*Joint manager Niall Hickey addresses the Kilmurry Ibrickane panel. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
KILMURRY IBRICKANE’s hopes of making a first Munster senior ladies football club final were dashed by a stronger Castleisland Desmonds.
Castleisland Desmonds 2-13
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-6
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Seven days after they won their first Clare senior crown, Kilmurry Ibrickane struggled against a more experienced Kerry outfit who led from the outset.
The absence of Ciara Hickey, one of the Kilmurry Ibrickane. stars in their Clare final win last week, was a big blow to the home side.
The visitors put down a marker from the outset and it took a fine save by Katie McMahon in the home side’s goal to deny them in the opening minute.
Kilmurry Ibrickane had a great goal chance in the tenth minute but Amy Sexton’s effort was saved by Jennifer Drumm in the Castleisland goal.
The visitors were 0-3 to 0-0 in front before the home side opened their account, team captain Chloe Moloney finishing to the net following a delivery from Karen Galvin.
Stung by this score, Castleisland hit back impressively and after they had added two points to their tally they struck for a goal from Andrea Murphy to open a five point advantage.
By half time they had extended their lead to seven, 2-6 to 1-2, all of the Clare champions’ scores having come from their captain Chloe Moloney
The first half was in the third minute of added time when Sophie Daly picked up a yellow card which resulted in ten minutes in the sin bin.
Four more minutes of ‘added time ‘followed and ten minutes of the second half had elapsed before the Kilmurry Ibrickane midfielder was allowed back into the action which meant that she was off the field for fourteen minutes in total.
The third quarter was evenly fought with each side adding two points to their half time tallies.
The visitors then landed five in a row and Kilmurry Ibrickane’s problems were compounded when their captain was shown a yellow card five minutes from the end of normal time and this ended her involvement in the game
To their credit the home side battled to the end but the greater experience of the visitors proved decisive and they deservingly qualified for the Munster final.
Lorraine Scanlan, Cait Lynch, Andrea Murphy and Julia Curtin were particularly prominent for the winners.
For the home side Rebecca and Joanna Doohan stood out in defence while Ciara McCarthy, Amy Sexton and Chloe Moloney worked hard throughout.
Scorers Castleisland: Julia Curtin (1-4, 0-3 f) Andrea Murphy (1-3); Amy Curtin (2f), Lorraine Scanlon (0-3 each
Scorers Kilmurry Ibrickane: Chloe Moloney (1-4, 0-1 f); Joanna Doohan (free), Ellie Hanrahan (free, 0-1) each
Catleisland Desmonds;
1; Jennifer Drumm
2: Saoirse Murphy
3: Ellie Lynch
4: Hannah Herlihy
5: Gemma Kearney
6: Kaya O’Connor
7: Cait Lynch
8: Lorraine Scanlon
9: Amy Curtin;
19: Hazel Bourke
11: Andrea Murphy
12: Leah Griffin
13: Julia Curtin
14: Labhaoise Walmsley
10: Kate O’Connor
Subs
20: Rachel Cronin for H Herlihy (28)
21: Keelin O’Sullivan for Kate O’Connor (50)
25: Ruth Cahill for H, Bourke (55)
26: Robyn Cahill for L. Walmsley (55)
27: Amelia Kerin for J. Curtin (58)
Kilmurry-Ibrickane;
1: Katie McMahon
2: Aoife Martin
3: Rebecca Doohan
4: Niamh Miller;
5: Rachel Tubridy
6: Joanna Doohan
7: Dympna Garrahy;
8: Sophie Daly
9: Ciara McCarthy
10: Kayla Darcy
11: Amy Sexton
12: Ellie Hanrahan;
13: Karen Galvin
14: Chloe Moloney
24: Caitlyn O’Connor;
Subs:
17: Rebecca Sexton for K. Galvin (51)
18: Emma Coughlan for D. Garrahy (55)
20: Abbie Cussen for K. Drcy (61)
21: Emma Scullane for c. O’Connor (61)
Referee; Conor McCarthy (Cork)
