Kildare hoping to topple the Kingdom in opener
Kildare's Aoife Rattigan takes on Kerry's Eilís Lynch during the Division 1 tie between the counties in March earlier this year Photo: ©INPHO/Grace Halton
Despite agonisingly losing their Division 1 League status in March and suffering a late defeat to champions Dublin in last month’s TG4 Leinster LGFA Final, Kildare head into the All-Ireland series full of confidence as they prepare to face Kerry.
Saturday’s clash at Cedral St Conleth’s Park forms part of a double-header, with the Kildare men taking on Kerry at 5.30pm.
Kildare are drawn in Group 2 alongside Munster champions Kerry and Tipperary. The Lilywhites will be familiar with Tipp from previous League encounters, while they also have fresh memories of recent meetings with Kerry. The Kingdom opened the group with a 2-16 to 0-4 win over Tipperary last weekend and now arrive in Kildare looking to build on that.
For around 50 minutes of the Leinster Final, Kildare looked capable of causing an upset against Dublin. They struck two superb goals through Alannah Prizeman and substitute Aoife Murnane — the latter a contender for goal of the season. However, late Dublin goals and the sin-binning of Nanci Murphy ultimately turned the game.
That pattern has been a frustrating feature of Kildare’s season. Late concessions against Cork and Waterford in the League cost them dearly and contributed to their relegation from Division 1 for 2027. Conceding goals and failing to convert scoring chances have been key concerns for manager Pat Sullivan and his team.
Saturday will mark the third meeting of Kildare and Kerry in just under a year. After a famous group-stage win over Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland series, Kildare faced the then champions in Tralee in the quarter-final. They pushed Kerry hard before eventually losing 3-12 to 0-11, with Prizeman denied a goal by a last-ditch clearance early in the second half.
The sides met again in Manguard Park in March, with Division 1 survival on the line. Kildare led 1-7 to 1-5 at half-time, thanks to a goal from Aoife Rattigan. A second-half strike from Prizeman and a superb save from Rachel Fennin kept the game finely balanced, but Kerry edged it 2-10 to 2-9.
While Kildare fell short in Leinster, Kerry were also tested, needing a strong finish to retain their Munster crown against Waterford.
Kildare will look to several key performers. Goalkeeper Rachel Fennin has been outstanding, while the half-back line of Hazel McLoughlin, Ruth Sargent and captain Laoise Lenehan offers strength and composure. In midfield, Nanci Murray and the Wheeler sisters provide energy and drive, while Prizeman, Rattigan and Murnane carry a constant scoring threat.
If the Lilywhites can maintain intensity for the full 60 minutes, improve their finishing, and capitalise on home support, they will feel they have a genuine chance against a Kerry side that boasts dangers of its own in Siofra O’Shea, Danielle O’Leary and Niamh Carmody.
