Leinster final heartbreak for Kildare ladies
Kildare’s Aoife Rattigan, Nanci Murphy, Laoise Lenehan and Hazel McLoughlin are left to wonder what might have been after final whistle Photo: ©INPHO/James Crombie
in only their second ever Leinster LGFA senior championship final, Kildare put in a mighty performance to not only match but out fight and at times outscore defending champions, Dublin in the TG4 Leinster LGFA Final at Croke Park on Sunday. Dublin were not only appearing in their 13th final in a row but were also chasing their 13th title in a row and their 20th in all but Kildare more than matched their much-vaunted rivals, that was until late Dublin goals and the harsh sinbinning of their midfielder, Nanci Murphy, put paid to a Lilywhite upset on the day.
The sides were level on five occasions during a tense first half, the highlight of which Allannah Prizeman goal for Kildare a minute before half time. They were level again on two occasions in the second half when this time substitute, Aoife Murnane’s goal was the highlight.
Although it was the Lilywhites who were taking the game to the Dubs it was the defending champions who opened the scoring and they opened up a two-point lead by the seventh minute through Orlagh Nolan and Laura Grendon.
Kildare’s response was swift and they had drawn level by the tenth minute with a point each from the busy Aoife Rattigan and cleverly with the fist from captain, Laoise Lenehan. Kildare took the lead for the first time in the in the twelfth minute when Rattigan fired over her second point after good work by Prizeman.
Dublin equalised again through Michelle Davoren in the 13th minute and three minutes later Kildare had a chance of a goal but had to be satisfied with a ’45 from which Prizeman found Lara Curran who pointed to give Kildare the lead again. The Dubs responded through Annabelle Timothy but once again Kildare hit the front when Aoife Rattigan pointed after selling dummies galore to the Dublin rearguard. Three points in a row from the defending champions through Grendon, Davoren and a soft free from Nolan gave them a two-point cushion again as the clock wound down to half time. A minute before half time Kildare got the opening goal of the game, a cracker too. Following a free for a foul on Lara Curran, Gillian Wheeler launched a high ball into the Dublin square and when the ball broke, Prizeman was on hand to deliver a perfect shot to the Dublin net.
Dublin finished the half with two injury time points through Caoimhe O’Connor and Nolan to take a one point lead, 0-9 to 1-5 into the dressing rooms.
Heavy rain fell during half time and for the early minutes of the second making handling very difficult for both teams and we had to wait until nine minutes after the restart for the first score of the half when Aine Mernagh came up from the back for Kildare to put the sides level for the sixth time in the game at 1-6 to 0-9.
Dublin went two points to the good again through a Nolan free and a point from play from Grendon with 15 minutes left on the clock. But Kildare weren’t finished just yet and following a brilliant save by Rachel Fennin in the Kildare goals the Lilywhites worked the ball up the field for substitute Aoife Murnane to fire into the roof of the Dublin net. A contender for goal of the season, surely. Kildare led by one again with seven minutes left of normal time. Nolan’s third free brought the sides level for the seventh time but then disaster struck for Kildare with two late goals from Niamh Crowley and Caoimhe O’Connor and the very harsh sinbinning of Nanci Murphy.
Dublin were able to see out the game and hold possession for the final two minutes and this gallant Kildare team died with their boots on and showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with during the TG4 LGFA All Ireland Championships which begin shortly.
Abby Shiels: Niamh Crowley 1-0, Leah Caffrey, Hannah Leahy; Sophie McIntyre, Lauren McGee, Hannah McGinnis; Niamh Hetherton, Orlagh Nolan 0-5 (3 frees); Annabelle Timothy 0-1, Rachel Hartnett, Kate Donaghy; Michelle Davoren 0-2, Laura Grendon 0-3, Caoimhe O’Connor 1-1 SUBS: Elsa Kearney for Kate Donaghy 28, Jodi Egan for Annabelle Timothy 52, Caitlin Coffey for Rachel Hartnett 58, Aoife Curran for Michelle Davoren 59.
Rachel Fernnin; Aine Mernagh 0-1, Emma Wheeler, Lisa Shaw; Hazel McLoughlin, Ruth Sargent, Laoise Lenehan 0-1; Nanci Murphy, Gillian Wheeler; Lara Curran 0-1, Jessica Harney, Molly Aspel; Aoife Rattigan 0-3 (1 free), Mayah Doyle, Alannah Prizeman 1-0. SUBS: Abaigh Cahill for Molly Aspel 36, Aoife Murnane 1-0 for Jessica Harney 36, Ciara Wheeler for Mayah Doyle 45, Meabh Galvin for Lara Curran 58.
Paul McCaughey (Westmeath)
