Tesco Homegrown NFL Division 2 Round 4

Donegal 5:19 Kildare 1:02

Kildare made the five and an half hour trip to Donegal trip in hope of a good performance at least as they faced the league leaders and favourites to return to division 1 in Milford. The day started bright but with very blustery winds. Kildare were first out of the traps and showed good composure in front of goal as they worked the opening shot from Grace Clifford which drifted in the wind and wide of the post. However Roisin Byrne was on hand to win the kick out and ran at the Donegal defence to put the visitors in front. Donegal were level in the third minute with a free from Niamh Hegarty. Two minutes later a quick free from Karen Guthrie to Eilish Ward who returned the pass for Karen to put Donegal in front. Kildare struggled to win their kick out and Karen Guthrie gathered and added another point. At this stage the writing was on the wall as Donegal owned possession and for some wayward shooting they would have been twice as far in front. Some desperate defending by Kildare kept Donegal at bay and none more so when a block from Tara Halligan bounced to Amber Barrett but she could steer the ball to the Kildare net. On twenty three minutes with Donegal leading 6 to 1 thanks to two points from Niamh Hegarty and one from Emma McCory, they worked the ball well for Amber Barrett to blast the ball to the Kildare net. Kildare managed a foray up field with the hard working Aisling Holton who was fouled, Mikaela McKenna added the point. Eilish Ward was on the end of another quick hand passing movement to finish the Donegal scoring for the half with a point. With time almost up Kildare pushed forward again and yet another free was conceded, Mikaela McKenna took the free which held in the wind and Deirdre Foley dropped the ball Ellen Dowling was on hand to find the Donegal net. No one could have guessed this would be Kildare's final score of the day.

The second half started with a mixture of hail stones and snow and it didn't get any better for Kildare as they were over run by the home side. Donegal went on to score a further 4 goals and 12 points without reply. Kildare did have a couple of efforts saved by the Donegal keeper Laura Gallagher. Amber Barrett ended the day with a hat trick of goals with Eilish Ward finished with two. It could have been worse for Kildare as Donegal shot a total 15 wides in the hour such was their dominance.

It is hard to explain what happened and was it the late night trip north that took it out of Kildare, but today wasn't to be their day. They have a couple of weeks to pick themselves up and no doubt Stephen and Niamh will get the girls to focus on the positives and their fitness over this period and maybe make a few needed changes to get the balance right before facing Westmeath.

 

 

Leinster Ladies minor championship
Div 1 Round 2.
Dublin v Kildare
Parnells GAA club
Sunday March 1st
Referee Cathy Forde (Wicklow)

Half time score Dublin 1.10 Kildare 0.04
Full time score Dublin 1.12 Kildare 1.06

The month of March introduced itself to 2015 in a very inclement way on Sunday with heavy snow showers and strong cold winds that threw a shadow of doubt as to whether this 2nd round Minor championship game would go ahead. On arrival to the pitch both managers were of the opinion that it would not go ahead as the 3G pitch lay covered in snow. The referee for the game Cathy Forde inspected the pitch on her arrival and allowed time for the pitch to thaw as the sun had come out. Half an hour before the due start time of 2.30 she gave the all clear as the snow had started to recede from the pitch.

Dublin won the toss and played with the strong wind that was blowing. Both teams started brightly with defences on top for the initial exchanges and it was the Visitors that got the games first score a point from Roisin Crowe. This was soon cancelled out with Dublins equalizer from Niamh o Neill.
Kildare net minder Natasha  Murphy was then caught off her line from her kickout Emily Bowes caught it and her quick lob had Murphy retreating and flapping at the ball as it trickled into the empty net. Molly price responded with a pointed free for Kildare. Dublin were starting to move through the gears and using the wind scored 3 points in a row from O Neill,Jennings and O Hara. Kildare managed to work the ball down field where Molly Price was fouled and she scored the resulting free. Dublin scored another 6 points only for substitute Caoimhe o fearghail to split those scores with a fine point from a tight angle. Leaving it at half time Dublin 1.10 Kildare 0.04.

Kildare management made some switches at the break introducing Orla Kirwin, Gemma Hartnett and Niamh crowe. With the wind at their backs Kildare brought the fight to Dublin and in the opening 10 mins of the 2nd half should have reduced the deficit to a single score but for some wayward shooting. Dublin were let off the hook and punished Kildare, breaking up field and recording the 1st point of the 2nd period.Kildare heads didnt drop and applied pressure all over the park making it hard for Dublin to move the ball quick. Shauna Kendrick was rewarded receiving a high ball over the top and running at speed unleashed an unstoppable shot low passed Dublin keeper Hecker. This was followed with 2 long range points  from Ciara wheeler reducing the margin to 5 points. The kildare girls lay siege on the Dublin goals and only for some great defending came away empty handed. Dublin had the last say of the game as Shauna Dwyer recorded her 3 and Dublins 2nd score of the half to bring an end to an enthralling game in difficult conditions.
Final score Dublin 1.12 Kildare 1.06.

The Kildare girls can be proud of how they played today and they really tested the Dublin team in many areas of the pitch. Had the girls got their shots on target the result may well have been different. Plenty of positives for the team going forward.

Kildare team. Natasha Murphy, Rose Mernagh, Lydia Furey, Roisin Crowe (0.01), Tara Breen, Emma Lyons Cpt, Rachel Reidy, Ciara Wheeler (0.02), Ciara Morris, Sarah Munnelly, Shauna Kendrick(1.00), Louise Scully, Molly Price (0.02 (2 frees), Niamh Mulhall Avril Fitzpatrick.

Subs used. Sabrina Kennedy for Rachel Reidy, Caoimhe o Fearghail (0.01) for Roisin Crowe, Orlaith Kirwan for Louise Scully, Gemma Hartnett for Rose Mernagh, Niamh Crowe for Niamh Mulhall.

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