O'Shea hails Kerry's rock solid defence ahead of Galway showdown

Kerry have conceded just 2-72 in eight championship matches this season heading into Sunday's All-Ireland final against Galway

Kerry's Siofra O'Shea on ladies football's new rules: "There are more one-v-one battles, and there is definitely a bit more space.” Pic: ©INPHO/Stephen Heaney

While Siofra O’Shea, and her colleagues in the full-forward line, Danielle O’Leary and Jadyn Lucey, have been taking much of the plaudits for their scoring exploits, the Kerry captain prefers to heap praise on a Kingdom defence that is going under the radar.

As Mark Bourke’s side prepare for their fourth All-Ireland final in five seasons when they come face to face with Galway on Sunday at Croke Park, the Southern Gaels attacker is delighted with the manner in which her side are restricting the opposition up to now.

To put it into perspective, Kerry have conceded a grand total of 2-72 in eight championship matches this season, the highest being the 0-17 scored by Waterford in the Kingdom’s sole loss in the competition. They have kept six clean sheets to boot.

“The defence have been unbelievable all year, and they haven’t been letting in too many scores at all. Mary Ellen (Bolger) got player of the match in the Munster final, and I’d say she’s only had to make one or two saves since. The ball hasn’t tested her for any goal shots, and that’s down to the defence,” she said.

“They’ve been unbelievable as a unit and, individually, they’re well able to win their own battles as well. You saw what Eilis Lynch did in the semi-final the last day, really locking down Kate Sullivan, who is an unbelievable player. She didn’t give her an inch.

“She’s inside there with Deirdre Kearney and Roisin Rahilly, who are again well able to win their own battles. The half-back line have been the people driving on from the back and starting our attacks as well. Going both ways, they’re excellent.

“Ash (O’Connell) and Aoife (Dillane) are both able to attack, but also able to defend. Emma (Costello) really showed her quality in the Kildare game. She showed to everyone what we see in training all the time.

“She’s just a really strong player down the centre. Since she came back, she really tightened us up back there. She’s a massive presence around the team.” 

Of course the good work at the back has to see rewards down the other end of the pitch, and the 24-year-old skipper has, most certainly, been keeping up her end of the bargain. Indeed, O’Shea is probably in the best form of her career at the moment.

The Kerry full-forward has definitely been enjoying the season as it developed under the new rules. From a tally of 2-15 in her first four championship outings, O’Shea has plundered 3-25 in the last four games, including a combined 2-14 in the victories over Meath and Dublin.

“I suppose it does make a difference. As forwards especially, you do have a bit more space around the place. It takes away from the packed defence with the three-up rule, and the space you get, if you can move the ball quick, is massive,” she explained.

“We do really enjoy taking on our players, and having those one-v-one battles. It’s really enjoyable to play, when you do get the space. That is a big help as well. The kick-out mark, the solo and go, all of them are helping to keep the pace high in the game, to move the ball quickly, and that’s what we like.

“It (defensive play) wasn’t as big of an issue in the ladies’ game. Every team wasn’t playing like that either. It was definitely a big contrast in the men’s game straightaway. It has made an impact in the ladies’ game, but teams probably weren’t playing with 15 behind the ball.

“Maybe if you beat one person, there still was another person coming at you, and it’s about picking your moments now. There are more one-v-one battles, and there is definitely a bit more space.” 

Galway have made everybody sit up and take notice all season with the quality of their play. Their emphatic semi-final victory over Armagh has focused Kingdom minds even further. However, they do have the memory of the 2024 decider to give them sustenance.

“It gives you that confidence, but we’re both different teams since then. We’ve lost a lot of players since that 2024 All-Ireland, and they’ve changed as well, and we know it’s a completely different set-up on both sides,” stressed O’Shea.

“I wouldn’t get too worked up at all. I just try to take it in my stride. It would be an unbelievable thing if we do bring back the Brendan Martin Cup. We got a feel for it in 2024 and I think Kayleigh Cronin said it at the time.

“If you could bottle that feeling, and just have it even once more, then you’d take it. We’ve given ourselves a chance now, and we’re really looking forward to putting everything into it, and hopefully getting over the line.”