On Saturday last Kildorrery junior ladies took on Scartaglen of Kerry in a dry but breezy Banteer. Scartaglen got off to a flying start and were two points in the lead after five minutes.

Kildorrery fought back and got some great points from Eleanor Twohig, Niamh Hickey, Shelly Twohig and Trish O Callaghan. Kildorrery were unlucky not to get a goal when Niamh Hennessys’ shot rebounded off the crossbar and was cleared by the Scartaglen defense.

Kildorrery battled hard towards the end of the first half and they were unlucky when Amy Dunlea of Scartaglen pounced on an uncharacteristic mistake from Orla Murphy and blasted the ball to the back of the Kildorrery net.

The half-time whistle came and Kildorrery trailed by two points, on a score line of Scartaglen 1- 04 Kildorrery 0-5.

Half time saw a new energy take over both teams when they emerged from the dressing rooms and the crowd saw some great runs and combination play from both sides. The second half saw the introduction of Valerie McCormack for Laura Hanley after nine minutes. Kildorrery were on the offensive now and they got some great points from Eleanor Twohig, Annie O Callaghan and Niamh Hennessy and a well taken 21 yard free from Niamh Hickey.

Niamh Hennessy was replaced by Niamh Walsh seventeen minutes into the second half. She almost had a dream start when the first ball she got just skimmed the goal line and rolled wide. Niamh had an instant impact on the game and was again unlucky for another goal when she volleyed on a dropping ball and this also just escaped the Scartaglen net and bounced wide.

The girls worked extremely hard in the second half, the defense fought tirelessly under the leadership of Joanne Hennessy. Orla Murphy controlled the girls in front of her from between the posts and her sister Deirdre was always there to halt any threat.

The corner backs, Caroline Coughlan and Eileen McCarthy cleared the wings and worked well with the wing backs, the Hanley sisters Caroline and Laura.

Joanne Hennessy covered over and back and picked up any loose ball and halted any attacking run.

The midfield pairing of Eleanor Twohig and Mairead Noonan got vital ball into the forwards and covered back whenever possession was lost.

The wing forward pairing of Shelly and Rose Twohig worked well and Shelly made some great runs down the wing and also stopped any ball getting past her when Scartaglen were on the offensive. Niamh Hennessy did well in the centre forward position and made some great runs down the centre of the field and got a great point in the second half.

The full forward line of Niamh Hickey, Trish O Callaghan, and Annie O Callaghan wore down the Scartaglen defense and Annie got a great point in the second half. Trish turned her marker and got a great point in the first half. Niamh Hickey worked hard in the corner got a good point from a 21 yrd free in the second half.

Valerie McCormack when introduced brought a lot of movement into the full forward line and dispersed the ball wisely and worked hard to keep possession. Niamh Walsh played a blinder and got a great point when introduced and was unlucky not to get two goals. Eleanor O Gorman came in for Annie O Callaghan with three minutes to go and did well when she got the ball.

Kildorrery were dealt a blow when Niamh Hickey was sin binned with five minutes to go. It seemed that Scartaglen might come back as all they needed was a goal and they had the advantage of an extra player, they almost got they required goal to level the game but the shot from Margaret O Donoghue just was too far to the right and avoided the Kildorrery net. The game ended Kildorrery 0-12 Scartaglen 1-6. The girls are now through to the Munster final.

Team and Scorers
Kildorrrery: Orlaith Murphy, Caroline Coughlan, Deirdre Murphy,Eileen Mc Carthy,Caroline Hanley, Joanne Hennessy, Laura Hanley, Mairead Noonan (C), Eleanor Twohig(0-4), Shelly Twohig (0-1), Niamh Hennessy, (0-1), Rose Twohig, Niamh Hickey (0-2), Trish O Callaghan(0-1), Annie O Callaghan (0-1), Valerie McCormack for Laura Hanley(39 mins), Niamh Walsh for Niamh Hennessy(47 mins) Eleanor O Gorman for Annie O Callaghan(57 mins)
Scartaglen: Marian Lenihan, Christina Flemming, Eileen O Connor (C), Siobhan Flemming, Aine Clifford, Tara Brosnan, Helen O Connor. Siobhan Barret, Mags Daly, Joanne Brosnan, Margaret O Donoghue (0-2), Mary Herlihy (0-1), Elaine O Connor (0-1), Julianne O Connell(0-2), Amy Dunlea (1-0), Nuala O Conner, Grace Drumm, Bridget O Mahony, Jennifer Drumm, Megan Browne.