5 August 2023; Kerry players and staff celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry captain Roisín Rahilly lifts the cup after her side's victory in the 2023 ZuCar All-Ireland U18 B Final between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry captain Roisín Rahilly is presented with the cup from Robbie Smyth, Munster LGFA President and LGFA Vice-President, following the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players celebrate with the cup after their side's victory in the 2023 ZuCar All-Ireland U18 B Final between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players Andrea Murphy, left, and Julia Curtin celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players Julia Curtin, left, and Orla Fitzgerald celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Jessica Gill of Kerry, left, celebrates with teammates after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Keelin Enright of Kerry celebrates with supporters after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players Kelly Enright, left, and Orla Clifford celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players Keelin Enright, right, and Róisín Rahilly celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players Keelin Enright, right, and Róisín Rahilly celebrate after their side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Leah McMahon of Kerry celebrates at the final whistle after her side's victory in the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***
5 August 2023; Kerry players before the ZuCar All-Ireland Ladies Football U18 B final match between Kerry and Sligo at MacDonagh Park in Nenagh, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***Kerry have won the ZuCar Ladies All-Ireland U18 B Football Championship Final.
They defeated Sligo at McDonagh Park Nenagh by 2-6 to 1-6.
Paul Murphy reports
First-half goals from Amy Curtin and Julia Curtin were the key scores for Kerry in their three-point triumph over a gutsy Sligo side.
This B decider was a first for both Sligo and Kerry, although the Munster county have pedigree at A level, having won three titles in the top tier in 1980, ‘81 and ’95.
The counties recently contested an All-Ireland U-16 B final, with Kerry earning the bragging rights on that occasion.
In blustery conditions at the Nenagh venue, wind-assisted Kerry, who enjoyed early possession, put pressure on the Connacht champions.
Having opened the scoring through Julia Curtin’s converted free after five minutes, Kerry put a stamp on the game with a well-taken goal from Amy Curtin in the ninth minute.
Sligo got their first score after 12 minutes through their only first-half scorer, free-taker Rianne Smith, as Kerry’s disciplined defending kept Sligo at bay.
A fortuitous second goal for Kerry – Julia Curtin netted with a hooked effort that looked like a point attempt – gave the Kingdom a six-point lead, 2-1 to 0-1, after 14 minutes.
Sligo improved in the latter stages of the first-half and added two more points, both frees, from Smith but it was Kerry who took a five-point lead into the break at 2-2 to 0-3.
Both sides had a player sent to the sin bin in the last 10 minutes of the opening period – there were sanctions for Sligo’s Lauren Normanly and Kerry player Kelly Enright.
Sligo were much-improved during the second-half, with substitutes Ellen Kelleher and Eimear Hunt doing well, while Smith kick-started the revival with a 41st minute goal from a close-range flick.
Good points from Blaithin Lavin, Lauren Normanly and Sarah Feeney brought Sligo to within a point of Kerry, 2-4 to 1-6, with 16 minutes of normal time left.
But determined Sligo didn’t score again for the remainder of the contest that included six minutes of added time.
Kerry, for whom captain Roisin Rahilly impressed, as did Enright, kept in front and vital converted frees from their top scorer Julia Curtin and Leah McMahon got them over the line.
Scorers – Kerry: J Curtin 1-3 (2f), A Curtin 1-1, L McMahon 0-1 (f), K Enright 0-1.
Sligo: R Smith 1-3 (3f), B Lavin 0-1, L Normanly 0-1, S Feeney 0-1.
KERRY: A Looney; K Furey, R Smith, L Reilly; C Gannon, R Rahilly (c), O McKenna; E Ni Laighinn, K Enright; A Curtin, L McMahon, N Quinn; J Gill, J Curtin, K Doe. Subs: C Daly for L Reilly (45), T Murphy for J Gill (51), K Enright for C Gannon (56), G Kennedy for J Curtin (60).
SLIGO: M Burke; H Redican, C King, E Boland; I Henry, K Walsh, J Gabbidon; T Breheny, C Walsh; A McDaniel, R Smith, B Lavin; L Foley (c), L Normanly, S Feeney. Subs: E Hunt for K Walsh (ht), E Kelleher for L Foley (39), C Brennan for L Normanly (56), E Cawley for S Feeney (59), J Monaghan for A McDaniel (60+4)
