Kerry have been beaten by Laois in their Liberty Insurance All Ireland Quarter Final
Laois winning by 4 points, 1-10 to 1-6
Denis Lenihan was watching for us.
Kerry had defeated Carlow after extra time the previous week while Laois had been defeated by Down. Heavy rain had fallen prior to throw-in and this made conditions difficult. Laois launched their first attack in the 5th minute but this was ably defended by Kerry goalkeeper and captain Aoife Fitzgerald. From the clearance, Kerry's No. 10 Norette Casey fielded the sliotar beautifully. However, she was fouled and Patrice Diggin made no mistake to register Kerry's first score. Norette was again fouled two minutes later. Patrice drove a low shot into the Laois square but their defence stood firm and repelled the attack. Kerry launched a sustained period of pressure on the Laois goalmouth in the 9th minute but while the Laois defence cleared their lines Jackie Horgan was on hand to put Kerry 0-3 to 0-0 ahead. Then Caoimhe Spillane went on a scintillating run and was rewarded with a white flag. Laois needed a score and it was their captain Sara Cuddy who delivered with a searing run and a bullet of a shot into the roof of the Kerry net. However, Kerry responded well. In the 21st minute, Caoimhe Spillane went on another of her trademark runs and supplied a pass to Jackie Horgan. Jackie was fouled and Patrice converted the free. Kerry were unlucky not to find the Laois net in the 23rd minute. A free from Patrice Diggin was doubled on by Jessica Fitzell but her shot went narrowly wide. A free from Patrice was the final score of the first half and Kerry were the happier side going in leading by 0-5 to 1-0.
Kerry got a massive boost in the 34th minute when a ball dropped into the Laois square was not dealt with by the defence and Jessica Fitzell finished the sliotar to the net to put Kerry into a five-point lead. A minute later Clodagh Tynan launched a free into the Kerry goalmouth but Kerry defended well and Patrice Diggin eventually lifted the siege. Clodagh Tynan of Laois then went on an excellent run but her shot drifted just wide. A strong crossfield breeze made shooting difficult and during this period Kerry had three wides and Laois had two. In the 53rd minute, Alison McEvoy raised Laois's first white flag when she scored from distance. Cathy Galbraith scored for Laois in the 56th and a brace from Aisling O'Dea and Clodagh Tynan left one between the sides. In the first minute of injury time, Laois had a chance to equalise but the shot went narrowly wide. Three minutes of injury time had been announced and in the fourth minute John McDonagh threw the ball in after a ruck and it fell to Clodagh Tynan who made no mistake sending the game to extra time.
Laois won a free in the second minute of extra time and Kirsten Keenan made no mistake. Kerry were unlucky not to find the Laois net in the 5th minute. A long ball into the Laois goalmouth looked like it would creep inside the post but goalkeeper Aedin Lowry was alert to the danger. Two frees from Kirsten Keenan and a strike from play from Laura Marie Maher put them four ahead. Kerry won a free and Jackie Horgan made no mistake to put a goal between the sides. However, Kirsten Keenan scored again just before the final whistle to send Laois into the semi-final on a final scoreline of 1-10 to 1-6. Heartbreak for Kerry who had extra time battles on two consecutive weekends. However, Kerry can be very proud of their performances at Intermediate level and these certainly bode well for the future of Kerry Camogie.
Kerry:
Aoife Fitzgerald, Rachel McCarthy, Sara Murphy, Michelle Costello, Niamh Leen, Patrice Diggin (0-3, 0-3 frees), Aoife Behan, Laura Collins, Kate Lynch, Norette Casey, Jackie Horgan (0-2, 0-1 free), Ann Marie Leen, Jessica Fitzell (1-0), Liz Houlihan, Caoimhe Spillane (0-1)
Substitutions:
Saidhbhe Horgan for Ann-Marie Leen, Aine O’Connor for Norette Casey, Edel Slattery for Aoife Behan, Brid Horan for Niamh Leen
Laois:
Aedin Lowry, Jade Bergin, Roisin Kilmartin, Laura Finlay, Clodagh Tynan (0-2), Alison McEvoy (0-1), Aimee Collier, Jessie Quinlan, Joyce Dunne, Sarah Creagh, Laura Marie Maher (0-01), Liaden Fennell, Sara Cuddy (1-0), Kirsten Keenan (0-4, 0-4f), Aisling O’Dea (0-1, 0-1 free)
Substitutions:
Molly O’Connor for Jade Bergin, Cathy Galbraith (0-1) for Liaden Fennell
Referee: John McDonagh (Galway)
Kerry Captain is Aoife Fitzgerald
Kerry boss is Ian Brick
