil youngsters with coaches and the Kerry Ladies. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil youngsters with coaches and the Kerry Ladies. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil youngsters with coaches and the Kerry Ladies. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil youngsters with coaches and the Kerry Ladies. Photo by Dermot CreanDeclan Quill with some of his former pupils from Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn at Na Gaeil. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil youngsters with the cup. Photo by Dermot CreanMary O’Connell and Eilis O’Connor with Na Gaeil youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanNa Gaeil youngsters with the cup. Photo by Dermot CreanEilis O’Connor, Mary O’Connell and Deirdre Kearney bring the Cup to their home club in Na Gaeil. Photo by Dermot CreanA great welcome sign for the ladies at Na Gaeil. Photo by Dermot CreanMary O’Connell with her dad Troy at Na Gaeil Photo by Dermot CreanAoife Dillane with John Mitchels youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanAoife Dillane signs a jersey for a John Mitchels youngster. Photo by Dermot CreanMary O’Connell signing for John Mitchels youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanDeirdre Kearney with John Mitchels youngsters. Photo by Dermot CreanJohn Mitchels kids with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanJohn Mitchels kids with the Brendan Martin Cup. Photo by Dermot CreanJohn Mitchels kids welcome the Brendan Martin Cup to the club.. Photo by Dermot Crean
.Kerry captain Niamh Carmody and the Kerry team will take part in the Rose of Tralee parade on Sunday week. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
THE Kerry Ladies Football team will be part of the Rose of Tralee/Féile Thrá Lí Sunday afternoon parade on August 18.
Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey announced the news this morning saying: “I am thrilled to announce that our victorious All Ireland Ladies Kerry team will be a proud part of the upcoming Rose of Tralee / Féile Thrá Lí parade.”
“Organising this began right after the final whistle of Sunday’s match when Kerry clinched the victory. I have spoken with both the team management and the Chairperson of the Kerry LGFA and I’m delighted to confirm this is going to happen.”
Continued below…
.
“This addition brings a new dynamic to our parade and is a fitting recognition of the Kerry Ladies team for their remarkable achievements and their role in promoting women’s sport in our county.”
“A huge thank you to the Tralee MD office for their instrumental role in organizing this, along with the International Rose of Tralee Festival and the Feile Thrá Lí committee. Your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated!” added Mayor Sheehy.
Kerry captain Niamh Carmody celebrates with the Brendan Martin cup as she is lifted up by teammates Cáit Lynch, left, and Kayleigh Cronin after their side’s victory in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship final match between Galway and Kerry at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Daire Walsh on an amazing day in Croke Park…
Kerry 3-14
Galway 0-11
Aoife Dillane, Hannah O’Donoghue and Emma Dineen struck goals at Croke Park on Sunday as Kerry convincingly overcame Galway to secure their first TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title since 1993.
Veteran attacker Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh also helped herself to an impressive haul of 0-6 on a day when the Kingdom collected the Brendan Martin Cup for the 12th time in their history.
This, in turn, moves them ahead of provincial rivals Cork at the top of the roll of honour for the competition.
.
Following early traded scores between Kerry skipper Niamh Carmody and Galway’s Roisin Leonard, the Kingdom stretched two points clear courtesy of unanswered efforts from Dineen and midfielder Anna Galvin.
Kerry captain Niamh Carmody lifts the Brendan Martin cup after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship final match between Galway and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
While Galway brought the gap down to the bare minimum with a fine point by Olivia Divilly, Kerry were proving to be the more clinical side in front of the posts.
Thanks to five points without reply from ever-influential Corca Dhuibhne ace Ní Mhuircheartaigh, including two excellent contributions from play, the Munster champions were firmly in the driving seat.
ouise Ní Mhuircheartaigh of Kerry with the Brendan Martin cup after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship final match between Galway and Kerry at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Galway finally responded with Leonard’s second point of the game, only for marauding defender Dillane to fire a looping shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower to offer Kerry a commanding 1-8 to 0-3 buffer on the stroke of half-time.
.
Olivia Divilly got their Connacht counterparts underway on the restart with a fine solo point but Mary O’Connell soon joined her midfield partner Galvin on the Kingdom scoresheet.
Teenage star Niamh Divilly supplemented the earlier effort from her sister Olivia with a fine point, but Kerry remained in the driving seat when Dineen and Ní Mhuircheartaigh both raised white flags in quick succession.
Olivia Divilly did knock over a close-range free at the opposite end, but the final outcome was effectively placed beyond when, just moments after her introduction as a substitute, O’Donoghue clinically dispatched the ball to the Galway net via a Ní Mhuircheartaigh pass.
Now rampant, Kerry added a third goal through Dineen inside a final quarter that also saw O’Donoghue (two) and the evergreen Lorraine Scanlon kicking points.
Galway did find the target through Andrea Trill, Charlotte Cooney, Leonard, Olivia Divilly and Shauna Hynes during this juncture, but Daniel Moynihan’s westerners came up short in their quest for a first All-Ireland senior crown in 20 years.
Scorers – Kerry: L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-6 (4f), E Dineen, H O’Donoghue 1-2 each, A Dillane 1-0, M O’Connell, A Galvin, N Carmody, L Scanlon 0-1 each.
Galway: O Divilly 0-4 (2f), R Leonard 0-3 (2f), C Cooney, N Divilly, A Trill, S Hynes 0-1 each.
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, A Dillane; A O’Connell, C Murphy, D Kearney; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody, S O’Shea, N Ní Chonchúir; D O’Leary, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Subs: H O’Donoghue for Ní Chonchúir (43), L Scanlon for Kearney (48), K Brosnan for Carmody (52), C Lynch for Dillane (54), K O’Sullivan for Ní Mhuircheartaigh (57).
GALWAY: D Gower, M Jordan, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty; C Cooney, N Ward, A Ní Cheallaigh; M Glynn, A Davoren; N Divilly, L Ward, O Divilly; E Reaney, L Coen, R Leonard. Subs: A Trill for Reaney (24), E Gavin for Ní Cheallaigh, M Banek for Jordan (both 38), S Hynes for Glynn (47), A Morrissey for N Divilly (49).
.Kerry captain Niamh Carmody and Galway captain Ailbhe Davoren, during the captains day ahead of the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship Finals at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
THERE’S great excitement all over the county as Kerry prepare to face Galway in the All-Ireland Final this Sunday.
Having suffered defeat at the hands of Dublin and Meath over the past two years, Kerry will be determined to put that heartache behind them and win the title for the first time in 31 years.
Thousands of Kerry fans are making the trip on Sunday and they’ll make their voices heard at headquarters.
Continued below…
.
The game has a 4.15pm throw-in time and will be broadcast on TG4 and of course on Radio Kerry. The team captained by Niamh Carmody is as follows…
.Declan Quill with youngsters in Cluain Ard and the sign in support of Kerry on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
RESIDENTS in Cluain Ard, Ballyvelly, came out in force this week to show their support for the Kerry ladies team and specifically, their neighbour Declan Quill.
The joint-manager of the team lives in the estate and the residents got together to put up two signs in support of the ladies and Declan this Sunday.
They gathered, wearing the green and gold, in front of the signs earlier this week and asked Declan to come down to view their gesture ahead of the game.
Continued below…
.
“Thanks to Olive Heaphy for organising it. It’s great to see the kids out in their Kerry colours and looking forward to the game,” said Declan, who appreciates all the support and encouragement the team has received from the Kerry public since the semi-final win.
Declan Quill with his neighbours in Cluain Ard and the signs they put up in support of Kerry on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
“We had an open day on Sunday after the training session and it was brilliant to see so many kids there, some even came on buses from all parts of the county. It gives the girls a big lift to see all these signs and the bunting going up. We hope to see a good Kerry crowd at the game on Sunday,” added Declan.
Meanwhile, Tralee Municipal District councillors voiced their support for the team at their meeting on Tuesday.
The Council has also erected flags in the town centre while many other businesses are displaying the colours ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Galway.
Flags on The Mall/Castle Street in support of the Kerry team on Sunday..Bunting in Caheranne in support of Kerry on Sunday.Flags on Denny Street in support of the Kerry team on Sunday..
The countdown is truly on now for Sunday and we’re all hoping it’ll be third time lucky for the Kerry Senior Ladies Football team in the All-Ireland Final when they face Galway.
Here’s the players and management team heading to Croke Park to bid for glory…
The Kerry management team during a Kerry squad portrait session at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry ahead of the TG4 LGFA All-Ireland Senior Championship Final. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
.In attendance during the captains day ahead of the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship Finals at Croke Park in Dublin is Kerry captain Niamh Carmody. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
CAPTAINS from the six competing teams have gathered at Croke Park ahead of next Sunday’s TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Finals.
With the countdown to Sunday continuing, the respective team captains; Shannan McQuade (Fermanagh), Áine Breen (Louth), Michelle Guckian (Leitrim), Aoibhinn McHugh (Tyrone), Ailbhe Davoren (Galway) and Niamh Carmody (Kerry) got a feel for Croke Park ahead of the big day.
The Senior Final, the 51st in LGFA history, and in the Association’s 50th year, pits Galway against 2022 and 2023 runners-up Kerry, with the counties set to meet for the very first time in a Brendan Martin Cup decider.
Continued below…
.
That game throws in at 4.15pm and is preceded by the Intermediate Final between Leitrim and Tyrone (1.45pm) and the Junior Final between Fermanagh and Louth (11.45am).
In the Senior Final, a win for Kerry would put the Kingdom out in front on the all-time Senior roll of honours list.
In attendance during the captains day ahead of the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship Finals at Croke Park in Dublin is Senior Championship contenders Kerry captain Niamh Carmody, left, and Galway captain Ailbhe Davoren. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
They’re currently on 11 All-Ireland Senior Championship wins – a haul matched by the great Cork teams that were dominant from 2005-2016.
Their opponents, Galway, are going in search of a second title, following their previous success in 2004.
Next Sunday will mark a 15th All-Ireland Senior Final appearance for Kerry. Kerry’s last Final win was back in 1993, when they overcame Laois, while Galway, who are looking ahead to a fifth Senior Final, last contested a Brendan Martin Cup decider in 2019.
To whet the appetite of attendees and TV viewers ahead of Sunday’s Croke Park triple-header, TG4’s Ceiliúradh Peil na mBan, presented by Máire Ní Bhraonáin, will air from 8pm on Saturday evening.
The programme will visit all six counties playing in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior deciders.
This celebratory programme will feature music from each of the counties, with former players reflecting on the 2024 Championships so far and looking ahead to Sunday’s big games.
Spórt TG4 will also have exclusive behind the scenes action from the TG4 All-Ireland Finals Day in Croke Park across its social media channels.
All of TG4’s LGFA coverage will be available to audiences globally on the TG4 Player at www.tg4.ie/beo and on the TG4 Mobile and Smart TV App.
Tickets for Sunday’s games are priced at €30 for adults and €15 for students, OAPs and U18s.
Group rates are available only from the LGFA Office (1 Adult @ €10 for every group of 10 U-18s at €5 per child – €60; Family: 2 adults and 2 U-18s – €70)
.The Kerry panel before the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Dan Kearney reports on a disappointing day for the U18 ladies yesterday in Tullamore…
Cavan 4-11
Kerry 4-8
Cavan captured the ZuCar All-Ireland U18 A Championship for the first ever time when they overcame Kerry by three points on a beautiful day for football at Glenisk O’Connor Park Tullamore.
The new All-Ireland champions were made to fight all the way by a Kerry side that showed a never say die attitude but despite a nervy finish, the Breffni County were deserved champions.
Cavan had a healthy 3-6 to 2-2 lead at half time that owed much to a power-packed final five minutes of the half where they hit Kerry for 2-2 without reply.
Continued below…
.
The game took a while to get going with both sides showing early signs of nerves. Kerry goalkeeper Beibhin Nic an tSíthigh was called to make an excellent save from Ella Brady just two minutes but Kerry made no mistake two minutes later when Leah McMahon fed Lucy O’Connor who punched to the back of the Cavan net.
Aoise O’Donoghue of Kerry during the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Three minutes later Cavan were level after Ella Sheridan intercepted a Kerry kickout and found Emma Tolan who made no mistake to goal from close range.
Sheridan added a free in the ninth minute but within seconds Amy Curtin had put over a fine individual point for Kerry. Sheridan and Katie Doe for Kerry traded frees before the lively Sheridan struck from play from distance.
Grace Murphy of Kerry in action against Emma Tolan of Cavan during the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Kerry were struggling with their kick outs and Sarah Clarke hit a fine score to push Cavan 1-4 to 1-2 ahead with 22 minutes played. The Kingdom kept attacking and McMahon showed great awareness to collect from a ball off the post to finish to the net.
Continued below…
.
Then Cavan took over completely. Alex Peters punched over, Kate O’Meara hit a nice score and Kate Fegan scored a goal out of the top drawer.
The final act of the first half was a O’Meara goal with nine seconds remaining when she was first to react to a shot off the post and Cavan led by 3-6 to 2-2 at half time.
Leah McMahon of Kerry in action against Katie Mai Reilly of Cavan during the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Kerry got the first two scores of the second half from Kelly Enright and Doe with Ellie Brady replying for Cavan.
Sheridan put away a fine penalty in the 39th minute and she and Emma Tolan and added further points to see Cavan lead by 4-10 to 2-6 with 10 minutes remaining.
Kerry showed their renowned battling qualities and O’Connor’s second goal of the game gave them hope.
Kerry players dejected at the final whistle during the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Abbie McDermott in the Cavan goal then made a wonder save from Kelly Enright.
O’Connor scored her third goal for Kerry with 22 seconds left it was a two-point contest.
The excitement was at fever pitch, but Cavan finished Kerry off when substitute Holly McPhillips scored a point. (more photos below)
.
Scorers – Cavan: E Sheridan 1-5 (0-3f, 1-0 pen), K O’Meara 1-1, E Tolan 1-1, K Fegan 1-0, A Peters 0-1, E Brady 0-1, E Tolan 0-1, H McPhillips 0-1.
Kerry: L O’Connor 3-0, K Doe 0-6 (1f), L McMahon 1-0, A Curtin 0-1, K Enright 0-1.
CAVAN: A McDermott; A Kelly, B Smith, K Grigorenko; C McDonnell, A Peters, A Kennedy; E Brady (capt.), L Miney; E Sheridan, E Tolan, S Clarke; K Fegan, K O’Meara, K Mai Reilly. Subs: K Bartley for O’Meara (45), D McGovern for Grigorenko (50), H McPhillips for Sheridan (58), M Daly for Fegan (60).
KERRY: B Nic an tSíthigh; A O’Donoghue, É Ní Laighin (capt.), G Murphy; C Dwyer, S O’Donovan, L O’Sullivan; K Enright, K Ryan; A Curtin, M.K. Smith, L O’Connor; K Doe, L McMahon, A O’Connor McCarthy. Subs: S Colleran for G Murphy 34, L O’Connor for A O’Connor McCarthy 36, T Murphy for Curtin 54.
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
Kerry players before the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.Referee Gus Chapman, with Cavan captain Ellie Brady, left, and Kerry captain Éabha Ní Laighin before the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/SportsfileKerry supporters celebrate their teams first goal during the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile .The Kerry players look on during the cup presentation after the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Spectators look on during the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Mary Kate Smith of Kerry during the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U-18 Championship A final match between Cavan and Kerry at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile .
.In attendance at a Croke Park photocall ahead of the 2024 ZuCar All-Ireland U18 Ladies Football Finals is Kerry captain Éabha Ní Laighin during the ZuCar All-Ireland U18 Ladies Football Championship Finals Captains Day at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
CAPTAINS from Kerry and Cavan gathered at Croke Park ahead of next Saturday’s 2024 ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 A Championship Final.
With the countdown well underway to what promises to be a cracking game, the respective team captains Ellie Brady (Cavan) and Éabha Ní Laighin (Kerry) visited headquarters for a pre-Finals photocall.
In the 2024 ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 A final, Cavan take on Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore, with a 2pm throw-in.
Continued below…
.
Next Saturday will mark just a second All-Ireland U-18 Final appearance for Cavan, who lost out to Kerry 44 years ago, while the Kingdom are preparing for their fourth A Final.
Kerry can boast a 100 per cent record in A Finals, having won in 1995, 1981 and 1980, and they’ll be eager to continue that record.
They will, however, face stiff opposition from Cavan, who have won the last two All-Ireland U-16 A titles and the Breffni County is showing very promising signs at underage level.
EVERYONE is invited to head along to Killarney this Sunday to meet the Kerry Ladies football team ahead of their All-Ireland Final.
Having overcome Armagh last Saturday evening, the ladies are gearing up to face Galway in the decider on Sunday, August 4.
The fans are invited to come along and meet the panel at an open training session at Fitzgerald Stadium (entry via Lewis Road) with gates opening from 11.45am.
.
The Kerry LGFA supporters jersey will also be on sale during the day (sizes available are size 12-14 for €50 and adult size €60).
.Niamh Ní Chonchúir of Kerry shoots to score her side’s first goal, under pressure from Emily Druse of Armagh, during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Daire Walsh reports on Kerry’s victory over Armagh in Tullamore on Saturday night…
Kerry 1-8
Armagh 0-7
Niamh Ní Chonchúir grabbed a 16th minute goal at Glenisk O’Connor Park as Kerry advanced to a third consecutive TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final with a triumph against Armagh.
Five points to the good at the midway stage in this penultimate round contest, the Kingdom did enough in a low-scoring second half to seal their place in a top-tier championship decider alongside Galway — where they will hope to make amends for final defeats to Dublin and Meath in the past two seasons.
During a lively start to the contest, Armagh popped over points via the boots of Eva Lavery (two), Blaithin Mackin and Dearbhla Coleman.
Continued below…
.
While Kerry attacker Siofra O’Shea added a score to compliment an earlier free from Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Niamh Henderson split the posts on the run to give the Ulster side a 0-5 to 0-2 cushion on the first-quarter mark.
Niamh Carmody of Kerry has her kick blocked down by Grace Ferguson of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Yet team captain Clodagh McCambridge was temporarily replaced with a blood injury around this juncture following a clash with Kerry’s Aishling O’Connell, who was also forced off for a five-minute period, and in her absence Ní Chonchúir got on the end of an excellent move to drill a fierce strike past Armagh netminder Anna Carr.
This added a spark to the Kerry challenge and with Danielle O’Leary, Ní Mhuircheartaigh (free) and the returning O’Connell finding the target to supplement a 0-2 salvo from skipper Niamh Carmody, the Munster champions were 1-7 to 0-5 in front at the break.
However, the Kingdom had suffered a blow a little under two minutes before the interval when Carmody was sent to the sin-bin. Even though their five-point cushion remained intact upon her re-emergence, Armagh added swift scores courtesy of Niamh Coleman and Mackin (free) to ramp up the pressure on Kerry.
Continued below…
.
The Kingdom, bidding for their first TG4 All-Ireland crown since 1993, were able to maintain possession for large stretches of the play, but it wasn’t until the 49th minute that Kerry got their second half account up and running with a pointed free from centre-forward O’Leary.
Danielle O’Leary of Kerry in action against Róisín Mulligan of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Nonetheless, this established a four-point advantage for the 11-time winners and with Mackin receiving a 51st minute yellow card for a tackle on substitute Lorraine Scanlon, they ultimately eased their way into another Brendan Martin Cup showpiece. (MORE PHOTOS BELOW)
Scorers – Kerry: N Ní Chonchúir 1-0, D O’Leary 0-2 (1f), N Carmody 0-2, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-2 (2f), A O’Connell, S O’Shea 0-1 each.
Armagh: E Lavery 0-2, B Mackin 0-2 (1f), D Coleman, N Coleman, N Henderson 0-1 each.
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody, D O’Leary, N Ní Chonchúir; S O’Shea, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Subs: A Harrington for A O’Connell (13-18), H O’Donoghue for Ní Mhuircheartaigh (46), L Scanlon for Carmody (49), K Brosnan for Ní Chonchúir (58).
ARMAGH: A Carr; G Ferguson, C McCambridge, R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; E Druse, A McCoy, B Mackin; E Lavery, N Henderson, M McCambridge. Subs: L Kenny for C McCambridge (13-18), K Mallon for Lavery (38), N Reel for Henderson (50), L Kenny for Druse (54), M Feehan for O’Hanlon (58).
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
Kerry players, from left, Mary O’Connell, Emma Dineen and Kayleigh Cronin encourage their team-mates as they do conditioning runs after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.Síofra O’Shea of Kerry receives the Player of the Match award from Alan Esslemont, Ardstiúrthóir TG4, after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Kerry players, from left, Deirdre Kearney, Eilís Lynch amd Kayleigh Cronin celebrate after their side’s victory in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile .Danielle O’Leary of Kerry in action against Róisín Mulligan of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Anna Galvin of Kerry in action against Lauren McConville of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.Aishling O’Connell of Kerry gets past Grace Ferguson of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileNiamh Carmody of Kerry in action against Grace Ferguson of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileSíofra O’Shea of Kerry in action against Cait Towe of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Síofra O’Shea of Kerry in action against Cait Towe of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileEmma Dineen of Kerry in action against Grace Ferguson of Armagh during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileCaroline O’Hanlon of Armagh in action against Kerry players, from left, Emma Dineen, Síofra O’Shea and Danielle O’Leary during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Armagh and Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile .
.Aishling O’Connell of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Before today’s TG4 All-Ireland semi-final between Kerry and Armagh, Daire Walsh spoke to the Kingdom’s Aishling O’Connell…
When it comes to achieving a suitable balance between work and sport, Kerry footballer Aishling O’Connell has a tougher task than most within the inter-county game.
A Garda based in the West Cork town of Bandon – located all of 83 kilometres from her home village of Cordal – O’Connell has often found herself working 12-hour night shifts either before or after collective training sessions with the Kingdom’s senior squad.
While O’Connell recognises this was always going to be part of the bargain when she decided to pursue a career with An Garda Siochána, she freely acknowledges it can take its toll even at the best of times.
Continued below…
.
“It is tough, I won’t lie! We trained last Friday week and I drove straight to work after down in West Cork. It does take its toll. It is hard enough going into nights after a tough training, but the two hour drive down hasn’t helped,” O’Connell explained.
“You start a night shift at 7pm and you finish at 7am. You could be working on a Saturday night and you’ve training on Sunday morning. There have been times that I’ve driven down to Kerry, you might get half an hour in the bed and you’re going straight to training.
Pictured at the launch of the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championships in Dublin, is Aishling O’Connell of Kerry. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
“You want to train, but you’re not able to do as much as you’d like because there is obviously an injury risk factor there. In a way it’s good that I’m around this long, but it’s hard if you were trying to make an impact because you’re not going to be training as well as you should be. It’s tough, but it’s the job I signed up for!”
Continued below…
.
However, things are set to become that little bit easier for O’Connell in the long run as she is due to take up a post at Killarney Garda Station inside the next few weeks.
This will leave the 2022 TG4 All Star with a much shorter commute to Kerry training and it also changes where the 27-year-old defender will be playing her club football once the Kingdom’s championship campaign reaches a conclusion.
Having represented Éire Óg in Cork for the past few years – she narrowly lost out to Mourneabbey in a senior championship decider on the Leeside in 2023 – O’Connell will soon be back in the colours of her previous club Scartaglen.
“It will take a bit of pressure off the body and less driving as well. It might make things a little bit easier. I made the decision at the end of this year that I was going to try and get home for work. That in turn did lead me to wanting to go back and play with my home club. It was a natural progression.
“I’ve had great times there at Éire Óg, but I want to go back playing for Scart. I felt like I had given everything I could to Éire Óg. My partner, he’s actually a Cork man, so once I was able to convince him to move to Kerry, it was just the next step to make!
“I started with the boys’ club in Cordal, where I’m from, but then at U14s I joined Scart and played with them up until seniors. It’s because of them that I’m wearing the Kerry jersey. They’ve gotten to the intermediate final in the last two years and following the end of the championship this year with Kerry, I’d love to be able to contribute to a win with Scart as well.”
Yet as she alludes to, O’Connell does have some unfinished business with The Kingdom before she contemplates a return to the local club championship. Having recently overcome Meath at the quarter-final stage of the competition, Kerry are now just 60 minutes away from sealing a TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship decider spot for the third year in succession.
Standing in their way at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore later this evening (throw-in 7.15pm) will be Greg McGonigle’s Armagh, who defeated the Kingdom in a Lidl National Football League Division 1 final at Croke Park last April.
Although their male compatriots losing out to the Orchard County in GAA HQ last weekend adds intrigue to tonight’s contest, it is that spring time clash (as well as an earlier league reversal to Armagh at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in March) that will have O’Connell and her Kerry colleagues on high alert.
Despite losing Aimee Mackin to an anterior cruciate ligament injury since that NFL showpiece victory, the return to fitness of Mackin’s sister Blaithín has served as a welcome boost for Armagh.
“I suppose Aimee gets maybe more of the headlines, but Blaithín does some amount of unseen work. She covers from the 21 to the 21, and you saw it last week (a quarter-final win against Mayo), she’s getting on the scoreboard as well. She’s class.
“We’ve kind of followed in the footsteps of Meath in the way that we won Division Two, went to One and won Division One. Meath did it first, ourselves and Armagh have done it. That momentum really helps going into championship. They’re just playing superb football, they’re going to be tough to play.”
Whereas Kerry’s showdown with Armagh is a meeting of the top two teams in this year’s NFL Division 1, the first All-Ireland senior semi-final in Tullamore today features a brace of sides that were on the opposite end of the spectrum. After suffering relegation to Division 2 of the NFL at the end of difficult springtime campaigns, Galway and Cork will lock horns at 5pm in O’Connor Park for the right to compete in the Brendan Martin Cup decider on August 4.
Having kept a close eye on their respective developments in recent months, O’Connell is expecting a ding-dong battle between the Tribeswomen and Kerry’s long-standing provincial rivals.
“Galway and Cork, for both of them to be relegated and to be getting into an All-Ireland semi-final, it’s unbelievable really. It’s credit to them and to the management,” added O’Connell, who has already made 15 appearances for Kerry in 2024.
“It’s a huge opportunity for them as well as it is for ourselves and Armagh to get to a final. I wouldn’t be surprised if it went to extra-time. They’re the kind of teams that they seem to be playing each other a lot over the years and it’s always very close.”
EXCITEMENT is building ahead of tomorrow evening’s TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship Semi Final between Kerry and Armagh.
Taking place at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore with a throw-in time of 7:15pm, the ladies will be hoping to emulate the men’s efforts of last week when they failed to overcome the Orchard county.
The team was announced this afternoon and shapes up as follows;
.Emma Dineen of Kerry is tackled by Meath players, from left, Shelly Melia, Mary Kate Lynch and Nicole Troy during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Dan Kearney reports on the TG4 All Ireland Quarter-Final played at Austin Stack Park on Saturday evening…
Kerry 0-16
Meath 0-8
Kerry cruised to an impressive double scores win over Meath to reach the TG4 All Ireland semi-final at windy Austin Stack Park in Tralee.
The winners had too much firepower in an accomplished performance that saw eight different players get on the scoresheet with Kerry outscoring the visitors by 0-12 to 0-3 in a superb second half.
Playing into the breeze in the first half, it was Kerry that took the game to Meath and registered the first score of the game from the boot of midfielder Mary O’Connell in the third minute.
Continued below…
.
Meath attacked but Emma Duggan’s free came off the crossbar and Megan Thynne shot wide straight after.
Kerry were less wasteful at the other end though and Danielle O’Leary slotted over to put them two ahead.
Danielle O’Leary of Kerry in action against Nicole Troy of Meath during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Niamh Ní Chonchúir was fouled in the 12th minute and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh made no mistake from 25 metres to push Kerry three ahead but two minutes later Marion Farrelly, Meath’s most effective performer in the opening half, shot a fine individual score.
Ciara Smith shot over for the Royals a minute later, and they were really starting to grow into the game now with Farrelly forcing Kerry goalkeeper Ciara Butler into an outstanding save at the expense of a point to level matters at 0-3 apiece.
Corner back Ciara Murphy popped over a neat point for Kerry in the 20th minute to push them a point ahead but once again it was Farrelly on the mark for Meath in the 23rd minute to level the game at 0-4 each.
The last action of the first half fell to Emma Duggan who hit a beauty of a score from distance to see her side take a 0-5 to 0-4 lead in at the half time break.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh of Kerry kicks a free during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Meath introduced former Footballer of the Year Vikki Wall at half time but after a typical run by her failed to yield a score, Kerry went on to slot over seven points on the trot with substitute Siofra O’Shea popping over two fine scores.
Continued below…
.
Niamh Gallogly shot a welcome point for Meath to bring the score to 0-11 to 0-6 but Kerry were relentless and with seven minutes left on the clock had pushed 0-15 to 0-7 ahead.
Monica McGuirk made a fine save from Emma Dineen at the expense of a point, but she had the final say when she punched over to seal a comprehensive win for Kerry to set up a semi-final meeting with either Armagh or Mayo who meet on Sunday.
Anna Galvin of Kerry is presented with the player of the match award by Uachtarán Cumann Peil Gael na mBan, Mícheál Naughton after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Scorers for Kerry: L Ní Mhuiurcheartaigh 0-4 (3f), E Dineen 0-3, S O’Shea 0-3, D O’Leary 0-2, M O’Connell 0-1, A Galvin 0-1, C Murphy 0-1, N Carmody 0-1.
Meath: M Farrelly 0-3, E Duggan 0-2, 1f, C Smyth 0-1, V Wall 0-1, N Gallogly 0-1.
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody, E Dineen, N Ni Chonchúir; H O’Donoghue; L Ní Mhuircheartaigh, D O’Leary. Subs: S O’Shea for H O’Donoghue 38, F O’Donoghue for K Cronin 41, L Scanlon for N Ní Chonchúir 45, A Harrington for N Carmody 54, K Brosnan for L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 57.
MEATH: M McGuirk; S Wall, M.K. Lynch, N Troy; N Gallogly, S Melia, K Newe; M O’Shaughnessy, A Cleary; M Thynne, K Cole, C Smyth; M Byrne, M Farrelly, E Duggan. Subs: V Wall for K Cole H/T, A Sheridan for K Newe 37, R Casserly for M Byrne 50, C Lawlor for N Troy 53, S Lynch for C Smyth 59.
Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).
Mary Kate Lynch of Meath in action against Mary O’Connell of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.Megan Thynne of Meath is tackled by Ciara Murphy of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/SportsfileAnna Galvin of Kerry in action against Emma Duggan of Meath during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.Niamh Ní Chonchúir of Kerry in action against Meath players, from left, Kerrie Cole, Marion Farrelly and Aoibhín Cleary during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/SportsfileReferee Barry Redmond poses for a photograph alongside captains Niamh Carmody of Kerry and Meath goalkeeper Monica McGuirk before the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.The Kerry team before the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Kerry and Meath at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.
WE’RE getting down to the business end of the TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship now and Kerry are right there in the thick of it.
They have a home tie tomorrow evening against Meath in the quarter-final and it’s hoped a big crowd will turn up at Austin Stack Park for the 5.15pm throw-in.
Tickets for the game can be bought by clicking herewhile the match will also be shown on TG4. The team, captained by Niamh Carmody, has been announced below…
.Emma Dineen of Kerry in action against Hannah Power of Waterford during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Dan Kearney reports on the TG4 All-Ireland SFC clash in Killarney on Saturday…
Kerry 4-13
Waterford 0-9
Kerry secured their quarter final place in the race for the TG4 All-Ireland SFC as they eased to a 16-point victory over Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in a one-sided encounter.
Kerry, playing with a strong breeze in the first half blew the Waterford challenge away with some power-packed football and led by 2-10 to 0-3 at half time.
It took the home side a while to get going but when they did Waterford had no answer to their pace, movement and finishing power.
Continued below…
.
Central to Kerry’s dominance was the dismantling of Waterford’s kickouts with Evelyn O’Brien finding it extremely difficult to find a white jersey.
Kerry led by 1-2 to 0-1 after 10 minutes with Hannah O’Donoghue getting on the end of a brilliant combination with Emma Dineen to finish smartly to the back of the net.
Lorraine Scanlon of Kerry in action against Kellyann Hogan of Waterford during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Danielle O’Leary added a score from the kickout and with the brilliant O’Donoghue slotting a brace of points straight afterwards, Waterford were under all sorts of pressure.
O’Donoghue turned provider to feed Danielle O’Leary for Kerry’s second goal in the 22nd minute and points followed from Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Aishling O’Connell, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, and Hannah O’Donoghue with Waterford’s reply coming from boot of Kelly Ann Hogan on the stroke of half time.
Continued below…
.
Waterford made a bright start to the second half with Eve Power and Mairead O’Brien claiming early points.
Half time substitute Siofra O’Shea hit the Waterford net after being fed by Niamh Ní Chonchúir in the 36th minute to put Kerry 3-11 to 0-6 ahead and it was difficult to see Waterford coming back into the contest.
The marauding TG4 Player of the Match Aishling O’Connell struck her second point of the game a minute later but Waterford kept going and Ciara Butler was forced into a fine save from Emma Murray before Eve Power hit her second point of the game.
Katie Murray of Waterford in action against Ciara Murphy of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Both sides ran their bench as the game petered out in the final quarter but there was one final act when Siofra O’Shea fed Emma Dineen for an easy finish to the back of the net.
Waterford must now beat Donegal in next week’s encounter if they are to advance from the group.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh of Kerry in action against Aoife Murray of Waterford during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.Hannah O’Donoghue of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/SportsfileMary O’Connell of Kerry in action against Emma Murray of Waterford during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.Hannah O’Donoghue of Kerry celebrates after scoring her side’s first goal during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/SportsfileAlannah McNulty of Waterford in action against Emma Dineen of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.Annie Fitzgearld of Waterford in action against Ciara Murphy of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/SportsfileAlannah McNulty of Waterford in action against Danielle O’Leary of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.15 June 2024; Emma Dineen of Kerry in action against Hannah Power of Waterford during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***Referee Jonathan Murphy with Kerry captain Naimh Carmody, left, and Waterford captain Kellyann Hogan before the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.Aishling O’Connell of Kerry receives the Player of the Match award from Robbie Smyth, LGFA Vice President, following the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 2 Round 2 match between Kerry and Waterford at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Scorers – Kerry: H O’Donoghue 1-3, D O’Leary 1-2 (1f), E Dineen 1-1, S O’Shea 1-0, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-3 (2f), A O’Connell 0-2, N Carmody 0-1, N Ní Chonchúir 0-1.
Waterford: K A Hogan 0-3, M O’Brien 0-2, E Power 0-2, E Fitzgerald 0-1f, K McGrath 0-1.
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh, H O’Donoghue; N Ní Chonchúir, E Dineen, D O’Leary. Subs: S O’Shea for Ní Mhuircheartaigh (H/T), L Scanlon for Carmody (39), A Harrington for O’Connell (42), J Lucey for H O’Donoghue (47), F O’Donoghue for Dillane (50.
WATERFORD: E O’Brien; C Murray, H Power, K McGrath; E Fitzgerald, A Murray, A McNulty; K Hogan , E Murray; C Carroll, A Fitzgerald, M Comerford; K Murray, L McGregor, M O’Brien. Subs: E Power for O’Brien (15), C McCarthy for Carroll (23), M O’Brien for Comerford (H/T), N Power for McCarthy (47), A Waring for Murray (50).
.Referee Shane Curley with team captains Niamh McLaughlin of Donegal, left, and Niamh Carmody of Kerry before the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Frank Craig reports on Kerry’s game against Donegal yesterday in Ballybofey…
Donegal 1-6
Kerry 0-9
Donegal pegged back Kerry in MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey as Susanne White held her nerve late on to split the spoils in this TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 2 opener.
In dreadful conditions, nothing separated the sides at half-time as a Caoimhe Keon goal helped send Donegal in level at 1-3 to 0-6.
Niamh Ní Chonchúir had opened the scoring for the visitors but with Keon rattling the net for Donegal just four minutes in, the hosts stole an early march. Anna Galvin and Danielle O’Leary then managed to tie matters up for a settled Kerry by the tenth minute.
Continued below…
.
Katie Dowds did hit back for Donegal but three Kingdom points on the bounce from of O’Leary, Lorraine Scanlon and captain Niamh Carmody helped open up a two-point advantage. White reduced the margin after 18 minutes with a point from a free to make it 0-6 to 1-2.
But with conditions continuing to deteriorate and underfoot now extremely difficult, that was the end of the scoring action right up until the half-time hooter as Aussie Rules star and Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin squared it.
Eilís Lynch of Kerry evades the tackle of Katie Herron of Donegal during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Kerry jumped two clear once more at the start of the second half as Carmody and Scanlon lobbed over.
Another White free kept Donegal on the visitors’ coattails but a smart Emma Dineen clip, on the three-quarter hour mark doubled Kerry’s upper hand once more.
Nearing the final five minutes, the away side still led 0-9 to 1-4 but a searing Dowds break from the back saw her drive at goal just clear the crossbar. And with White nailing that pressure free at the end, the points were split.
Niamh McLaughlin of Donegal in action against Ciara Murphy of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Scorers – Donegal: S White 0-3f, C Keon 1-0, K Dowds 0-2, N McLaughlin 0-1.
Kerry: N Carmody 0-2,1f, D O’Leary 0-2, A Galvin 0-2, N Ní Chonchúir 0-1, L Scanlon 0-1, E Dineen 0-1.
DONEGAL: C Friel; S McLaughlin, A Temple Asokuh, E McGinley; K Dowds, N Boyle, T Hegarty; R Rodgers, N Carr; C Keon, N McLaughlin, A Boyle Carr; S White, K Herron, K Long. Subs: E Gallagher for A Boyle Carr (36), B McLaughlin for K Long (48), J McFadden for N Carr (55),
KERRY: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, L Scanlon; N Carmody, K Brosnan, A Galvin; N Ní Chonchúir, E Dineen, D O’Leary. Subs: H O’Donoghue for K Brosnan (44), A Harrington for M O’Connell (44), S O’Shea for N Ní Chonchúir (49), L Ní Mhuircheartaigh for E Dineen (57),
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
Anna Galvin of Kerry is tackled by Caoimhe Keon of Donegal during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ben McShane/SportsfileRoisin Rodgers of Donegal in action against Lorraine Scanlon, left, and Emma Dineen of Kerry during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ben McShane/SportsfileDanielle O’Leary of Kerry in action against Caoimhe Keon of Donegal during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Kerry at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
THE Kerry ladies are back in action this weekend when they take on Donegal in the TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship.
The game take place on Sunday at 1:05pm in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey. If you can’t make the long trip to support the team then you can watch it live on Live on TG4 or listen to the commentary on Radio Kerry
The team captained by Niamh Carmody is as follows;
Anthony Newman reports on the Munster Final yesterday in Mallow where the great rivals met…
Kerry 2-15
Cork 0-13
Sheer delight for Kerry as they were crowned TG4 Munster Senior A ladies football champions for the first time since 2017 at Mallow.
The Kingdom started well, before falling behind to Cork, but a goal from Emma Dineen just before half-time got them back in contention.
When she raised her second green flag with nine minutes to go it was the killer blow, as they led by six points at that stage and there was no way back for Cork.
Continued below…
.
Add in a simply outstanding display from Danielle O’Leary, who scored 10 points for Kerry and was the deserving winner of the Player of the Game award, closely followed by Kayleigh Cronin.
O’Leary opened the scoring for Kerry in the fourth minute as she fisted over the bar from a long ball in.
She doubled their lead after 10 minutes, with a long stoppage for an injury in between to players from both sides.
The same player made it 0-3 to no score as Cork were finding it difficult to get going, thanks to some superb defending by Kerry.
Continued below…
.
Katie Quirke got Cork off the mark after 14 minutes and from the restart Rachel Leahy got their second point to make it 0-3 to 0-2.
With 16 minutes gone Cork were back on level terms when Melissa Duggan did what she does best. She burst forward to score as Cork were now much more in contention.
Quirke got her second from a free to put Cork in front for the first time after 19 minutes play.
Another bursting run from a Cork player, this time Laura O’Mahony, put Cork two to the good as they were now playing the better football.
Quirke pointed from another free, with Aoife Healy and O’Mahony also scoring to make it 0-8 to 0-3 after 28 minutes.
Quirke then got Cork’s ninth point in a row as the Rebels were enjoying the better of the play.
O’Leary and Quirke exchanged points from frees as Cork led by six as half time approached.
Just before the half time whistle Kerry got the boost they needed when a ball in from Katie Brosnan was fisted to the back of the net by Emma Dineen, to see Cork lead by 0-10 to 1-4 at the break.
O’Leary, Kerry’s only point scorer in the first half, added another 30 seconds into the second, with Lydia McDonagh replying for Cork.
O’Leary, who was keeping her side in contention on her own hit another to put a point between the sides. And with 40 minutes gone O’Leary scored again to level it.
Another from O’Leary put Kerry back in front after 41 minutes the first time they lead since the 16th.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, who came on after 39 minutes, scored a point, the first Kerry player aside from O’Leary to raise a white flag for them.
O’Leary got her ninth to increase Kerry’s lead, with Niamh Carmody also pointing, to make it 1-11 to 0-11 in their favour after 49 minutes.
Kerry had one hand on the trophy after 51 minutes when Dineen got her, and Kerry’s, second goal to make it 2-11 to 0-11.
Quirke hit back for Cork but time wasn’t on their side as Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Carmody increased Kerry’s lead.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh got the last score of the game as the Kingdom won the title for the first time since 2017.
Scorers for Kerry: D O’Leary 0-10 (1f), E Dineen 2-0, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-3 (2f), N Carmody 0-2.
Cork: K Quirke 0-7 (5f), L O’Mahony 0-2, R Leahy, M Duggan, A Healy, L McDonagh 0-1.
KERRY: ME Bolger; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, E Dineen, E O’Connor; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, D Kearney; K Brosnan, D O’Leary, L Scanlon.
Subs: C Butler for ME Bolger, A Harrington for E O’Connor (both ht), L Ní Mhuircheartaigh for K Brosnan (39), A Dillane for N Ni Chonchuir (60).
CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, D Kiniry, A Ryan; S Leahy, A Healy, D Kiely; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McDonagh; L McDonagh, K Quirke, R Leahy.
Subs: S McGoldrick for S Leahy (39), K O’Driscoll for A McDonagh (42), S Kelly for A O’Mahony (44), L Hallihan for L McDonagh (52), S O’Leary for D Kiely (58).
THE Kerry ladies senior footballers will play in the Munster Championship Final this Saturday afternoon.
After their narrow victory over Waterford in the last round, Cork provide the opposition in the decider which will be played at the Mallow GAA Complex with a 4pm throw-in.
Tickets for the match can be purchased by clicking here. Here’s the Kerry team….
Fiadhna Tangney came off the bench and scored the winning point for Kerry in a pulsating contest at Cordal GAA club in Round 3 of the TG4 Munster Senior Championship.
Waterford will point to 6 second half wides as being detrimental to their cause whilst Kerry will be happy to face into a Munster Final after a win in a game that they might well have lost.
Kerry were first off the mark when Jadyn Lucey pointed a free following a foul on Hannah O’Donoghue and in the 6th minute Lorraine Scanlon got on the scoresheet after some very good play from Eilis O’Connor.
Continued below…
.
Waterford’s Kelly Ann Hogan pointed a free following a foul on the impressive Aoife Murray and Kerry had a huge let off in the 12th minute when Lauren McGregor rattled the post with a superb shot at goal.
A Kelly Ann Hogan free in the 16th minute brought Waterford level and straight from the resulting kick out Hogan put her side one up from play.
We had to wait another 6 minutes for the next score and it was Kerry’s Hannah O’Donoghue who finished to the back of the net after a sweeping move involving Lorraine Scanlon, Amy Harrington and Emma Dineen.
The lively Katie Murray and Jadyn Lucey traded scores before Niamh Ní Chonchúir put Kerry 1-4 to 0-4 ahead in the 28th minute. Kelly Ann Hogan pointed a free soon afterwards , and it was Kerry that took a 1-4 to 0-5 lead in at half time.
Waterford spurned a goal chance early in the second half when Eve Power had to be content with a point, but they got the goal they craved from a Kaci Brazil penalty following a foul on Aine O’Neill.
Cora Murray made a brilliant block from Jadyn Lucey at the other end and although Waterford took control of proceedings, they were wasteful in possession.
Niamh Ní Chonchuir got a welcome point for Kerry in the 48th minute to bring them to within one, 1-5 to 1-6, but Kelly Ann Hogan slotted over to give Waterford the lead once more.
Katie Brosnan, looking sharp, hit a brace of scores to draw Kerry level but with time running out it was another substitute, Fiadhna Tangney, who sealed the win for Kerry.
Scorers-Kerry: K Brosnan 0-2, H O’Donoghue 1 goal, J Lucey 0-2 (1f), L Scanlon 0-1, F Tangney 0-1, N Ní Chonchúir 0-2 Waterford: K A Hogan 0-5 (3f), K Brazil 1 goal (pen), E Murray 0-2.
Kerry: C Butler; K O’Sullivan, E Lynch, A Dillane; E O’Connor, A O’Connell , R Rahilly; L Scanlon, R Smith; A Harrington, H O’Donoghue, N Ní Chonchúir; D Kearney, E Dineen, J Lucey. Subs:C Murphy for R Rahilly 16, K Brosnan for A O’Connell , F O’Donoghue for E Lynch (both H/T, L Ní |Mhuircheartaigh for A Harrington 38, C McCarthy for D Kearney, C O’Brien for R Smith (both 45), A Curtin for J Lucey, F Tangney for H O’Donoghue (both 51),
Waterford: E O’Brien; C Murray, H Power, A Waring; N Power, E Murray, E Power; A O’Neill, K Murray 0-1; A Murray, E Bolger, C McCarthy; K A Hogan 0-5 (3f) L McGregor, L O’Shea.Subs:K Brazil for L McGregor, E Fitzgerald for L O’Shea(both H/T), M Comerford for A Waring 34, O Kennedy for E Bolger 51, A Brazil for K Brazil 58.
EXCITEMENT is building ahead of tomorrow evening’s TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship Semi Final between Kerry and Armagh.
THE Kerry ladies are in action again this weekend, hoping to go one better than the draw last Sunday against Donegal.
THE Kerry ladies are back in action this weekend when they take on Donegal in the TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship.
Anthony Newman reports on the Munster Final yesterday in Mallow where the great rivals met…