Laois v Kildare
U14 Leinster championship round 1.
Killeshin Gaa club
28.02.2015

Referee Leah Mullins  (Carlow)

Half time  score Laois 2.05 Kildare 0.06
Full time score Laois 4.07 Kildare 2.10

On a tough day for playing football with a strong cold wind making controlling a football very difficult both Laois and Kildare u14 girls can be commended for serving up a highly entertaining game on Saturday afternoon last.

Kildare opened the scoring with a point from Casey McConville and this was cancelled out soon after by Laois Shauna Mulhall. Both teams traded scores and after 15 minutes the teams were level on 4 points each. Laois took the lead with a point from Caoimhe Fitzpatrick and it was followed up when they were awarded a free and with quick thinking it was played into Sarah Walsh  and she made no mistake shooting low passed Kildares net minder Jane O Toole. With the resulting kickout the ball was held up in the wind and Walsh again reacted quickest to catch and get in behind Kildares defence and score her second goal of the day. Laois now leading  2.05 to Kildares 4points.The Kildare girls rallied and finished the half strong with a point from Aislinn Dooley and a pointed free from Doireann Fahey leaving the half time score Laois 2.05 Kildare 0.06.

Kildare had the advantage of a very strong wind in the 2nd half but it was the laois girls that struck 1st with scores. A point from Megan Murphy was followed by a fortunate  goal from the same player a high ball kicked in looked like it was dropping over the bar only to deceive the Kildare keeper and drop over her head into the net.Laois added another point from Walsh and leading now 3.7 to 6 points. Credit to the Kildare girls as they rallied and brought the game to Laois and putting their backs under pressure  using the wind to great effect. Launching attacks dropping high ball into the forward line Kildare struck for  2 goals Ali Cullen with the first and Doireann Fahey with the 2nd a  goal similar to Laois totally catching everyone out as it dropped and nestled in the back of the net.Kildare were gaining momentum the gap was now down to 4points. Kildare were now getting the upper hand but for some tough laois defending could not get the scores. It was against the run of play that Laois got their last score of the game a high ball dropping goal wards and equally contested by backs and forwards it broke to Kildare backs who then  lost possession and Laois Walsh was on hand to make no mistake and net her 3rd goal of the day. Kildare heads didnt drop and they rallied again and points from Doyle, Fahey(2) and Downey left 3 between the teams going into the final few minutes of the game.  The large kildare support urged on their side to try and get the equalizing score but unfortunately for the girls time ran out and laois hung on to record a 4.07 to 2.10 victory.

The Kildare girls showed great spirit throughout the game and never let the heads drop, coming back into the game and taking control only to fall just short will stand to the girls going forward. There were plenty of positives to take from todays game and from the starting 15 to those subs that came on  the Kildare management team despite the loss can be very happy with the character and fight  these girls  displayed.

Kildare team and Scorers. Jane O Toole, Ella O Connor, Anna Murphy, Aine Ni Raghallaigh, Ruth Millet, Eve Kehoe, Ciara Downey (0.01), Sinead Sexton, Ali Cullen (1.00), Casey McConville( 0.01), Grace O Toole, Sarah Doyle (0.02), Doireann Fahey (1.05 (3f)), Claire Nugent (Captain) Aislinn Dooley (0.01).

Tweet

Most Read Stories