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You are > Home > Kerry ladies ready for winner-take-all clash
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Kerry ladies ready for winner-take-all clash
KERRY commence their hoped-for run through the ladies senior football championship qualifiers with a very tough opener against Mayo on bank holiday Monday.
The Mayo County Board had initially withdrawn their side from the Connacht championship but the four-time All-Ireland winners were recently reinstated to the championship proper without having played a game in their provincial series.
Accordingly, Kerry were unfortunately handed the toughest possible draw of the opening round, against a Mayo side that has appeared in two All-Ireland semi-finals in a row.
Mayo were also All-Ireland runners-up in 2007 and won four titles in the earlier part of the decade.
Kerry, on the other hand, are still seeking their first competitive win of the season so the odds are slightly stacked against William O’Sullivan’s side.
Some positives were taken from a much-improved Kerry performance against Cork last time out. There were signs of the green shoots of recovery but that will all count for very little if Kerry do not emerge victorious from Monday’s televised championship opener.
This was a fact that was not lost on the Kerry manager when he spoke earlier this week.
"We could not have asked for a tougher draw, especially in light of the fact that we haven’t won a game this season," the Killarney man said.
"Mayo are a top three side who met Cork in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final and were only one point down with minutes remaining in that match.
"They may have had some turmoil this season but they will be ready. Mayo have a very experienced group of players who will be desperate to win another All-Ireland title.
"They will believe that they should beat Kerry despite recent events. In 2008 they beat us in the AllIreland quarter-final and there were similar rumblings of discontent with management but it did not impact on their performance.
"Cora Staunton spoke recently about her desire to win another All-Ireland medal and we stand in her way. You have to respect any side that includes the likes of Staunton, Martha Carter, the Cafferky’s, Claire Egan and Yvonne Byrne."
O’Sullivan admitted that despite Kerry’s record this season that all is not doom and gloom in the county where ladies football is concerned.
"Makes no bones about it, if we lose to Mayo next weekend then we are back to square one," the Kerry manager said.
"But I really hope that we can win. It would be silly to suggest that we could do anything more than hope because we need a win to boost our confidence.
"We took some confidence from the recent defeat to Cork in Bishopstown. The frustrating thing from our point of view is that we should have won that match. It is time now for the players to step up to the plate and produce another quality performance.
"Our panel is fairly settled now. We lost Stephanie Corkery and Marie Enright is a doubt but we expect to have a full panel available.
"There will be no excuses sought if we lose. Mayo are a tough nut to crack but if we want to be considered seriously then we have to aspire to beating the Mayo’s of this world."
If Kerry do manage to come through Monday’s tie they will then face a round two match the following weekend. The round two winners will then meet one of the provincial winners in the quarter-finals.
William O’Sullivan is likely to make one or two changes to the line up that took the field against Cork. Katie Gleeson will resume her role in defence while one or two other will also be pushing strongly for a starting place.
Despite the recent rumblings of discontent in Mayo, it will be a shock if Kerry defeat the Connacht side.
This Kerry team have responded well to the promptings of the new Kerry management however and they might just have the ability to pull this one out of the fire.
Monday, August 2
Ladies All-Ireland SFC Qualifier
Kerry v Mayo
Throw-in: 2.30pm
Venue: St Ryanaghs GAA pitch, Banagher, Co Offaly
* The game is live on TG4
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