Camogs make winning start in the pouring rain
Caoimhe O'Sullivan on the attack for Kildare Photo: Dave Barrett)
Kildare picked up their first points of the National Camogie League Division 3A campaign when they had twelve to spare over a Wicklow side who, due to the weather conditions, had to forfeit home advantage.
On a horrible wet afternoon, constant rain for more than two hours before throw-in, and throughout the opening 30 minutes, meant Manguard Park was bordering on being unplayable. Yet, both sides went about their business as if the elements didn’t exist.
After the postponement of the Roscommon game a week earlier, Kildare were anxious to get on the field, and in the opening 23 minutes they didn’t disappoint. Rebecca McDermott converted a second minute free and, although Kildare had to wait another ten minutes for their next, they would go on to add five in a row after Aoife McDermott got the second.
Classy Celbridge corner-forward Niamh Mortell hit two in succession on 13 and 14 minutes as Wicklow struggled to make any inroads against a solid Kildare defence. A long ball from Sophie Bermingham got stuck in the surface water and Róisín Roche was relieved to clear the danger. Kildare were on top in all facets, and when Rebecca McDermott converted her second free on 19 minutes, it was the turn of Allie McGrath and Mortell — with her third — to push Kildare seven ahead.
Wicklow centre-back Síofra Byrne played a quick free to Summer Cullen Dunne, whose first-time effort struck a post before Kildare cleared again. Wicklow finally registered on 27 minutes when lively centre-forward Sophie Bermingham converted a 30 metre free, before midfielder Louise Murphy got on the end of Rebecca McDermott’s pass to fire over an eighth Kildare point. At the half-time whistle Kildare led 0-8 to 0-1.
As the teams returned, the rain disappeared but the Kildare dominance continued. The McDermotts — Aoife and Rebecca — added two points inside the first four minutes as any Wicklow revival failed to materialise. Rebecca added her fourth on 41 minutes and it was fellow Naas player Aoife Stynes who got her first with a fine point on the run.
Kildare were now eleven ahead but Wicklow were handed a lifeline on 42 minutes when Byrne’s free from all of 65 metres was flicked on by substitute Leanne Liffey straight into the Kildare net. It was only Wicklow’s second score — and also their last. Róisín Roche was called into action on 47 minutes and made an excellent save from Bermingham as she dropped to her knees to smother the shot.
Kildare emptied the bench, making seven substitutions, but it mattered little as their superiority continued. They added four points over the closing 12 minutes. Mortell struck her fourth before making way for Sadhbh Buckley on 56 minutes. Aoife Stynes added her second, and it was another Naas star — Rebecca McDermott — who rounded off the scoring with her fifth and sixth points of the afternoon.
A comfortable and impressive performance from Rob O’Neill’s charges, and the Kilkenny native will be pleased with the depth of talent at his disposal. Fifteen points from the forwards, backed by a solid defence and mobile midfield, means Kildare can look forward to the campaign with confidence. The visit of Armagh next weekend now offers the opportunity to build on this Wicklow success.
Roisin Roche; Shauna Dunne, Niamh Hegarty, Sadhbh Horgan, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Aine Conway, Kate Murphy; Louise Murphy 0-1, Sara Carroll; Rebecca McDermott 0-6 (2f), Lea Sutton, Aoife Stynes 0-2, Allie McGrath 0-2, Aoife McDermott 0-1, Niamh Mortell 0-4.
Aoife McCarthy for Dunne, 51; Laoise Mimnagh for K Murphy, 51; Niamh Farrell for McGrath, 51; Sadhbh Buckley for Mortell, 56; Kelly Bracken for L Murphy, 56; Michelle Brogan for Sutton, 58; Grainne Dowling for O’Sullivan, 58.
Ellen O’Neill; Laura Doyle, Chrissy Kelly, Grainne Drumgoole, Aine Byrne, Sive Byrne, Isabella Doyle; Sarah Doyle, Catherina Burke; Roisin Byrne, Sophie Bermingham 0-1f, Laura Kenny, Shauna Ryan, Summer Cullen-Dunne, Emma Nesbitt.
Leanne Lifely 1-0 for Cullen-Dunne, h/t; Ciara Byrne for Drumgoole, 40 Emily Ryan for Nesbitt, 50.
Shane Foley.
