Cavan leave it too late
June 10, 2013Cavan 4-4
Cavan's dreams of an U-14 All Ireland title were ended in the first thirty minutes of their semi final on Saturday last in the magnificent facilities of Ashbourne/Donaghmore as Kildare settled the best and outscored the Breffni side by 3-8 to 1-0. The Cavan girls, to their credit, put in tremendous work in the second half, never giving up and playing with guts and determination to the final whistle. However, a fourteen point deficit just proved too big of a mountain to climb for this exceptionally talented bunch of girls.
It was Cavan who opened the scoring in the first minute when a long ball into the forward line found Leanne Kieran who beat her marker and coolly finished to the corner of the net. This seemed to be the perfect start but perhaps it was just the wake-up call the hot favourites needed as they kept Cavan scoreless for the remainder of the half. Kildare had the scoreboard back level within six minute with three quick-fire points, two from Aine Nash and great team move finished by Nicola Dooley. Kildare then got their first goal of the half when a long ball in was not dealt with by the Cavan defence and was finished to the net by Kayleigh Humphries. Kildare extended their lead further through the ever lively Nash with two more points before Roisin Forde found the net for the Lillywhites' second goal of the game on seventeen minutes. Cavan at this stage were struggling to get ball into their scoring forwards as Kildare had dropped a sweeper back in front of the full forward line. Further points from Humphries and Kate Hannon extended the lead and when Hannon again received the ball and rounded her player before firing to the roof of the net it looked like it was not going to be Cavan's day. Kildare introduced Aoife Stapleton with three minutes remaining in the half and she immediately got on the scoreboard to leave it 3-8 to 1-0 at the break.
Kildare started the second half just as they finished the first with three points in quick succession from Nash, Humphries and Stapleton. Cavan got their first point on the scoreboard through a Leanne Kiernan free on seven minutes and goal straight after from Rebecca O Reilly gave the girls in blue some hope. Cavan needed to push on from this goal but instead Kildare came straight down the field and when Stapleton caught her own shot which rebounded of the crossbar she was hauled to the ground and a penalty was awarded. She dusted herself off and calmly slotted the kick to top corner of the net. With fifthteen minutes left to play the Breffni girls came alive and played some outstanding football which began with a goal from Ciara Finnegan and was quickly followed by two Phillipa Watters points. Kate Hannon got Kildare's last score of the day in the twenty-first minute with an excellent long range point. The final ten minutes belonged to the girls in blue and a goal from Sinead McGovern reduced the deficit further but this was to be the last score of the game. Kildare have their goalkeeper to thank that the scoreline was not closer at the end as she pulled off some magnificent saves in the second half.
The Cavan girls and management can be very proud of their achievements to date with some fine displays in the Ulster Championship, the highlight being bringing an Ulster A title back to the Breffni county, and if these girls keep up the good work and the underage success continues in Cavan hopefully they'll be bringing an All- Ireland title down the M3 in the not too distant future.
Cavan: Gemma Lawlor, Maria Brady, Dearbhla McGovern, Raminta Ivankeuiciute, Emer Corcoran, Emily Daly, Emer Kelly, Ciara Finnegan (1-2), Courtney Renihan, Andrea O Reilly, Phillipa Watters (0-2), Rebecca O Reilly (1-0), Leanne Kiernan (1-2), Sinead McGovern (1-0), Micaela Fitzpatrick. Subs Saoirse Maguire
Kildare: Niamh Donal, Beth Doyle, Claire Melia, Melissa o Brien, Dervla Maginn, Amy Honal, Alanna McCoughlin, Kaylie Merrick, Ellie O Toole, Kayleigh Humphries (1-2), Aine Nash (0-4), Nicola Dooley (1-2), Kate Hannon (1-2), Roisin Forde (1-0), Carrie Pedley. Subs Aoife Stapleton (1-2) Tweet
