By Dan Kearney

Kerry 1-12
Tyrone 1-10

(after extra-time)

It was tense, it was tight, and in the end it took extra-time before Kerry claimed the ZuCar All Ireland U18 B championship over Tyrone at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

It looked like Kerry had the game in the bag when Leah Griffin scored a fine goal in the 56th minute to put her side five points ahead. 

Tyrone showed admirable spirit to fight back though with Hannah Donnelly and Keeva Donnelly pointing, and star forward Érin McGinn hitting the back of the net to bring the game to extra-time.

Owens pointed her sixth free of the contest at the start of overtime but Kerry had the legs and a brace of frees from Sadhbh O’Sullivan and Erin Evans point from play ensured that Kerry captain and player of the match Muireann Teahan would claim the cup.

Kerry played with the aid of a very strong breeze in the first half and raced into 0-5 to 0-0 lead in the first quarter as both sides were guilty of some poor turnovers early doors.

Griffin got her side off the mark in the first minute. From the kickout Tyrone’s Caitlinn McCarron was forced into a fine goal line block from Faye Lynch as Kerry came raiding once more.

Seoladh Flynn pushed the Kingdom 2-0 ahead followed by a brace of Evans frees, before Kelsey Cummins pushed her side 5 to the good.

Then Tyrone came storming into the game and might have had 3 goals but for the excellence of Kerry goalkeeper Caoimhe O’Mahony.

A shot from McGinn in the 20th minute fell short and O’Mahony did well to keep out Dana Coyle’s palmed effort.

Two minutes later and O’Mahony did brilliantly to get a hand to the dangerous McGinn’s effort although Keeva Owens did point the subsequent free from an earlier foul.

Tyrone were enjoying a lot of possession now and Dana Coyle pointed to make it a 3 point contest although O’Mahony was forced to save once more from McGinn with Sibéal Ní Shéaghdha doing brilliantly to clear Hannah Donnelly’s follow up.

The accurate Erin Evans, a sister of Kerry senior Keith, pointed the last two frees of the half and Kerry led by 0-7 to 0-2 at half time.

Kerry pushed 0-9 to 0-4 ahead through Evans (free) and the raiding Jamie Lee O’Connor with the Tyrone reply coming from McGinn and Keeva Owens (free).

Griffin’s goal looked to have sealed things for Kerry but huge credit must go to Tyrone for their stunning fight back with McGinn’s goal the highlight.

Jer O’Sullivan’s side got the scores in extra-time however and claimed a deserved win after an enthralling contest.

Scorers – Kerry: E Evans 0-6 (5f), L Griffin 1-1, S O’Sullivan 0-2f, K Cummins 0-1 J L O’Connor 0-1, S Flynn 0-1.

Tyrone: K Owens 0-7f,E McGinn 1-1, D Coyle 0-1, H Donnelly 0-1.

KERRY: C O’Mahony; R Daly, A Brosnan, S Ní Shéaghdha; J Lee O’Connor, E Dillane, A Doyle; L Griffin, C O’Sullivan; S Flynn, M Teahan (capt.), F Lynch; E Evans, N O’Donoghue, K Cummins. Subs: T O’Sullivan for F Lynch H/T, S O’Sullivan for N O’Donoghue 43, I Wynton for R Daly 51, B Curtin for K Cummins 58, S O’Halloran for S Flynn 60 + 15et, S Heaseman for E Evans 60 +20 et.

TYRONE: R Mullin; C McCarron, E Daly, Z McAnespy; A Leonard, E Kelly, C McCanny; K Owens (capt.), I Grimes; D Coyle, H Donnelly, M Muldoon; L McDonnell, É McGinn, C McMoran. Subs: E Daly for L McDonnell 38, A McCullagh for M Muldoon 51, K Corcoran for I Grimes 56, I Grimes for H Donnelly 60 +5(et), I Grimes for H Donnelly 60 + 4et, E Sweeney for D Coyle 60 + 15 et, S Loughran for Z MxAnespy 60 +15 et.

Referee: Ray McBride (Dublin).

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