Dillon goal fires Kildare to historic All-Ireland U16 'A' crown
Kildare celebrate after becoming Under 16 'A' All Ireland champions Photo: Aisling Hyland
A power-packed final quarter saw Kildare lift an U16 All-Ireland ‘A’ title on a gloriously sunny Wednesday evening in Athlone.
Kildare led 0-5 to 0-2 at half-time after eventual player of the match Anna Dillon and Catherine Murphy had led the Cavan defence a merry dance at times. It was only down to superb goalkeeping by Kildare’s Sadie Burke and Cavan’s Margaret Smith that saw the first half end goalless but there was a definite sense that both teams could move up a gear or two in the second half.
It was Cavan, managed by Athy man Doc Mulhall, who showed well in the early stages of the second half and they scored five points in a row to move into the lead for the first time and take a stranglehold of the game.
With Cavan seemingly in control after five unanswered points, Kildare looked in danger. However, the Leinster champions showed the same resilience that carried them past Cork in the semi-final.
A superb long range free by captain fantastic Amy Wall kick-started them into gear again and then Murphy tied up the game heading into the final quarter.
The crucial score of the game came next when Dillon cut in from the right and beat her marker before firing low to Smith’s left for the only goal of the game.
Ella McPhillips scored to cut the lead back to two but Kildare replied with the score of the game from a move that started with a short kickout by goalkeeper Burke and ended with a point by Ellen Moran.
Hard working wing forwards Annabelle Lundy and Caoimhe Cully both scored their second points of the game to push Kildare five points clear.
There was still time for Cavan to get back into the game as the referee played six minutes over the 30 minutes but the Kildare defence was marshalled by the superb Amber Blake and Cavan could only score one more point before the final whistle sparked celebrations among the Kildare players as they secured the county's first-ever All-Ireland U16 'A' crown.
A Dillon 1-2, C Murphy 0-2, C Cully 0-2, A Lundy 0-2, A Wall 0-1f, Ellen Moran (Kill) 0-1.
E McPhillips 0-3, SK Liggan 0-2fs, E Reilly 0-1f, SJ Sherlock 0-1, C O'Reilly 0-1, L Cooney 0-1.
Sadie Burke; Rachel Enright, Amber Blake, Kayla Mooney; Kate Hill, Sarianna Hannick, Doireann Lanigan; Lily Anne Keatley, Grace Martin; Annabelle Lundy, Grace Byrne, Caoimhe Cully; Catherine Murphy, Amy Wall, Anna Dillon. Subs: Orlaith Dempsey for Mooney (h/t), Ellen Moran (Kill) for Hannick, (h/t), K McDonald for K Hill, 41; Breffni Nolan for Lundy, 63).
Margaret Smith; Emma Cusack, Sarah Jane Sherlock, Andie Forde Peat; Aimee Costello, Erelle O'Sullivan, Orla Miney; Aoife Rogers, Shonagh Brennan; Ciara O'Reilly, Doireann Brady; Sarah Kate Liggan; Ellie Reilly, Ella McPhillips, Sarah Crowe. Subs: Clodagh Kelly for Cusack, 46; Leila Cooney for O'Reilly, 51; Riona Crowe for Reilly, 53; Chloe Gumley for Brady, 61.
Conor McCarthy
