Late collapse costs Kildare as Cavan power through
Kildare's Niamh Krahn powers up the field.
Kildare’s camogie season is over after a disappointing six-point defeat at the hands of Cavan in Tullamore on Saturday.
For the second time this season, Kildare were ahead against this opposition at the interval, but failed to get over the line.
As was the theme in Dungannon two weeks ago, the Lillies were guilty of another slow start, with Cavan scoring 1-3 before any Kildare response.
The Cavan goal was as a result of a dangerous sideline ball from Eimear Brady which bounced off Niamh Krahn’s hand and into the back of the net.
It took ten minutes for them to register a score, eventually coming courtesy of taliswoman Rebecca McDermott.
However, Cavan would continue to dominate the opening exchanges, with manager Paddy Cullen roaring for every decision and applauding his side’s ruthless swarming defense.
After 15 minutes, they found themselves seven points ahead and having done all the camogie in Tullamore, thanks to well-taken scores from free-taker Eimear Brady and Róisin O’ Keefe.
The following minutes was a complete U-Turn as the Lillies began to find their feet, and thanks to the two McDermotts, began to pick off some much-needed scores to keep the game alive.
They enjoyed a bright purple patch as the half continued, with Cavan’s defence going from performing like Tipperary’s notorious “Hell’s Kitchen” of the 60s, to a vulnerable rearguard that was sucking for air.
Kildare miraculously levelled the game after 25 minutes when Broadford’s Lea Sutton doubled on a high ball mid-air to get the better of goalkeeper Emma Mulvaney, making 1-5 apiece.
The ever-reliable Aoife Stynes from Naas broke onto the next ball to pop over her first of the day and put Kildare ahead after what seemed like a worrying scoreline early on.
That was to be a short-lived lead as midfielder Niamh Keenaghan slotted over a brilliant point near the sideline to settle Cavan heads, after almost 15 minutes without a score.
The Lilywhites in their unusual black strip finished the half stronger, thanks to a classy score from Aoife McDermott and a well-struck long-range free from Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal, giving them a two point cushion at the break.
Cavan will no doubt have felt a sense of shell-shock, having been firmly in control for the opening minutes, and simply second-best as the half went on.
Unfortunately for Kildare, Cavan’s second half display would be much more in line with their usual standards.
The second half took some time to ignite, as both groups of defenders imposed their mark on the game in what was proving to be a tough-teak battle, with the desperation to reach the final in Croke Park there for all to see.
Kildare’s defence threw everything at the third quarter, Laoise Mimnagh was heroic as always at full back, Caoimhe O’Sullivan and Shauna Dunne emerged with some vital ball from rucks, as they enjoyed something of a defensive purple-patch early in the half.
It was an almost 10 minute wait before a white flag was raised by either team, eventually coming through a Shanise Fitzsimons point, and she doubled her tally minutes later to put the sides on level terms once again.
A defining element of the second half was Kildare’s struggle to get on the scoreboard.
Their workrate from 1 to 15 was admirable, but scores were lacking, and as the half progressed, Cavan were beginning to overrun their defense.
Caoimhe Ni Bhuircéal ran at Cavan with intent and floated a score over to finally open Kildare’s second half account.
But this was to be their last score of the game, with the best part of 20 minutes left to play.
The Breffni county swung the momentum in a major way after 50 minutes when a lobbing ball found Niamh Keenaghan, who rattled the back of the net to put them into the ascendency by 2-9 to 1-9.
The following attacking plays struggled to create any clear cut chances as the clock suddenly became the Kildare enemy.
Despite Cavan’s defensive strength, Kildare did have their chances to reduce the deficit.
With 56 minutes played, Niamh Farrell flicked the sliotar over the head of Emma Mulvaney, only for it to hit the woodwork and bounce back to the awaiting defenders who cleared their lines.
With the game effectively a foregone conclusion, stalwart Lea Sutton stood over a close-range free, struck it well, but was well-stopped by a mirage of Cavan hurleys on the line.
It was a play that summed up the second half, as Cavan went up the other end, and captain Róisín O’ Keefe hit the insurance point to make sure there were no late upsets in Tullamore.
The full-time whistle would blow in the following moments, Cavan marching on to an All-Ireland final, and Kildare left dejected after a heartbreaking loss.
Róisín Roche, Kate Murphy, Laoise Mimnagh, Sadhbh Horgan, Caoimhe O’ Sullivan, Shauna Dunne, Niamh Krahn, Sara Carroll, Hannah Davis, Aoife Stynes (0-1), Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal (0-2), Louise Murphy, Rebecca McDermott (0-4), Lea Sutton (1-0), Aoife McDermott (0-2).
Sadhbh Buckley for S Carroll (46), Niamh Farrell for L Murphy (51), Róisín Naughton for S Horgan (55) Gráinne Dowling for C O’Sullivan (55).
Emma Mulvaney (0-1, 1f), Eavan O’Sullivan, Rosie Crowe McKeever, Ciara Shalvey, Aideen Coyle, Alannah Tierney, Rebecca Fitzsimons, Hannah Fitzsimons, Niamh Keenaghan (1-2), Róisín O’ Keefe (0-3), Eimear Brady (1-5, 4f, 1'45), Shanise Fitzsimons (0-2), Daria Kaledek, Aela O’Sullivan, Aoibhe Conaty.
Orla Flynn for A Conaty (40), Emma Plunkett for A O’Sullivan (47), Kate Tierney for E O’Sullivan (56).
