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Kerry were crowned All-Ireland U14 Gold champions at St Brigid’s, Kiltoom in Roscommon against a Down team that gave their all but just couldn't get over the line.
They made up for last year’s loss and were deserving winners after a magnificent game of football.
Up front Amyrose Shanahan was a handful for the Down defence all through while at the other end Aisling O’Keeffe was outstanding at full-back for the winners.
When needed in the second-half Lucy O’Connell stood up at midfield as Down piled forward in search of scores.
Down for their part can’t be faulted for their efforts and gave it their all, led by the likes of Mollie Morgan, Dacey Carr and Tierna Rogan.
Down opened the scoring after seven minutes when Morgan pointed from distance, aided by the wind.
From the restart Chloe Coffey set up Shanahan to equalise for Kerry. With ten minutes gone Kerry took the lead when Shanahan pointed again, before they had their first goal chance.
A shot from Éabha Moynihan went just wide and minutes later Shanahan hit the post as Kerry start to get the upper hand.
Down hit back with Morgan on target again, before Dacey Carr pointed to put them in front, 0-3 to 0-2, after 15 minutes.
Coffey had the sides level three minutes later, before Niamh Ní Shé went close to scoring a goal for Kerry.
The pressure paid off, after 27 minutes, when Ní Shé played Shanahan in and this time she found the back of the net, to make it 1-3 to 0-3.
She had another goal chance a minute later, with her shot coming back off the crossbar.
Just before the break Erica Moloney pointed for the Kingdom to see them lead by 1-4 to 0-3 at half time.
Down started the second half well, with Morgan being denied a goal by the Kerry goalkeeper, Shauna O’Riordan, one of several great saves she made in that half.
Morgan pulled a point back, with Shanahan replying at the other end, before O’Riordan made another top-class save, this time denying Sophia Black.
With 44 minutes gone Eadaoin Napier pointed for Down to put three between the sides, before Tiernagh McGill extended Kerry’s lead again to 1-6 to 0-5.
Down were back in contention when they scored a goal. A shot from Carr came back off the crossbar and Black was quickest to react to set up a grandstand finish.
But Kerry didn’t panic and two late points from Shanahan secured the title for her side after an entertaining game.
Final score Kerry 1-8 Down 1-5
Scorers: Kerry: A Shanahan 1-5 (3f), E Moloney, C Coffey, T McGill 0-1 each.
Down: S Black 1-0, M Morgan 0-3, D Carr, E Napier 0-1 each.
KERRY: S O’Riordan; É Dolan, A O’Keeffe, R Fleming; S Hurley, O Lyons, N Ní Shé; A Fenton, L O'Connell; A Deenihan, E Brosnan, C Coffey; A O'Shea, A Shanahan, É Moynihan. Subs: E Moloney, S Curran, R O’Shea, T McGill, A Deenihan, C Coffey.
DOWN: C Travers; F Devlin, R Devlin, C Ferris; K McEvoy, T Rogan, S Branagan; C Cunningham, C Townsend; G Owens, M Morgan, C Donnelly; G Lennon, L O'Hare, D Carr. Subs: S Black, E Napier, E Bennett, N O’Hare, C Donnelly, E Oakes.
Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath).
