Eadestown lift sixth Kildare LGFA SFC title in seven years
Eadestown lift the Ciaran Burke Cup after beating Kilcullen at Cedral St Conleths Park.
Eadestown reclaimed the Kildare LGFA Senior Football Championship title with a commanding victory over Kilcullen at Cedral St Conleth's Park, securing their sixth county crown in seven seasons.
Having surrendered the title to St Laurence's last year, Eadestown arrived with a point to prove and their experience on the big occasion was evident throughout against a Kilcullen side appearing in their first senior final.
Kilcullen had impressed in reaching the decider, most notably with their semi-final victory over Sarsfields, but they struggled to reproduce that form against an Eadestown team that controlled proceedings from start to finish.
Eadestown made the perfect start, with Gráinne Kenneally settling early nerves by kicking the opening three points of the contest.
Kilcullen had to wait until the 17th minute for their first score, but it was worth the wait as Molly Aspell curled over an excellent point on the run.
Any hopes of that score sparking a Kilcullen revival were quickly extinguished. Just a minute later, Eadestown struck for the game's only goal. Captain Grace Clifford threaded a pass into Kenneally and, although her initial effort was well saved, the former Waterford and Kildare inter-county star reacted quickest to hammer the rebound to the net.
That major left Eadestown firmly in control and they carried a 1-5 to 0-2 advantage into the interval.
With a large Kilcullen support urging them on after the restart, the newcomers battled hard but could find no way through a disciplined and organised Eadestown defence.
The champions-elect remained relentless at the other end. Player of the Match Jessica Harney produced an outstanding second-half display and contributed three points, while Hazel McLoughlin and Ruth Sargent also got on the scoresheet.
Grace Clifford came close to adding a second goal in the 58th minute, only for Kilcullen goalkeeper Roisin Browne to produce an excellent save and divert her effort over the crossbar.
While the result and performance will disappoint Kilcullen, their remarkable rise to a first senior final suggests there is more to come from this talented group.
The day, however, belonged to Eadestown. Driven by the pain of last year's final defeat and backed by a wealth of championship experience, they produced a display befitting county champions as they deservedly returned to the summit of Kildare ladies football.
Emma Sargent; Áine Ní Raghallaigh, Aine Mernagh, Anne Marie Logue, Sophie Boyse, Ruth Sargent 0-1, Molly Lawlor; Laura Byrne, Hazel McLoughlin 0-1; Anna Hynes 0-1f, Grace Clifford 0-2, Misha Magee 0-1, Kate Murphy 0-1, Gráinne Kenneally 1-3, Jessica Harney 0-3. Subs: Maryann Ryan for Logue, 53; Denise Tierney for Magee, 53; Alannah Kelly for A Hynes, 57; Anna Harney for Lawlor, 57; Grace Dowling for Kenneally, 60.
Roisin Browne; Brona Dooley, Ellen Coleman, Aidin Gordon, Olivia Monaghan, Molly O’Loughlin, Niamh Liston; Molly Aspell 0-1, Nanci Murphy; Hannah Breen, Aoife Griffith, Mae Cowper Gray, Jayne Peacocke 0-2fs, Caoimhe Egan, Amy Tyrell. Subs: Leah Tyrell for Gordon, 39; Ellie O’Toole for Dooley, 39; Hannah Crowley for Cowper Gray, 49; Saorise O’Brien for Breen, 50.
Barry Moore.
