In the heart of Kerry, amidst the green landscapes that echo with the cheers of Gaelic football fans, the Kerry ladies football team emerges as a beacon of determination and resilience.
Led by the unwavering spirit of players like Cáit Lynch, they embark on another championship season in the hopes of securing their first All-Ireland title in 31 years.
Kerry are one of the favourites for All-Ireland glory this year, having put in a consistent league campaign and some strong opening performances in the Munster Championship to secure them a place in the final.
But recent championship success did not come without its share of setbacks for the Kingdom. Kerry narrowly missed out against Armagh in the NFL Division 1 final early last month. Bouncing back from such a loss is no easy task.
“We took a good long look at ourselves” Lynch recalls, and describes a team effort committing to the highest levels of work rate and intensity at trainings, to be translated onto the pitch.
"I think Armagh were much better than us on the day," she adds.
During a strong league campaign that included only a single loss and draw out of seven matches, the Kerry ladies conceded the least amount of points in the competition, a tribute to their line of defence. Their single loss was to Armagh, a fiercely strong side this season, where the Kingdom managed to reduce a 7-point deficit in the round stage to just a 3-point margin in the final.
Following the disappointment, the team had just two weeks to regroup and recover, aware that their response would define the rest of the season.
Kerry's Championship so far
Yesterday, Kerry finished their Munster round robin campaign with a single-point win over Waterford.
The final will be held in Mallow against either Cork or Tipperary on Saturday May 18th, and that the game will be broadcast live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.
It's been a positive Munster campaign for the Kingdom. Lynch reflected on their opening match against Tipperary in the Munster Championship, recalling the sun-drenched double-header clash at Fitzgerald Stadium.
“It was a good performance...our forwards were able to really just take all of the opportunities that they got,” she recounts, emphasising the team’s solid performance with a 15-point win. “Just for our own heads…to do well in that first round was important to us.”
The journey continued in Brosna, a place the Kerry ladies hold close to their hearts. “We've done a lot of our training there this year, and they're just such a brilliant club,” she tells, acknowledging the club’s integral role in the match preparation, with “new nets put in and the goal posts painted for the day.”
Kerry were under no illusion as to how challenging this Round 2 match would be, having struggled to beat Cork in previous years. “It was really faced-paced... very tight...but it was a brilliant match,” Lynch adds, reflecting on the 4-point win over the Rebels.
Amidst the trials and triumphs, the figure leading the girls in green and gold is Niamh Carmody. “I love Niamh Carmody as captain...She's brilliant...cool, calm, and collected,” Lynch remarks, highlighting the captain’s impact on and off the pitch. After been carried off the field with what appeared to be a knee injury against Cork, Lynch believes their captain will be back fit for the upcoming final.
As they approach the Munster final, the chances of another crack at an All-Ireland title grow. Losing out two years in row to Meath and Dublin, the heartbreaking succession of losses serves only to fuel the Kingdom's determination. For Lynch and the Kerry ladies, an All-Ireland title would mean “genuinely absolutely everything.”
