Picture: Sportsfile
Kerry 5-11
Galway 1-10
Report: Daire Walsh By
Brilliant Kerry produced a stellar performance at Croke Park to earn their 12th National League crown with a comprehensive win against Galway in Croke Park on Saturday.
They were inspired by player of the match Kayleigh Cronin from the Dr Crokes club in Killarney who produced a scintillating display all afternoon.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Hannah O’Donoghue and captain Siofra O’Shea all registered goals over the course of the action to complement a two-goal salvo from Niamh Ní Chonchúir as the Kingdom reached the top of the NFL ladder for the first time since 1991.
Just 17 seconds had elapsed when a Leanne Coen point edged Galway in front but Niamh Carmody responded swiftly with a similar score at the opposite end.
Last year’s skipper Anna Galvin subsequently moved the Kingdom into the ascendancy with a sharp score on the turn, before Ní Chonchúir rattled the net on the stroke of 10 minutes.
Buoyed by this score, Kerry scored another goal on the first-quarter mark when marauding full-back Kayleigh Cronin – later crowned player of the match – passed the ball inside for Ní Mhuircheartaigh to palm home.
Their Connacht counterparts attempted to build momentum with Olivia Divilly and Roisin Leonard points either side of a fine effort from distance by Lorraine Scanlon for Kerry, while Leonard knocked over her second free in the 20th minute.
Kerry continued to play with great confidence, however, as Ní Chonchúir and Ní Mhuircheartaigh (free) contributed additional points to give them a 2-5 to 0-4 cushion at the break.
After Galvin, Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Carmody registered consecutive points for the Kingdom on the restart, O’Shea released Ní Chonchúir at the end of a powerful run for her second goal on 38 minutes.
Within seconds, Hannah O’Donoghue got on the end of a move that was instigated by Carmody for yet another goal and the Beaufort attacker followed up with three points in succession to leave Kerry with an unassailable 4-11 to 0-4 lead.
Kate Slevin finally responded for the westerners with a point and the Claregalway corner-forward – who has represented the Republic of Ireland in underage soccer – also converted a 45th minute penalty to provide her team with some form of solace.
Yet Kerry grabbed a fifth goal through the industrious O’Shea inside the final-quarter and even though Slevin (two), substitute Shauna Brennan (two) and Divilly kicked unanswered points late on, Galway’s search for a breakthrough Division 1 success will continue into 2024.
Kerry scorers: N Ní Chonchúir 2-1, H O’Donoghue 1-3, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 1-2 (0-2 frees), S O’Shea 1-0, N Carmody, A Galvin 0-2 each, L Scanlon 0-1.
Galway scorers: K Slevin 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees), R Leonard (2f), O Divilly, S Brennan 0-2 each, L Coen 0-1.
Kerry: ME Bolger; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, E Costello, C Lynch; L Scanlon, M O’Connell; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, A Galvin; H O’Donoghue, S O’Shea, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.
Subs: A Harrington for M O’Connell (43), C Evans for Ní Chonchúir (49), A Dillane for Murphy, L Galvin for Costello (both 52), F Tangney for O’Donoghue (53).
Galway: A Griffin; K Geraghty, S Ní Loingsigh, E Gavin; C Cooney, N Ward, A Molloy; A Davoren, S Divilly; L Coen, L Ward, O Divilly; E Noone, R Leonard, K Slevin.
Subs: C Trill for Gavin (25), S Brennan for Leonard (h-t), T Leonard for E Noone, H Noone for Molloy (both 39), L Noone for S Divilly (43).
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).
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