2022 TG4 Munster Ladies Senior Football Final – Cork 2-11 Kerry 1-9

Cork defeated Kerry by 2-11 to 1-9 in the TG4 Munster Ladies Senior Football Final on Saturday May 28th at Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney.

Cork 2-11 Kerry 1-9

By Ger McCarthy

Orla Finn scored 1-3 and Cork retained their TG4 Munster SFC title at the expense of Kerry at a sun-kissed Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.

The Kingdom were guilty of kicking six wides during an entertaining opening quarter in which they dominated possession. Cork proved more clinical in front of goal, however, Finn and Libby Coppinger points preceeded an Emma Cleary penalty to make it 1-2 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.

Louise Ní Mhuircheartcaigh, Anna Galvin and Lorraine Scanlon scored to keep Kerry on the front foot before the former and Áine Terry O’Sullivan exchanged scores.

Then, in the 22nd minute, Ní Mhuircheartcaigh reacted quickest to a Meabh O’Sullivan save and found the net from close range.

Cork’s reaction was positive with Áine Terry O’Sullivan and Doireann O’Sullivan (free) making it 1-5 to 1-4. A superb Cork move ended with Ciara O’Sullivan releasing Finn who made no mistake with a rasping finish to the net. The Kinsale forward added a terrific point and Cork went in at half-time leading by 2-6 to 1-4.

Danielle O’Leary got Kerry’s first score of the second period and a series of turnovers enabled the Kingdom enjoy a purple patch. Yet, the hosts failure to capitalise allowed Cork reassert control.
Doireann O’Sullivan and Louise Ní Mhuircheataigh exchanged frees as Cork maintained their four-point advantage heading into the final quarter.

Ní Mhuircheataigh (free) and O’Leary brought Kerry to within two but Laura O’Mahony responded with a fisted point and Finn (free) quickly restored their team’s advantage.

Cork finished strongly with late scores from Áine Terry O’Sullivan and Rachel Leahy cementing a deserved victory.

Scorers – Cork: O Finn 1-3 (0-1f), E Cleary 1-0 (1-0 pen), Á T O’Sullivan 0-3, D O’Sullivan 0-2 (0-2f), L Coppinger, L O’Mahony and R Leahy 0-1 each.

Kerry: L Ní Mhuircheartcaigh 1-4 (0-3f), D O’Leary 0-2, A Galvin, L Scanlon and P McCarthy 0-1 each.

CORK: M O’Sullivan; R Phelan, E Meaney, S Leahy; M Duggan, M O’Callaghan, L O’Mahony; A Hutchings, S Kelly; E Cleary, C O’Sullivan, L Coppinger; Á T O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan, O Finn.
Subs: K Quirke for S Kelly (33), R Leahy for Cleary (45), M Cahalane for S Leahy (45), E Scally for D O’Sullivan (51), A O’Mahony for L O’Mahony (57).

KERRY: C Butler; C O’Brien, K Cronin, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, C Murphy; A Galvin, C Lynch; D O’Leary, N Carmody, L Scanlon; N Ní Chonchúir, E McGlynn, L Ní Mhuircheartcaigh.
Subs: P McCarthy for McGlynn (22), M O’Connell for O’Brien (30), K Brosnan for Ní Chonchúir (43), S O’Shea for A O’Connell (56).

Referee: P Smith (Waterford).

Match Preview

Cork are the holders from 2019 and looking to get their hands on silverware again.

Standing in their way are a formidable Kerry outfit, however, with the Kingdom still on a high following their recent Lidl National League Division 2 Final win.

Kerry followed that up by defeating Tipperary in the TG4 Munster semi-final, as Cork got the better of Waterford in the other last-four clash. Cork and Kerry last met in a provincial senior final in 2018, when the Leesiders ran out 5-13 to 2-10 winners.

When the counties met in the Munster championship a year later, Cork were even more comfortable winners but the gap between the counties appears to have closed and the Kingdom will quietly fancy their chances. In November 2020, Cork and Kerry met in the group stages of the TG4 All-Ireland Championship, and Cork had just three points to spare on that occasion.

Both sides will operate in Division 1 of the Lidl National League next season following Kerry’s promotion – but it’s all about the Championship on Saturday. The winners of this tie will join Donegal and Waterford in Group D of the All-Ireland Championship, with the runners-up pitted with Galway and Westmeath in Group C.

Team News

Cork (v Kerry): M O’Sullivan; R Phelan, E Meaney, S Leahy; M Duggan, M O’Callaghan (capt.), L O’Mahony; A Hutchings, S Kelly; E Cleary, C O’Sullivan, L Coppinger; Á O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan, O Finn.

Kerry (v Cork): C Butler; C O’Brien, K Cronin, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, C Murphy; A Galvin (capt.), C Lynch; D O’Leary, N Carmody, L Scanlon; N Ni Chonchúir, E McGlynn, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.