Kerry defeat Galway to reach Intermediate Camogie semi-finals for first time

Jackie Horgan struck 0-9 as the Kingdom got over the quarter-final hurdle at the fourth time of asking.

SEMIS BOUND: Marion Graham presents Kerry’s Jackie Horgan with the player of the match award. Pic: ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

Kerry 0-15 Galway 0-13

For the first time in their history Kerry, inspired by Jackie Horgan, advanced to the semi-final stage of the Intermediate Camogie Championship.

Horgan struck 0-9 in the win as Kerry got over the quarter-final hurdle at the fourth time of asking.

Kerry started the brighter with Patrice Diggin and Amy O’Sullivan pointing in the opening two minutes. Ava Bloomer dragged Galway to within a point with their opening score in the third minute before three Jackie Horgan frees made it 0-5 to 0-1 in the ninth minute.

Aoibheann Barry helped bring Galway to within a point once again as she converted three frees in succession by the 17th minute. Horgan and Barry were putting on a show at either end and as the pair continued to exchange points the score read 0-8 to 0-6 after 26 minutes.

Galway turned the tide with two puckouts turned over, Ava Lynskey pointed the first and the second resulted in a Barry free to level the tie in the 29th minute.

The talismanic Diggin added a second point from the far sideline to put Kerry ahead by a point at the interval.

Despite Kerry adding the next two scores in the opening ten minutes of the second half it was their defence that kept them in the tie.

Sara Murphy made a terrific block to deny Caoimhe Kelly a goal late in the opening half and the same player was denied by Kerry net minder Aoife Fitzgerald who made a brilliant save to thwart the Galway corner forward.

As the final quarter got underway Chloe Allen and Kelly popped over scores to reduce the gap to a single point 0-11 to 0-10 in the 46th minute.

Kerry’s Jackie Horgan takes a free. Pic Credit: ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

Barry leveled matters in the 49th minute with another accurate free but as the game ticked into the final ten minutes Amy O’Sullivan split the uprights from an acute angle to regain the lead in the 51st minute.

The lead was two with the ever reliable Horgan scored a monster from range to keep momentum with Kerry in the closing minutes.

Kate Lynch soon made it three before Barry again cut the gap to a single point in stoppage time with two excellent scores.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time Horgan slotted over a free to ensure the Kingdom girls advance to last four and a probable meeting with Cork.

Scorers for Kerry: J Horgan 0-9 (5fs, 1 45’), A O’Sullivan 0-3, P Diggin 0-2, K Lynch 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: A Barry 0-9 (5fs, 1 45’), A Bloomer, C Allen, A Lynskey, C Kelly 0-1 each.

KERRY: A Fitzgerald; R McCarthy, S Murphy, M Costello; R Quinn, N Leen, A Behan; C Spillane, R O’Connor; L Collins, P Diggin, AM Leen; A O’Sullivan, J Horgan, E O’Donoghue.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for M Costello (39), N Quinn for L Collins and K Lynch for AM Leen (Both 43), A McCarthy for Diggin (51), A O’Connor for Behan (56).

GALWAY: M Gately; E Burke, S Lyons, A Crowe; P Finnerty, R McPhiblin, J Daly; R Kelly, C Allen; K Donohue, A Lynskey, A Joyce; A Bloomer, A Barry, C Kelly.

Subs: C Broderick for Joyce (h/t), Z Rodgers for Bloomer (35), K Madden for P Finnerty (43), S Flynn for K Donohue (56).

Referee: G Donegan (Dublin).