Kerry have been beaten in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 finalk.
Kerry v Armagh in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Final at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry SportThey lost out to Armagh in Croke Park by 2-12 to 2-9.
Kerry v Armagh in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Final at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry v Armagh in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Final at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry SportArmagh created the better chances in the first 5 minutes, producing 1 point but also 2 wides. Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh then equalised from a free. 2 Kerry wides followed and it was 1 point all after 8 minutes.
After Armagh nudged in front again Kerry had the chance to level from a 10th minute Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh free. Her effort dropped short and the Armagh goalkeeper fumbled the ball. Lorraine Scanlon was on hand to gather possession and netted from close range.
However, it was Armagh controlling the game and a point followed by a Niamh Coleman goal had them in front by 1-3 to 1-1 at the quarter hour mark. The ensuing minutes brought little to trouble the scoreboard, Armagh extending their advantage to 1-4 to 1-1.
4 minutes from the break a Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh point proved to be Kerry's first score since the 9th minute. The same player put over a minute later and the gap was down to 1 at 1-4 to 1-3. Ní Mhuircheartaigh then pointed Kerry level. It was 1-4 apiece at the break.
Kerry v Armagh in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Final at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry v Armagh in the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Final at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry SportThe first score of the second period was a Kingdom goal as pressure on the Armagh defence paid off. A kick out to an Armagh defender was challenged by Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh.
She forced the pass back across goal, the Armagh keeper by now out of position. Anna Galvin challenged her, winning the ball and passing off to team mate Niamh Ní Chonchúir, who shot into an empty net. Armagh responded immediately with a point, then put over again to make it Kerry 2-4 Armagh 1-6.
Armagh were level 7 minutes into the period, then went ahead by 1-8 to 2-4. A cracking finish from the edge of the square saw Aimee Mackin put her side 4 clear at 2-8 to 2-4 with 21 minutes remaining. Armagh were on top, extending that lead to 5. After the gap went up to 6 Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh pulled it back to 5 with 12 minutes on the clock.
The same player cut that gap by a further point with 10 to go. Only a superb save by Mary Ellen Bolger kept the deficit to 4. Hannah O'Donoghue brought Kerry within 3 but Armagh soon restored their 4 point advantage at 2-11 to 2-7 with 7 minutes remaining. A Ciara Murphy point has Kerry within 3 once more.
Again Armagh stretched the lead to 4, with 3 minutes to go. Kerry cut it to 3 with 2 minutes left but Armagh held on for a deserved victory.
Kerry joint manager Declan Quill
Kildare are the Division Two champions
They've beaten Tyrone by 2-9 to 12 points in the final at Croke Park this afternoon.
