KILDARE 3-10 ARMAGH 2-08
KILDARE bridged a 20 year gap since their last All-Ireland title when they overcame Armagh in Ashbourne last Saturday afternoon.
Their five point winning margin on the final scoreline suggests a convincing win for Kildare but the game was much closer than that and it was only when substitute Louise Walsh netted an injury time goal that they could finally relax.
Blustery conditions made it difficult for both teams and Kildare trailed by six points at one stage during a first half in which they played into the breeze.
Goals from Armagh’s Andrea McAlinden and Joanne Mallon helped the Northern side into a 2-3 to 0-3 lead after 14 minutes but Kildare never panicked and they continued to stick to their game-plan in order to get themselves back into the game.
Regina Gorman at full-back and centre-back Carol Nolan fought as if their lives depended on it when Kildare were under pressure and gradually the tide began to turn in their favour.
The real turning point came within the a couple of minutes in the final stages of the first half. McAlinden sent McSorley through on goal and another three-pointer looked an absolute certainty but Bríd Byrnes produced a stunning save to deny the Armagh forward.
Just minutes later Orla Mullally found the net after good build up play from the brilliant Roisín O’Connell and Clodagh Farrell. That meant Kildare trailed by just two points at half-time despite having the disadvantage of playing into that strong wind.
Manager Tom O’Mahony told his team at half-time that the wind wouldn’t automatically mean that they would win the game and for a long time those words looked prophetic.
The teams shared four points in the opening 20 minutes of the half but on more than one occasion, Kildare dug themselves out of a hole with some terrific last gasp defending. McSorley, Joanne Mallon and Petrina Cosgrave all had a chance at goal in one almighty goalmouth scramble in the 43rd minute but Gorman along with her defensive back partners, Niamh Breen and Niamh Concannon, were willing to put their bodies on the line to ensure the safety of their goal.
Kildare hung in there and received a slice of luck nine minutes from the end when Armagh goalkeeper Catherine Toner lost Mary Murtagh’s lofted delivery in the sun and somehow dropped it into the net to give Kildare the lead for the first time since the opening minute.
O’Connell and Cosgrave traded points to leave Kildare leading by just one with two minutes to play but a point from the experienced Ciara Tallon and an injury time goal from Louise Walsh sealed a win that was no doubt was celebrated well into the night.