Kingdom impress as Cavan fall into relegation battle

All-Ireland Ladies SFC

Cavan 2-5

Kerry 2-21

Aideen Coyle

On Saturday afternoon Cavan made the long trip to Austin Stacks Park, Tralee to take on Kerry in their final championship group stage game. After Kerry defeated Dublin in the opening round, Gerry Moane’s side knew it was going to be a difficult task.

Similarly, to the week previous against Dublin, Cavan started the game brightly, with conviction in attack and ferociously defended in packs. However, missed chances soon caught up with them as Kerry took a six-point lead at the break after an evenly contested opening half.

Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh opened the games scoring with two early frees before Ellyanna Madden sent over a fine long-range effort for Cavan who were wind assisted in the opening half. Cavan’s huger and desire in defence was evident from the off as a superb block from Cavan’s standout performer Shauna Lynch on Ní Mhuircheartaigh prevented a certain score. Síofra O’Shea and Emma Halton traded points to keep one between the sides.

Danielle O’Leary got her first of the game before Cavan’s hard work was rewarded as the dangerous Geraldine Sheridan found the back of the net after an excellent pass from Muireann Cusack. Aishling Sheridan punished the Kerry kickout with her first point to give Cavan a two point lead. The lead however was short lived. Roisin O’Reilly pulled off a fantastic save to deny O’Shea but the rebound fell favourably to corner back Ciara Murphy who gathered and found the net to bring her side right back into the contest.

The division one national league champions outscored the visitors 0-06 to 0-01 for the remainder of the half to take a 1-10 to 1-04 lead at the break but Cavan were by no means out of the contest playing much improved football but failing to execute in front of goal registering six wides. Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Anna Galvin, Niamh Carmody and Louise Galvin pointed for Kerry before Geraldine Sheridan got a much-needed score for Cavan after a brilliant long pass out of defence from Rebecca O’Reilly was gathered by the full forward. Amy Harrington and O’Leary finished the halves scoring to leave Kerry ahead by six.

Aisling Gilsenan got Cavan straight off the mark with a pointed free inside the opening minute after being fouled through on goal. However, the home side found their rhythm and showed why they are All Ireland contenders scoring 1-10 without reply. Ní Mhuircheartaigh who was well marshalled by Lynch pointed her first from play which was followed by the introduction of Niamh Keenaghan for Cavan.

Cavan trailing by six continued to work hard and made it difficult for Kerry to find a breakthrough. Their next score came nine minutes later by O’Leary but was followed up by five quick fire points from Caoimhe Evans, Ní Mhuircheartaigh and O’Leary as the Kingdom were now finding themselves with more time on the ball in the Cavan backline. Leading by nine Kerry continued to turn on the style in the 19th minute after a superb ball from substitute Fiadhna Tangney found O’Shea who beautifully palmed the ball over the head of O’Reilly to all but seal the win.

Geraldine Smith scored a consolation goal for Cavan at the end of the half after excellent play from Geraldine Sheridan but disappointingly this was only their second and final score of the half. The final score of the game came from Erica McGlynn as Cavan now turn their attention to survival mode as a meeting with Laois beckons in two weeks’ time in the relegation battle.

Cavan: Roisin O’Reilly, Caoimhe Madden, Shauna Lynch, Christina Charters, Ellyanna Madden (0-01), Ciara Brady, Rebecca O’Reilly, Neasa Byrd, Muireann Cusack, Aisling Walls, Aishling Sheridan (0-01), Emma Halton (0-01), Geraldine Smith (1-00), Geraldine Sheridan (1-01), Aisling Gilsenan (0-01)

Subs: Niamh Keenaghan for E. Halton, Keri McCormack for A. Walls, Ally Cahill for C. Madden, Cara McCaffrey for M. Cusack, Aine Smith for R. O’Reilly

Kerry: Ciara Butler, Ava Doherty, Kayleigh Cronin, Ciara Murphy (1-01), Cait Lynch, Emma Costello, Ciara McCarthy, Louise Galvin (0-01), Anna Harrington (0-01), Niamh Carmody (0-01), Danielle O’Leary (0-04), Anna Galvin (0-01), Síofra O’Shea (1-02), Caoimhe Evans (0-02), Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (0-05)

Subs: N Broderick for McCarthy, R Dwyer (0-03) for Ní Mhuircheartaigh, F Tangney for Galvin, S Fitzpatrick for Murphy, E McGlynn for Galvin

Ref: Patrick Smith