Leinster u16 Championship round 5
Kildare v Westmeath
Ballykelly Gaa club
Friday 17/4/15
Referee Antoin Keating (Dublin)
Half time Kildare 0.10 Westmeath 2.03
Full time Kildare 2.14 Westmeath 2.04
A strong 2nd half display puts Westmeath challenge to bed in this rd 5 Leinster championship u16 encounter played on Friday evening last under floodlights in Ballykelly Gaa club.
The evening was cool and dry with a sizeable amount of supporters gathered around the pitch to cheer on their respective team. Referee Anton Keating got proceedings underway just after 8pm.
Nanci Murphy got the opening two scores of the game resulting from frees in where Aine Nash was fouled. Murphy then turned provider for Katie Merrick, delivering a hand pass that Merrick fumbled at first but recovered in time just to fist the ball over the bar. Kildare kept the pressure and intensity up Aine Nash tagging on another 2 points and Kayleigh Humphries getting on the score sheet when winning the Westmeath kickout on the left wing she jinked right avoided her markers challenge and popped the ball over. Kildare leading 6pts to no score from Westmeath.
Kildare seemed to be well in control but credit to the Westmeath team they kept their concentration levels high where the home side had switched off for a while. Westmeath hit Kildare on the break catching their backs for speed and on the overlap Jade McKeogh unleashing an unstoppable shot past McGrory in the Kildare Goals to great cheers from the away supporters. Kildare responded, Nanci Murphy linking with Nicole Dooley to score her first point of the game and Aine Nash breaking through numerous challenges to get her shot away and see it over the bar to great cheers from the home supporters. Both sides traded scores a pointed free from Westmeaths Ruth O'Connor and Nash for Kildare getting her 4th of the half and was having a great game.
Kildare were forced to make a change midway through the half with Melissa O Brien replacing Kate Coffey through injury. The game ebbed and flowed from end to end, Westmeath were awarded a free when Hannah Core was pushed in the back while contesting a high ball, From the resulting free taking quickly Kildare were caught napping at the back allowing Ciara o Looney in to score Westmeaths 2nd goal. As the half wore on the intensity didnt drop and the game became a real physical battle. Again both teams traded scores Westmeaths McNamee and Kildares Nicole Dooley with points. The last move of the half was fast and frantic from the away side a long ball from Caoimhe Clarke MacMahon clearing her lines found team mate McNamee in turn feeding the ball to the onrushing O'Connor she unleashed a powerful shot goal wards where the Kildare net minder McGrory had to react quick just getting a hand to it and pushing the ball over the bar. The referee brought the half to a close and Kildare were ahead by one leaving the score line reading Kildare 0.10pts Westmeath 2.03
The second half started just as the 1st with Kildare registering the 1st two scores of the half with points from Nanci Murphy and Aoife Stapleton. Westmeath launched attacks on the Kildare goals and when they did finally get through a dogged defence Kildare keeper McGrory was on hand to pull off many a fine save Diving to her right tipping the ball around the post for a 45 and taking two touches to control a hard shot that she pushed upwards at first and it looked to be going under the cross bar she managed to grab it at the last second to stop it from crossing the line. Katie Merrick increased the Kildare lead as she pounced on a loose ball to powerfully strike it low to the back of the Westmeath net. Aine nash added another point to her tally with a long range effort. The Westmeath girls never gave up and battled for every ball and were rewarded with a point from Britney McNamee. That score was to be their last of the game. Aine Nash Kildares best player on the night got in for Kildares second goal receiving the ball from midfield she ran uncontested goal wards reached just inside the 21 and struck her shot through a group of players to hit the back of the net leaving Westmeath keeper Byrne rooted to the spot.
Both teams made changes at this stage Kildare introducing Clara Wosser for Neasa Doley, Leah McCormack for Roisin Forde, Ellen McCourt for Nicole Dooley and Katelyn Doran on for Aine Nash.
Carrie Pedley got the games last score a point that could easily have went in for goal with Byrne showing a strong hand to push it over the bar. the referee blew for time to rapturous applause from both sets of supporters around the ground. Kildare winning on the night 2.14 to 2.04
Despite Kildares winning margin Westmeath were unlucky at times and the final score does not reflect the effort and work rate they put in over the hour. Kildare delighted with the win were giving plenty to think about as they now plan for their next game v Laois next Saturday afternoon and looking to get their 3rd win of the campaign.
Kildare team. Emily McGrory, Carla Ennis, Kate Coffey, Alanna McLoughlin, Lara Gilbert, Kate Hannon (Cpt) Roisin Forde, Kayleigh Humphries 0.01, Aine Nash 1.05, Nicole Dooley 0.02, Aoife Stapleton 0.01, Katie Merrick 1.01, Nanci Murphy 0.03 (2 frees)
Subs used. Melissa O Brien for Kate Coffey, Clara Wosser for Neasa Dooley, Leah McCormack for Roisin Forde, Ellen McCourt for Nicole Dooley, Katelyn Doran for Aine Nash, Carrie Pedley 0.01 for Lara Gilbert
Leinster Ladies minor championship Round 5
Wexford v Kildare
Referee Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)
Half time Wexford 1.06 Kildare 1.06
Full time Wexford 2.07 Kildare 2.14
Marshalstown Gaa club played host to the the final round league stage of the Leinster minor championship for Wexford and Kildare on Saturday afternoon last 11th April. Played in bright sunshine and with a slight wind conditions were near perfect for the game. The winning of the game for either team would determine their path for the remainder of the championship depending on results from other games been played elsewhere on the day.
Both teams started nervously. Wexford settled first and were on the scoreboard with a pointed free from Sinead Ryan. Kildares Molly Price was soon causing problems for the home sides defence as she got her teams scores with 3 points in a row one of which was a free. When wexford broke forward they moved the ball intelligently and at speed forcing the Kildare backs to foul, Ryan was on hand to convert it for her 2nd of the day. The game flowed end to end producing some great football with both teams displaying great skill and determination.
The games opening goal came from Shauna Kendrick, Ciara Wheeler receiving the ball from her keeper Natasha Murphy and breaking up field then spotting Kendrick making a run in behind her marker Wheeler delivered a pin point cross for Kendrick to run on to and dispatch to the back of the Wexford net. Wheeler pointed next for Kildare leaving her team leading 1.04 to 0.02.
Wexford hit a purple patch aided by some mistakes by the Kildare backs. Ryan getting her and Wexford's 3rd score with another pointed free,Kildare trying to break from defence were awarded a free, from the resulting kick gave up possession close to Goal and in the scramble to try win the ball it broke kindly for Anne Byrne to toe poke the ball into the Kildare net. Kildares keeper Natasha Murphy rushing her kickout where it fell to Rachel Kelly and her quick thinking lobbed in a high ball that bounced just in front of Murphy in the Kildare goals bounced over her head and managed to just scrape over the bar when it looked like it had the dip to drop into the back of the net.Mairead Moran gave the home side the lead a few minutes later with a pointed effort from the right of the posts. Kildare steadied things down and were soon on level terms and in the lead again with points from Price and Wheeler. Wexford's Ciara Mckelvie brought the half to a close with a fine point after great work from Byrne. Leaving the half time score 1.06 each and all to play for in the 2nd half.
Both teams made changes at the break in the hope of turning the game in their favour. Kildare took the game to Wexford and Mulhall was soon on the scoreboard with 2 points in succession. Wexford were reduced to 14 a little while later when Enya Byrne was shown a yellow card for fouling Price and Price duly converted the resulting free. John Dunne Kildare manager then introduced Ciara Egan to the game and her first touch was to give the ball into Mulhall to allow her point from close range. Kildares next score was a goal involving 4 players Kildares keeper Murphy kicking out to Ciara wheeler on the right wing she carried the ball forward and switched the play to her left where Egan was calling for the ball, Egan moved forward and avoided two tackles to kick a long diagonal ball to Mulhall on the edge of the 13 where Mulhall kicked goalward just managing to get it passed a good attempt to stop the shot from Brid Byrne in the Wexford goal and see her shot just creep into the far corner of the net to great applause from the Kildare supporters in the stand. Kildare now leading the game 2.10 to 1.06.
Both teams again traded points from Mulhall and McKelvie. Mulhall added another 2 points bringing her tally for the day to 1.06.
Wexford substitute Aine McGarr got a consolation goal for her team driving her shot low and hard passed Murphy. Ciara Wheeler got the last score of the game with a point bringing the curtain down on the game with The Kildare girls victorious on a final score of Wexford 2.07 Kildare 2.14.
Kildare now advance to the Leinster A final on May 4th after hearing the news on the bus journey home that Dublin had defeated Offaly by 3 points to set up what promises to be a mouth watering encounter between the two sides.
Kildare team Natasha Murphy, Niamh Dunne, Lydia Furey, Aine Dunne, Sabrina Kennedy, Tara Breen, Rachel Reidy,Avril Fitzpatrick, Ciara Morris, Ciara Wheeler 0.03, Molly Price 0.05 (2 frees), Shauna Kendrick 1.00,Hayley Nolan, Sarah Munnelly, Niamh Flynn.
Subs Eve Powderly for Kendrick, Niamh Crowe for Molly Price ,Anna Lawless for Tara Breen, Niamh Mulhall 1.06 for Hayley Nolan, Gemma Hartnett for Aine Dunne, Caoimhe O Fearghail for Niamh Flynn, Rose Mernagh for Niamh Dunne Ciara Egan for Sarah Munnelly.
Senior league fixtures for Tuesday 21/4/15
U16 Leinster ladies championship result
Kildare 2.14 Westmeath 2.04.
Fixture / Ref details for round 4
8.15pm - St Laurence's v Maynooth (B.Hickey)
7.30pm - Balyna v Leixlip (T.Smyth in JTB)
7.20pm - Sarsfield's v Confey (J McLaughlin)
7pm - Naas v Clane (S Duane)
7pm - Monasterevin v Carbury (C Sexton)
7pm - Castlemitchell v Eadestown (N Colgan)
7pm - Kilcock v Kildangan/Nurney (T Casserly)
7pm - Ballykelly v Na Fianna (T Lennon)
7pm - Kilcullen v Moorefield (B O'Connell)
7pm - Athy v Suncroft (F Barrett)
7.15pm - Celbridge v Rathangan (N McEntee)
7pm - Rheban v Cappagh (D Tormey)
7pm - Kill v Ballymore (?)
7pm - Milltown v Round Towers (E O;Neill)
7pm - St Laurence's 2 v Castledermot (C O'Grady)
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