Kerry U20s fail to advance

| By Eamonn Fitzgerald

Kerry were defeated by Sligo in the All-Ireland U20 semi-final played at Galway on Saturday last. They were beaten 1-9 to 0-9 by a better Sligo team. Sligo will now meet Kildare in the final - I expect the latter to win that one.

Kerry were poor in the earlier games before the championship started but with colleges players available one expected Tomás Ó Sé’s charges to be well in the hunt for an All-Ireland that has eluded Kerry for far too long. Kerry last got to the All- Ireland final in this age group in 2008. Kerry were haunted to edge out Clare at Tralee, did well beating Cork, but disappointed against Sligo. Mind you this is a good Sligo team, backboned by Summerhill College students who defeated St Brendan’s.

They have reached the All-Ireland final the hard way, retaining their Connacht title by defeating Galway, Mayo and Roscommon - all away games.

Furthermore, they had to go without star player Dillon Walsh (good to hear that he is recovering well). Sligo were dealt a huge blow after 10 minutes when their captain and Connacht Player of the Year Canice Mulligan went off injured.

Kerry opened well with two excellent points from Rob Monahan and the industrious Luke Crowley added a fine point. However, the Sligo goal scored by Niland was the game-changer from which Kerry never really recovered.

It was level at half time 1-3 to 0-6, but aided by the breeze in that second half Kerry could not shake off the Connacht champions.

CAMOGIE ALL-IRELAND

Kerry won a senior All-Ireland in hurling last weekend - and not in football as one might expect. There was great jubilation at Clane, Co Kildare on Saturday last when Kerry won the All-Ireland Minor C camogie, title defeating Down. No goals but all points, Kerry 12 in all to eight for Down.

The jewel on the Kerry crown was Tara Burke wearing the number 11 geansaí with distinction. She was superb throughout, but particularly in the closing stages when Down were shortening the deficit. Tara from Causeway scored nine of Kerry’s 12 points and was the unanimous choice for ‘Laoch na h-Imeartha’.

For the record the All-Ireland winning Kerry team was: Lauren Bowler; Yen Leniston, Roisin Quinn, Leonie Walz; Ruth O'Connor, Ciara O'Sullivan, Niamh Quinn; Kathryn Ryan, Hannah Ryan; Amy

McCarthy, Tara Burke 0-9 (5f, 3 ‘45), Shannon Collins (0-1); Amy O'Loughlin, Emma Conway (0-1), Yasmin O'Brien (01). Subs: Chloe McCarthy for O'Brien (38), Niamh Gentleman for Conway (60), Lana O'Connell for O'Loughlin (62).