U12 GIRLS
Last Saturday we hosted U12 girls from Glanmire, Cork. There was great football from both sides, thankfully the rain held off. Afterwards we invited our guests and our team in for food. We hope that Glanmire enjoyed their trip to Strand Road. Well done to all.
U13 CHAMPIONSHIP
Last Monday evening we travelled to Listowel for the quarter final. Katie Nix was outstanding as always scoring 4-02. We had great support from parents . Final score Kerins O’Rahillys 8- 05 to Listowel 5-08. Well done everyone!
We played away to Fossa in the semifinal on a glorious Summer’s evening last Friday, August 10th.
Fossa who have a number of county players and are also County Féile winners are a very strong, well coached side. This was shown from the throw in how good they were by racing into a 4 point lead 1-03 to 0-02 but this KOR side are made of strong stuff and have improved over the last year with many of the team winning county titles with their schools recently. This game was going to be a fight to the end and Fossa knew it making early changes to counteract our forward line and Katie Nix influence on the game by effectively putting 2 players on her after she scored 1-02 early in the first half. She was playing a blinder upfront along with Aoibhín MacCarthy and Kelly Fitzgerald who was becoming more influential around the midfield areas.
At half time we were down just 4 points but in truth it would have been much more but for the performance of our backs. They were outstanding throughout both halves under ferocious pressure from Fossa’s top players who were very good on the ball and had excellent movement off the ball supporting one another. Lauren Doody was outstanding and never gave up, ably supported by Ava Ward along with Ella O’ Connor and Hollie Leane until she got injured but in truth all the backs were outstanding from beginning to end.
With just minutes to go this game hung in the balance and the tension was palpable with a county final place on the line with KOR needing a goal to draw the game with coaches from both sides roaring instructions and encouragement to players. Aoibhín MacCarthy was outstanding in the middle of the field and really put it to their county star along with Kelly Fitzgerald who won every dirty ball she went after but that score wouldn’t come. Katie Nix and Sophie Hassett tried really hard but Fossa had dropped back players into defence in the second half and it was really 3 to 1 when we had possession anywhere close to goals. With a final score of Fossa 3-09 to KOR 3-06 it does show the ability of our girls to counteract a blanket defence but we just couldn’t get the final goal when we needed it.
Their county players in central defence and midfield just gave them a slight edge over us all during the game but time and time again our backs tackled like their lives depended on it, they dispossessed them many times and drove up the field all through the second half but the vital score just never came.
Parents and coaches who have been involved in ladies football for many years were extremely proud afterwards of just how well we played and how hard we fought an excellent Fossa side right to the end. They may well win this championship out but KOR have proved again we are on the rise in ladies football in Kerry and are formidable opponents to every team we compete against now. We will be winning trophies and that will
be coming in the near future. Well done to all of the team and subs, you have done the club proud. Thanks also to the coaches, parents and supporters on the night whose voices will need resting today!!!
U14 GIRLS
Our Kerins O’Rahilly’s Blues are away to Churchill in the North Kerry League on Tuesday, August 14th. Throw in at 7p.m. in Spa pitch. Best of luck to the girls and their mentors.
Our Strand Road Girls’s team have a bye this week.
U15 Championship
We are home to Fossa this Monday in the quarter final. Throw in at 7p.m. in Strand Road. Best of luck!
U16 Girls
Well done to the girls and their mentors in Round 1 of the North Kerry League . Final score KOR 4-16 to Churchill 1-01. We are away to Dingle in Round 2 on Friday,August 17th- TBC.
BAG PACKING
We have secured a day’s bag packing in Garvey’s SuperValu this Thursday, August 16th. We would appreciate help from parents and the girls.
CELEBRITY MAMAS 7 A SIDE
There was a great turnout from the Moms last Wednesday, training continues this Wednesday ladies.