Eugene Kyne reports from Gaelic Park
Ladies Football
Second half secures Fianna win.
Na Fianna 4-17 Kerry/Donegal 2-07
While the teams went into the break with a goal between them, it was a second half surge that secured the win for Na Fianna. They outscored their rivals 3-10 to 1-03 in that time with a two goal outburst from stars Fiona McHale and Molly O'Rourke critical. Kerry/Donegal ad used a strong closing period of the first half to pull within three but they had little in way of answers when Na Fianna finally got their impressive team moving.
The first half had a series of scoring waves to its story line. KD had two points from the impressive Sarah Grealis to open the game but seven of the next eight scores to catapult into the lead. It included a goal from Jeannine Rynne after twelve minutes when Mary O'Rourke was involved in the buildup. Molly O'Rourke, two, Fiona McHale, two and Mary O'Rourke had points in the mix and by the 21 st minute Na Fianna had a 1-06 to 0-03 lead. Kerry/Donegal responded by closing out the first half with a scoring flurry. Clare Hannon snatched a goal while Catherina Brady fired over a point to cancel out a Fiona McHale effort to leave just three between the sides as the half arrived. Na Fianna added to their lead with scores from substitute Joanne McKenna to open the second half before another Molly O'Rourke point. Donegal responded with three of the next four points with Clare Hannon, Catriona Brady and Jennifer Moran all scoring but they had a glorious goal chance that went a begging with twelve minutes gone. Denise Dunnion was released on goal by Brady but her low shot screamed a yard wide of the left post. It was a let off that Na Fianna would punish them for. Kelly McCormack had a point from play before McHale and Molly O'Rourke put back to back goals together to push the lead out even further 3-11 to 1-07. Clare Hannon did grab KD's second goal with ten minutes left but it proved to be their final score as Na Fianna added a further 1-05 to their tally with Captain Aine Dwyer getting goal number four.
Jesse Garcia was very impressive at the back for the winners with Katrina Lynch, and newcomer Noelle Tierney also prominent. The O'Dwyer's dominated the middle of the park with Fiona following her strong showing in the Anne Kearney final with another hour of powerful catching and play. Fiona McHale moved to the middle for the second half and had a very impressive hour in her first game of the year. Katrina Sullivan despite not scoring did a lot of quality running up and down the wing, with Molly O'Rourke having an excellent outing. Joanne McKenna and Kelly McCormack had important contributions off the bench. For Kerry/Donegal Benny Touhy had a good outing and could not be faulted for the goals. Louise Lilly battled throughout the hour and did well when moved to Molly O'Rourke late on in the game. Catherina Brady, Anita McKenna, Sarah Grealis who was excellent and started the game on fire, Clare Hannon and Ali Kelly also had some very good moments.
Na Fianna 1 Alison Leydon 2 Jesse Garcia 3 Katrina Lynch 4 Ashley Brophy 5 Stephanie Tierney 6 Noelle Tierney (0-01)7 Imelda Mullarkey 8 Aine O'Dwyer (1-01)9 Fiona Dwyer 10 Brianna Tierney 11 Fiona McHale (1-05) 12 Katrina Sullivan 13 Jeanne Rynne (1-00)14 Molly O'Rourke (1-05)15 Mary O'Rourke (0-02) Subs Aisling Toolin, Shannon Spillane Joanne McKenna (0-01) Kelly McCormack (0-01)
Kerry/Donegal 1 Benny Touhy 2 Niamh Britton 3 Una Burke 4 Kathleen Hickey 5 Siobhan Neville 6 Louise Lilly 7 Jennifer Moran (0-01) 8 Michelle McVann 9 Catherina Brady (0-02)10 Sarah Grealis (0-02) 11 Ali Kelly 12 Kelly Roche 13 Denise Dunnion (0-01) 14 Anita McKenna 15 Clare Hannon (2-01) Subs Thea Clarke Marie Cassells
Player of the Game Fiona McHale (Na Fianna) Claire Hannon (KD)
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