Total Football by Castleisland Desmonds overwhelms a brave Austin Stacks effort (report by Gene O’Donnell).
Last Sunday, at a sun drenched Connolly Park, a well drilled Dan Kearney Castleisland Desmonds Ladies team outgunned Interim Manager John Walsh’s charges on a score line of 4-17 to 2-3 in the first round of the 2021 Randle’s Brothers Intermediate Championship.
The game was well marshalled by referee Mike Hennessy whose common sense approach allowed the game to flow easily. It was also great to see a championship double header as this game was followed by the senior men’s match between the home side and Kerins O’Rahilly’s. Kudos to Kerry LGFA and Kerry GAA, and hopefully this will become a standard arrangement, wherever possible. Stacks started well with Aoife Dillane winning the throw in against her Kerry senior team mate Lorraine Scanlon but their first attacks were well thwarted by Gemma Kearney, Grace Cahill and Saoirse Murphy. 3 Points from Lorraine Scanlon and Paris McCarthy settled Castleisland Desmonds and then Niamh Walsh showed her pedigree by calmly slotting a goal after a well worked move by the Desmonds, leaving the score at the first water break 1-5 to 0-0. A feature of this opening quarter was the duels between county minor comrades Eimear O’Sullivan and Paris McCarthy and the two youngest players on the pitch Desmonds’ Hannah Herlihy and Rock street’s championship debutant, Róise O’Donnell. Laobhaise Walmsley was a constant threat up front with Ruth Cahill and already Desmonds had laid down a marker that they were keen to avenge last years disappointment v Finuge St. Senan’s and go one step further in 2022.
Under the watchful eye of Joint Kerry senior manager, Dara Long, the second quarter was when Desmonds took it up a further notch, despite conceding a brace of frees expertly converted by Caoimhe Barry Walsh. Stacks were struggling to win possession up front despite the best efforts of Kerry Oba and Breda Slattery. With Marie Twomey and Cait Lynch in commanding form, Desmonds’ intricate and fast interplay led to further scores from Lorraine Scanlon and Ruth Cahill. For the visiting supporters their handling, support play and precise passing was a joy to behold. Just before half time Niamh Walsh struck again finishing coolly after a turnover. This left the score at half time 2-8 to 0-2.
Caoimhe Barry Walsh scored a goal with Stacks first attack of the second half but then disaster struck for Austin Stacks as Kerry Oba suffered an injury which resulted in a break of play for several minutes. Everybody wishes Kerry a speedy recovery. Desmonds regrouped and the game petered out to an inevitable conclusion with Paris McCarthy expertly finishing a great move to the net for Desmond’s fourth goal and the game ended with a last minute consolation goal finished by substitute Mollie O’Carroll after a great shot by Marina Barry Walsh hit the base of the upright. Final Score Austin Stacks 2-3 Castleisland Desmonds 4-17. On the evidence of this game, it is difficult to see who can match the blue and white brigade as they ticked all the boxes. Up next for them is local rivals, Scartaglin while, next Friday, under lights, Austin Stacks will entertain a Corca Dhuibhne team spearheaded by none other than Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh.
A good start to the campaign by Desmonds, whose game plan was executed to perfection. Austin Stacks will lick their wounds, regroup and with the likes of Sarah Fitzgerald and Emma McCarthy likely to return soon, they can look with confidence to maybe causing an upset against the team from the west. Everyone wishes a speedy recovery to Austin Stacks Kerry Oba who looked to have sustained a serious knee injury in the 2nd half of the game.
Austin Stacks: Chloe Fitzpatrick, Karena Slattery, Lara Flynn, Niamh Loughnane, Róise O’Donnell Eimear O’Sullivan, Norma O’Connor, Rachel Ryan, Aoife Dillane, Megan O’Brien, Caoimhe Barry Walsh, ,Sarah Hoare Breda Slattery, Linda Raymond ,Kerry Oba. Sub: Kirby Anne Ryan.
Castleisland Desmonds: Fiona Griffin, Grace Cahill, Saoirse Murphy, Lily Cox, Gemma Kearney, Marie Twomey, Eda Mangan, Lorraine Scanlon, Cait Lynch, Hannah Herlihy, Paris McCarthy, Elaine Doody, Ruth Cahill, Labhaoise Walmsley.
Match Photos by Adam Kowalckz
