One of Kerry’s most dedicated and long-serving footballers, Sarah Houlihan spoke to RTÉ Sport during the week and conceded that she and her fellow team-mates were preparing well and bracing themselves for a backlash from reigning TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Champions, Cork.
“They are chasing a tenth All-Ireland in 11 years and that incentive for them will only serve to make our task harder,”- Sarah Houlihan.
“No doubt Cork are pleased to be playing us as they will not need much motivating for the game after they lost to us in the Munster final.
“When we also beat them to win the province two years ago, they bounced back strongly and got revenge later in the All-Ireland semi-finals so that is something we are mindful of.
“Leaving that aside, they are simply a powerful team and do not lose many championship games.
“They are chasing a tenth All-Ireland in 11 years and that incentive for them will only serve to make our task harder,” – Sarah Houlihan.
The Kerry ladies, led by Castleisland Desmonds defender, Cáit Lynch tumbled Cork from their Munster Champions perch in July.
The history of results between the neighbouring counties and deadly rivals has been played out on a see-saw basis for years.
Cork does have a superior record of All-Ireland Championship titles – but in recent years only.
This talented panel of Kerry women will be out to restore the balance when the two sides meet again today in the winner-takes-all and vital All-Ireland semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. The throw-in is at 6pm.
While we all wish our Kerry women the best of luck today we’ll send special wishes to locals: Cáit Lynch, Aisling Leonard Emma Sherwood and Lorraine Scanlon – who are on the starting 15 and to subs: Scartaglin’s Aisling O’Connell and Desmonds: Andrea Murphy, Jane Lynch and Leanne Mangan.
The Kerry Ladies line out as follows: 1. Edel Murphy; 2. Gina Crowley; 3. Aislinn Desmond; 4. Aisling Leonard; 5. Caroline Kelly; 6. Cáit Lynch, Captain; 7. Maria Quirke; 8. Bernie Breen; 9. Lorrain Scanlon; 10. Emma Sherwood; 11. Sarah Houlihan; 12. Denise Hallissey; 13. Patrice Dennehy; 14. Megan O’Connell; 15. Louise Ní Muircheartaigh;
Substitutes: 16. Laura Fitzgerald 17. Laura Rogers 18. Cassandra Buckley 19. Amanda Brosnan 20. Aisling O’Connell 21. Eilish O’Connor 22. Bríd O’Connor 23. Andrea Murphy 24. Berne Cronin 25. Linda Cronin 26. Rheanne O’Shea 27. Deirdre Kearney 28. Jane Lynch 29. Leanne Mangan 30. Louise Galvin
You can see the Sarah Houlihan interview with RTÉ Sport in full here.
