Reporting from Croke Park
Goals win games, and Kerry came out in their droves today to show us just how much quality is on the field, and the bench combined. The girls from the west mean business, and are one victory from the All-Ireland.
The first score of the game came in the 4th minute from a free for Mayo by Shauna Howley.
Mayo appeared to be very dominant in the first 5 minutes, until a goal in the same minute from Kerry’s Aisling O’Connell turned things around, with a great pass in by Niamh Carmody.
6 nóim #KERvMAY@kerryladiesfoot 1-00@Mayo_LGFA 0-01
Tús den chéad scoth do Chiarraí agus cúl faighte acu! An raibh an t-adh leo anseo an dóigh leat? 🤔
A dream start for Kerry as Aishling O'Connell's blocked effort finds its way into the net!#ProperFan pic.twitter.com/QxbHESIEKW— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 16, 2022
Kerry won Mayo’s kickout quickly, and then got another point, which is fisted over bar by Emma Costello.
Kerry then hit their purple patch with an impressive interception from Danielle O’Leary to deny Mayo running up middle and get a point thanks to the fiery Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh.
Mayo captain Kathryn Sullivan was consistent with her tenacity and hassling of opponents, to hand it over to Ciara Whyte for a left footed point.
The heat was turned up in the 10th minute with a serious run up the pitch from Kerry’s number 9 Cait Lynch to take on 3 Mayo defenders, and hand passed to Siofra O’Shea to punch it into the net. Goal number 2 for Kerry and only ten minutes played.
#KERvMAY@kerryladiesfoot 2-02@Mayo_LGFA 0-02
Imirt an-chliste ó thosaithe Chiarraí chun dara cúl an lae fháil!
Lovely play from Kerry as Síofra o'Shea fists in their second goal of the game! #ProperFan pic.twitter.com/tLWOUatZam— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 16, 2022
Mayo were doing all the hard work but couldn’t maintain possession when going forward. After scrambling for their kickout, Mayo quickly broke up the field and gained a point from Tara Needham. The following Kerry kickout was well won by Mayo, and Lisa Cafferky kicked a point from play.
From a Mayo point of view, their captain did a serious amount of dogs work up and down the wing and gave a lovely ball in from midfield to Tara Needham, who passed to Shauna Howley for another beautiful point on the left boot.
#KERvMAY@kerryladiesfoot 2-04@Mayo_LGFA 0-07
'Tá sé seo ar nós cluiche leadóige anseo!' Ná cáill an cuid eile den aicsean ar @TG4TV
Sarah Mulvihill slots it over the black spot to put a score between the teams! 🎯🤩#ProperFan
Mayo pic.twitter.com/SbEMjhdVzL— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 16, 2022
Kerry then went on the rampage, when Cait Lynch gave a gorgeous punt kick into the full forward line for another point.
This is continued by a brilliant interception by Niamh Carmody and an even better pass into O'Shea, who buried it into the right bottom corner. Goal number 3 for Kerry.
22 nóim #KERvMAY@kerryladiesfoot 3-05@Mayo_LGFA 0-07
1-01 faighte ag mná Chiarraí laistigh den 30 soicind, agus tá athrú suntasacha tagtha ar an gcluiche seo!
A Kerry blitz sees them tack on 4 points in a matter of seconds! 😱#ProperFan pic.twitter.com/ylgR9gAKyN— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 16, 2022
Mayo had a brilliant goal opportunity with 7 minutes to go but well saved by Ciara Butler’s right foot. On the fast break, Lisa Cafferky wins her ball again, and passes to her sister Sinead who gets another point. 3-06 to 0-8 at half time to Kerry, after an intense 30 minutes.
The second half throw up is well won by Lorraine Scanlon to maintain Kerry’s dominance, but the first few scores came from Mayo. Aoife Geraghty, Shauna Howley and Tara Needham all scored, and Tara won every ball kicked into her throughout the game.
The second half was more of the same.
Kerry got their first score of the 2nd half from Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh 7 minutes in, and Kerry’s confidence lifts once again. Louise starts to show off her skills with a 2nd consecutive point from play. However, Mayo quickly transition down the field to score a lovely point from Aoife Geraghty. As previously mentioned, the pace of this game is top tier.
A ridiculous kick pass from full back Kayleigh Cronin into Louise got Kerry their 3rd point of the 2nd half. Their dominance started to come to the surface, with a quick 4th point fisted over the bar from their number 5, Aishling O’Connell.
Kerry seemed to have more bodies in all areas of the field, but both sides showing insane levels of fitness. Goal number 4 for Kerry came from the boot of Paris McCarthy, with a hard shot that looked to be stopped by Mayo goalie Aisling Tarpey, but it rolled into the bottom right corner.
44 nóim #KERvMAY@kerryladiesfoot 4-10@Mayo_LGFA 0-12
An-iarracht ó Paris McCarthy chun an deis seo a thapú! An mbeidh an scór seo cinniúnach?
Paris McCarthy finds herself in the right place at the right time and buries the chance! #ProperFan pic.twitter.com/FBCWETyuhv— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 16, 2022
Mayo nearly had their first goal with a lovely run down middle from Sinead Cafferky and a beautiful kick pass that is caught in the sky by Tara Needham, but Kerry showed their force and blocked it down.
Leading into the final quarter of the match, Kerry show class from every position, stopping mayo in their tracks. Mayo’s Sinead Cafferky kept Kerry on their toes in the 62nd minute with a lovely long-range point from play, and then up at the other end, a terrific block in front of goals by Roisin Flynn prevents a 5th goal attempt for Kerry.
Kerry remained lighter on their feet in the last few minutes with a lovely block from Emma Costello and held on to the ball in the middle area keeping between the hands. Their experience came to the fore.
Mayo battled well but Kerry very much deflated their hopes of reaching the final. The Kingdom were deserving winners of a lightening-paced encounter.
The All-Ireland champions await in the final.
