Dooley's dramatic penalty salvages Kildare's status
Lara Gilbert won the late penalty which Neasa Dooley converted to win the game for Kildare
KILDARE retained their senior championship status for 2025 when a dramatic penalty deep in second half injury time from Neasa Dooley turned a one point deficit into a two point victory over Laois in a drama filled the TG4 LGFA Senior Championship Relegation Play Off at a sun drenched Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow on Saturday afternoon.
In a game in which referee, Philip Conway of Armagh, flashed five yellow cards and a straight red, the drama continued right into the seven minutes of added time at the end of the game. Laois thought they had won the game when Laura Marie Maher goaled on 62 minutes but Kildare won Anna Dunlea’s kick out and worked their way deep into O’Moore County territory where they were awarded a free 30 yards out. Róisín Byrne, just back from her sinbinning, hit the post but the rebound was won by Lara Gilbert who was upended for the penalty.
After a delay of a few minutes while Gilbert was treated for injury, Neasa Dooley showed nerves of steel to beat substitute keeper, Naomi Luttrell, with the penalty although Luttrell put in a huge effort to save the Athy player’s shot.
The score was enough to send the Kildare players, management and supporters into raptures as the Lilywhites retained their senior championship status for 2025 in the most dramatic of fashions.
After a cagey and nervy opening quarter which saw the sides level on three occasions the drama began when Mo Nerney was sinbinned in the 20th minute. Like other sinbinnings on the day this one seemed harsh and the Armagh official is unlikely to receive too many Chriatmas Cards from Kildare or Laois in 2024.
Kildare went on to score six unanswered points during Nerney’s absence to lead 0-9 to 0-3 at the break.
Points from Mia Doherty, Leah Doran, Róisín Byrne, with her third, Erin Brereton Foley, Lara Gilbert and an outrageous score from Neasa Dooley gave Kildare that six points half time lead.
Byrne increased that lead with a pointed free seven minutes after the restart but three minutes later the drama continued. Claire Sullivan was sinbinned for a heavy challenge in which she was injured and half time Laois substitute, Aoibhe Byron, reduced the deficit with the free.
The drama unfolded further in the 47th minute when Róisín Byrne was sensationally sinbinned when it appeared that she was the one who should have been given the free.
Like Kildare in the first half, Laois took advantage of the Lilywhites’ numerical disadvantage and three brilliant point-blank saves from keeper, Anna Dunlea, kept her side in the game. Points from Nerney, Maher and Katie Donoghue left just two points in it as we approached injury time.
No sooner were Kildare restored to 14 players with the introduction of Sarah Munnelly for Claire Sullivan than they were reduced to 13 again with the inexplicable sinbinning of Grace Clifford.
In the chaotic seven minutes of injury time Laura Marie Maher shot through a crowded Kildare goalmouth to put her side a point up in the 62nd minute and it appeared that the day belonged to Laois.
It wasn’t to be though. Just as Kildare were restored to 14 players, Laois were reduced to 13 when first centre half back, Anna Moore, received a straight red card for what must have been an off the ball incident and then right half back, Mary Cotter, was sinbinned. While all around were losing their heads Kildare held theirs and showed great resilience in working the ball into a scoring position. Although Byrne’s free came off the post Lara Gilbert showed no fear in winning the rebound and the penalty which Neasa Dooley converted after a long delay to give her side the two point victory.
It was billed as the last chance saloon for both teams but it was Kildare who took the spoils and deservedly retained their senior championship status for 2025.
In a remarkable two-year reign of Diane O’Hora nothing could compare to the drama of the Battle at the OK Corral at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
KILDARE: Anna Dunlea; Ellie O’Toole, Alex Reynolds, Aoife Clifford; Fiona Troute, Mia Doherty 0-1, Lara Gilbert 0-1; Grace Clifford, Leah Doran 0-1; Claire Sullivan, Neasa Dooley 1-1 (1-0 pen), Lisa Shaw; Ellen Dowling 0-1, Róisín Byrne 0-4 (1 free), Erin Brereton Foley 0-1. Subs: Aoife Rattigan for Ellen Dowling H/T, Sarah Munnelly for Claire Sullivan 53.
LAOIS: Eimear Barry; Faye McEvoy, Sinead Farrelly, Gráinne Lalor; Mary Cotter, Anna Moore, Lauren Kearney; Andrea Moran 0-1, Laura Marie Maher 1-1; Katie Donoghue 0-1, Aerin Ryle, Gráinne Moran; Mo Nerney 0-4 (1 free), Orla Hennessy, Emily Lacey. Subs: Aoibhe Byron 0-1 for Grainne Moran H/T, Aisling Fitzpatrick for Emily Lacey 49, Naomi Luttrell for Eimear Barry 59.
REFEREE: Philip Conway (Armagh)
