Mayo ladies bow out after gutsy effort against Kerry

Ladies bow out after gutsy effort

LADIES FOOTBALL TG4 ALL-IRELAND SENIOR QUALIFIER
ROUND 1
Kerry 0-12
Mayo 1-8

Rob Murphy
Banagher

SO there you have it. Over in a heartbeat, but let no one doubt that the Mayo hearts were pounding from start to finish, as a spirited and fired-up young side gave every last drop of energy for the cause on Monday.
On a drizzly day in Banagher, Mayo took to the field with a side that contained just six of the side which started their last championship game, the 2009 All-Ireland semi-final last August. Throw in the fact that training started just over two weeks ago – with nine sessions squeezed in, and winning this first-round qualifier was always going to be a difficult mission.
Kerry are no kingpins, but they are on the rise after a shocking league campaign, and won this game thanks to a pulsating surge midway through the second half where they kicked six unanswered points in response to Cora Staunton’s goal shortly after the interval.
The game ended, appropriately enough, with a gutsy late surge from Mayo. But it’s hard to argue that the result should have been any different. Kerry were the better side, played a more direct and effective game, and made use of their inevitable superior fitness in that second half.
In what was an entertaining contest throughout, the sides were neck and neck in the opening 30 minutes and were level five times, sharing ten points between them by the break. Cora Staunton was the scorer-in-chief for Mayo with four (including two from play), while Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh popped up with four for Kerry.
Mayo scored consistently but were rarely on top for long. Kerry had more possession and created more scoring chances, kicking seven first-half wides and squandering a good goal chance, when Patricia Dennehy’s shot was well saved by fired-up Mayo goakeeper Byrne.
Kerry led for the first time after 23 minutes after substitute Sarah Houlihan announced her arrival with a fine point to make it 0-4 to 0-3. Staunton replied with an excellent score from play, cutting across the ball. And while Kerry had a subsequent free, it was Martha Carter who had the last say with a point a minute from half time to level matters at 0-5 apiece.
The second half started with a bang for Mayo as Kerry were caught for a sucker punch. Lisa Cafferkey found herself in dangerous territory 13 metres out. Under pressure, she shovelled a pass towards Staunton, who controlled with her foot and, on the turn, rifled a brilliant shot off the ground into the far corner of the net. It was a goal that would be have been at home in Milebush Park, and put Mayo in the driving seat.
But the score merely acted as launching pad for a hugely productive six-minute spell for Kerry. It started with a brilliant save from Byrne denying Lorraine Scanlon, but while the danger was averted initially, Kerry were only getting started.
Five points, all from play, came in quick succession. Corner forward Patrice Dennehy kicked the first, Ní Mhuircheartaigh landed her fifth, the electric Houlihan nabbed her second, and points from Scanlon and Breda Lane followed.
Mayo were on the ropes. Eight minutes later Kerry had a sixth through Ní Mhuircheartaigh before a Staunton free offered hope. Dennehy kicked Kerry’s final score with two minutes to go.
Mayo were two points down but didn’t stop fighting, Staunton tapped over a free before Sinéad Cafferkey scored Mayo’s final point with 30 seconds left. There was still time for one final foray into Kerry territory, but the Kingdom held firm. They deserved it, but Mayo deserve all the credit for a brave display.

Kerry
E Murphy; K Gleeson, A Leonard, C Crowley; D Murphy, A Desmond, B Lane (0-1); L Scanlon (0-1), B Breen; M O Donaghue, E Sherwood, L Galvin; P Dennehy (0-2), L Ni Mhuircheartaigh (0-6, 3f), A Brosnan.
Subs used: S Houlihan (0-2) for Galvin; SJ Joy for E Sherwood; C Green for M O’Donoghue.

Mayo
Y Byrne; M Corbett, A Loftus, M Naughton; L Ryder, C Egan, Ciara McManamon; M Carter (0-1), Clodagh McManamon; A Gilroy, T McNicholas, S Tierney; L Cafferkey, C Staunton (1-6, 4f), E Tansey.
Subs: C Hanahoe for S Tierney; S Cafferkey (0-1)  for E Tansey; S McManamon for Clodagh McManamon.

Referee: K Delahunty (Tipperary)