by Conor Hawkins

Cavan 6-10
Kildare 1-10

A dominant second half performance from Cavan ensured they earned a comfortable opening round victory against Kildare in wet and windy conditions last Sunday.

Cavan played against the wind in the first half, but that didn't stop Aisling Doonan opening the scoring with a point in the second minute, which was followed two minutes later by Cavan's first goal of the game courtesy of Roisin O'Keefe. The Lacken player finished what was a fine team move as Cavan passed the ball from one end of the field to the other.

After several attacks that ended in nothing but frustration, Kildare finally got off the mark in the 10th minute as midfielder Stacey Cannon curled over a 14 yard free.

Straight away from the resulting kickout Kildare had a second point. Cavan tried a short kickout that ended up in the hands of wing back Sinead Greene, who looked to be dragged to the ground. However the ref allowed play to continue and Rachel Cribbin slotted over for Kildare.

Once again Kildare scored from the following play as captain Maria Moolick got her side's third point, but Kildare's momentum was broken by two Cavan goals in quick succession.

In the 13th minute influential full forward Aishling Sheridan won the ball and set up the onrushing Donna English, whose powerful shot found the back of the net after a slight deflection.

Just a minute later Cavan had their third goal. Roisin O'Keefe was fouled around 30 metres out, got straight up and took a quick free to Caitriona Smith who played in Aisling Traynor to find the net in what was her first game back with the squad since 2011.

Aisling Doonan and Roisin Byrne exchanged points before Stacy Cannon fired over a score from distance for Kildare. Cavan goalkeeper Elaine Walsh misjudged the strong wind from the following kickout and Maria Moolick punished her mistake by finding the back of the net.

Cavan added one more point before the break from a Doonan free, while Kildare got two from the boot of Moolick leaving the half time score 3-3 to 1-7 in Cavan's favour.

The second half lacked the competitiveness of the first right from the off. Aishling Sheridan was inches away from flicking the ball into the net on the first attack, but this was soon followed by a skilful effort from Roisin O'Keefe as she swung the ball over the bar.

O'Keefe was a constant pain for the Kildare defence all day and followed up this score with a very impressive score from distance.

After two well deserved points from English and Sheridan, a wonderful goal from Aisling Doonan put Cavan in firm control. O'Keefe played an inch perfect pass between a bunch of Kildare defenders the put Doonan one on one with the keeper and she made no mistake.

The hard working Cavan defence made things extremely difficult for Kildare in the second half. They were forced to live on scraps and only managed 3 points, with only one of these coming from play.

As the second half progressed Doonan continued to show her class with some top class point taking, including a wonderful free kick from 45 metres out.

Cavan were ruthless right until the end, with two goals coming in the 60th minute. The first of these came from captain Sinead Greene who passed her way up the field from the half back line and finished well, a much deserved reward for her tireless performance.

Then it was Kildare goalkeeper Rebecca McGuirk's turn to struggle with the wind. Her kickout didn't go as planned and substitute Niamh Halton was there to punish her mistake with the last score of the game.

Cavan manager Conor Barry can take lots of positives from his sides opening league game. His team were extremely hardworking and the selfless performance by Neasa Byrd on her league debut summed up the attitude of his players. The squad will be full of confidence going into next week's game away to Meath.

Cavan: Elaine Walsh, Sarah Nulty, Rachael Jordan, Joanne Moore, Sheila Reilly, Laura Fitzpatrick, Sinead Greene, Donna English, Rosie Crowe, Roisin O'Keefe, Aisling Traynor, Neasa Byrd, Aisling Doonan, Aishling Sheridan, Caitriona Smith.

Subs: Shauna Lynch for Nulty (Halftime), Niamh Halton for Smith & Sarah Murray for Traynor (both 45 mins), Beth Farrelly McGee for Sheridan & Sinead O'Sullivan for Rosie Crowe (both 54 mins)

Scorers: (Aisling Doonan (1-6), Roisin O'Keefe (1-2), Donna English (1-1), Aisling Traynor (1-0), Aishling Sheridan (0-1), Sinead Greene (1-0), Niamh Halton (1-0)

Kildare: Rebecca McGuirk, Rachel Corrigan, Jane O'Donoghue, Erica Burke, Aisling Curley, Aisling Savage, Rachel Reidy, Rosin Byrne, Stacy Cannon, Shauna Kendrick, Grace Clifford, Rachel Cribbin, Noelle Earley, Maria Moolick, Eimear Fogarty.

Subs: Trina Duggan for Kendrick (22 mins), Grainne Lyons for Fogarty (44 mins), Orlaith Moran for Cribbin (47 mins), Tara Hallinan for Corrigan & Michaela Nolan for Burke (both  56 mins)

Scorers: Maria Moolick (1-3), Roisin Byrne (0-3), Stacy Cannon (0-3), Rachel Cribbin (0-1)

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