Kerry began their Very National Camogie League Div 2A campaign with a defeat.
The Kingdom lost to Offaly, who won 1-17 to 0-11.
Kerry travelled to Birr and were beaten by a slicker Offaly side. It was a typical first round game between an Offaly side who appeared to have a lot of work done and a Kerry side who worked tirelessly throughout but will be sharper as the league progresses. Offaly led 0-12 to 0-6 at half time with Patrice Diggin with 0-5 for Kerry and Amy O’Sullivan with a fine effort from play, making up the Kerry total.
Caoimhe Spillane scored an early point from play but Offaly were in no mood to relent and they added 1-5 in the second half with the goal coming from a penalty, scored by Aisling League.
Patrice Diggin added four second half points ( 3 frees and 1’45) to add to Caoimhe Spillane’s effort.
While manager Bryan Darcy admitted the loss was disappointing, he was not going to panic after one outing” “Obviously we came up to compete in a game and get a result, and the scoreline probably doesn't justify the work-rate that Kerry put in. Things didn't go our way, the rub of the green as they say, but yeah, it is a bit disappointing. There are a lot of positives that we can take out of it all the same. There are a lot of lessons for next week.”
“The girls stayed focused. They never gave up. They were up against a physically strong Offaly team that had a lot more weeks put into training than we had and it showed in the game. Look, that's just part of it all, they were back in a lot earlier than we were, and we just have to take his result on the chin and move on. I think that we will gather a bit of momentum as the year moves on. As I say, they are a couple of weeks behind compared to the likes of the Offaly camp.”
It was a special day for two young players just out of minor ranks Kathryn Ryan (Killarney) and Tara Burke (Causeway) made their senior debuts for Kerry and performed with promise.
KERRY :Aoife Fitzgerald; Michelle Costello, Sara Murphy, Rachel McCarthy; Áine O'Connor, Niamh Leen, Aoife Behan; Ciara O'Sullivan, Ruth O'Connor; Caoimhe Spillane (0-1), Patrice Diggin (0-9, 7f, 1'45), Ellen O'Donoghue; Amy McCarthy, Kate Lynch, Amy O'Sullivan (0-1).
Subs: Kathryn Ryan for Ciara O’Sullivan (h/t), Roisín Quinn for Áine O’Connor (h/t), Ann Marie Leen for Ellen O'Donoghue (48), Tara Burke for Amy O’Sullivan (53), Sarah Walsh for Aoife Behan (56)
