Kerry Ladies intermediate final took place yesterday in Ballymacelligott between Castleisland Desmonds & Na Gaeil. Na Gaeil current All Ireland Junior Club champions were hoping to add the Intermediate title to the list of honors but from early on in the game it was clear this was going to be a difficult task. Castleisland were first on the scoreboard with a point from Stephanie Murphy within the opening minute. Within minutes of the kick out, Na Gaeil goalkeeper Laura Fitzgerald was called into action & pulled off the first of many point blank saves of the day. Castleisland also hit the post 3 times within the opening 5 minutes as Na Gaeil had difficulty clearing the lines, with county star Lorraine Scanlon pulling the strings & running hard at Na Gaeil. Desmonds tacked on a few points but Na Gaeil were still within touching distance, giving them hope. But a goal from Leanne Mangan, which was fisted to the net after a good passing move put some daylight between the teams on 12th minute, leaving the score Castleisland Desmonds 1-04 Na Gaeil 0-1 with Na Gaeil score coming from Kate Anne O'Connor. Desmonds added on a few more points to leave the score at half time Castleisland Desmonds 1-10 Na Gaeil 0-02 a free from Marie Quirke Na Gaeil's second. Laura Fitzgerald was busy just before the half time whistle as made 2 good saves in a row to keep her team in it. In the second half Na Gaeil moved their full back Deirdre Kearney out to curb Lorraine Scanlon however that left a hole in the full back line which Desmonds immediately exploited with 1-02 from full forward Leanne Mangan within 5 minutes. Desmonds added on a few points from Andrea Murphy & Rachel Cronin before Leanne Mangan completed her hat trick with her third & Castleisland Desmonds on the 12 minute, after an initial goal bound shot was stopped by the keeper, leaving the score 3-15 to 0-02. Na Gaeil continued to work hard despite the game going against them & returning club favorite Meadbh Barry struck for a goal on the 19 minute, which was quickly followed up with points from Ayesha Roche & Brid Connor. Na Gaeil were awarded a penalty late in the game which Marie Quirke struck to the left of keeper, low & hard & hitting the back of the net. Castleisland hit for the final point of the game through Aine O'Connor, leaving the final score 3-17 to Na Gaeil. Captain Lorraine Scanlon accepted the title from  Vice Chairman Jerry O'Mahony & she paid tribute to the previous Kerry Ladies & Castleisland Desmonds Ladies Chair Donal Curtin RIP. 
Castleisland now progress to the Munster Club competition & with such a strong panel will be hoping to do well. However sterner tests will be ahead. Playing well for the winning side was Lorraine Scanlon, particularly in the first half, Aisling Leonard in midfield, Andrea Murphy & Leanne Mangan. The defence was never really tested. Playing well for Na Gaeil was their keeper Laura Fitzgerald who was under immense pressure but didn't buckle, Deirdre Kearney played extremely well & Brid Connor worked to the end. But they will now have to go back & regroup. 
Teams: Castleisland Desmonds: 1. Melissa Holland, 2 Marian Shine, 3 Aoife Lyons
4 Elaine Guiney, 5 Tina Mangan, 6 Cáit Lynch, 7 Jane Lynch, 8 Aisling Leonard, 9 Eilis Lynch (0-1), 10 Rachel Cronin (0-1), 11 Lorraine Scanlon (captain) (0-4)
12 Andrea Murphy (0-3), 13 Stephanie Murphy (0-1), 14 Leanne Mangan (3-4), 15 Áine O'Connor (0-1), 16 Moriah Curtin, 17 Eda Mangan (0-1), 18 Sinéad Guiney, 19 Leanne O'Connor, 20 Alicia O'Sullivan, 21 Shauna O'Connor, 22 Anita McCarthy, 23 Kayla Whooley. Trainers -Billy Mangan, Ast Trainers: Steve Murphy, Dan Kearney. Aileen Lynch Female Officer.
Na Gaeil: 1 Laura Fitzgerald, 2 Fiona Kavanagh, 3 Deirdre Kearney, 4 Niamh Hannafin, 5 Sara Quigley, 6 Brid O'Connor (0-1), 7 Kim Enright 8 Shauna Roche, 9 Marie Quirke (1-1) 10 Aine Kelliher  11 Kate Anne O'Connor (0-1)12 Michelle Barry 13 Mary Horgan, 14 Ayesha Roche (0-1), 15 Sinead Prendergast. 17 Meadbh Barry (1-0)

The senior A final will take place on Sunday 1pm in JP O'Sullivan Park Killorglin between Southern Gaels & Desmonds/Duagh. This will be Southern Gaels third final in a row & will be hoping to make up for previous years disappointments, especially last year when they capitulated in the second half. Southern Gaels will be hoping for strong performances from their senior county stars Caroline Kelly, Deirdre Corridan & Megan O'Connell. Desmonds/Duagh a combinations side backboned by Castleisland Desmonds will be hoping to win a first Senior title. Castleisland will be buoyed with their victory in the Intermediate Championship & that run out will be invaluable to them as they iron out any kinks. Desmonds were also a key member of the Sliabh Luachra outfit who defeated Southern Gaels 2 years. With Lorraine Scanlon & Leanne Mangan in flying form on Sunday the Southern Gaels side will have their work cut out for them. However there is nothing to match a good club side who are playing week in week out together which is a bonus for Southern Gaels. A very tight one to call, but would just about give it to Desmonds/Duagh. On Saturday the Junior A Final will take place at 4pm venue TBC between Rathmore & Corca Dhuibhne. Both teams have swatted aside opposition in the run up the final & play a lovely brand of open flowing football. It will be an interesting match up between Aislinn Desmond & Louise Ni Mhuirteartaigh as they will know each others game inside out. But teams are quite young, however Rathmore have that bit more experience having won Junior B last year while Corca Dhuibhne only regrouped this year. This could actually be the game of the weekend as both teams are attack minded but Rathmore have that little bit more experience so could just edge it.

Well done to our U14 All Ireland winning team who won the Radio Kerry Randles Bros Sport Star of the Month Award for July. This was in recognition of their great achievement winning the All Ireland U14 A Final. David Randles & Weeshie Forgarty presented the award to team captain Erica McGlynn on behalf of the team & they gave great words of encouragement to the team to continue in their sporting career & that this was hopefully the first of many awards. Many thanks to Radio Kerry & Randles Brothers for the award.

Other games the weekend were the Senior B Final between Inbhear Sceine Gaels & Scartaglin. Scartaglin started the game brightly & Inbhear Sceine Gaels truthfully could not cope with the pace of the game. Scartaglin ran out easy winners against a disappointing Inbhear Sceine Gaels who we have seen play better. Final Score Scartaglin 1-17 Inbhear Sceine Gaels 1-09. In the final played the weekend, Legion won the U16 Division 2 title, defeating Killarney rivals Fossa. In a high scoring with loads of action & drama including disallowed goals, Legion managed to pull away in the end. Final Score Legion 5-11 Fossa 5-05.

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