Kenneally inspires Eadestown to brilliant Leinster semi-final away win
The Eadestown team after their win in Tinahely today Photo: Aisling Hyland
Gráinne Kenneally turned in an inspirational performance as Eadestown went to the home of the 2022 Leinster finalists and came away with a superb win to become just the third Kildare team, and first since 2017, to reach the Leinster LGFA Senior final.
Eadestown went into the game without the brilliant Grace Clifford, and her Kildare team-mate Aoife Clifford, but recorded a famous win thanks to a brilliant all round team performance as the gained revenge for a defeat two years ago at the same stage against the same team.
Andrea Jebb made a couple of crucial second half saves, Denise Tierney marshalled the defence superbly but Kenneally was on a different level.
Particularly in the absence of Clifford, perhaps the most influential player in Kildare over the last five years, Eadestown needed leaders to step forward and Kenneally delivered an all-time great display.
After putting every ounce of effort in, Kenneally was overcome with emotion at the final whistle. It was obvious during the game how much it meant to her as covered every blade of grass in Tinahely. She scored the first goal, created the second, made a crucial block on a Jackie Kinch shot during Tinahely’s best spell early in the second half and was just a constant menace to the home team. She was fouled on numerous occasions as she pushed her body to the limit before Áine Byrne was eventually sent to the sin bin in the 52th minute for another indiscretion against her. It was a sign of the frustration that Tinahely felt in trying to deal with a player absolutely on the top of her game.
Kenneally’s goal came in the 11th minute and although it was untidy, was another example of her determination. She never seemed to quite have the ball under control as she bundled her way through the Tinahely defence but once in near the goal there was nothing untidy about her finish as she tucked away a shot into Shona Byrne’s bottom right hand corner to make it 1-1 to 0-2.
Tinahely went close to a response five minutes later but Laura McGrath’s powerful shot rebounded off the Eadestown crossbar.
Eadestown had a shout for a penalty in the 21st minute when Ruth Sargent went tumbling under the challenge of a couple of home defenders after linking up nicely with Jessica Harney but referee Marion Hayden waved away the appeals.
The five-in-a-row Kildare champions led 1-2 to 0-4 but had to withstand some heavy pressure in the early stages of the second half.
Jebb made an early save to keep out Aobha Hannon’s shot and then Kenneally made that brilliant block to deny Tinahely’s best player, Kinch.
Eadestown were wobbling a little when McGrath and Kinch scored in quick succession to tie the game but Kenneally wasn’t considering defeat and another barnstorming run by her ended with a free that Abaigh Cahill converted.
Kenneally then turned provider in the 43rd minute when she sent Sara Carroll away and the half time substitute admirably kept her composure and beat Byrne with a powerful shot to make it 2-4 to 0-6.
Just as with the first Eadestown goal, Tinahely had a chance not long after the second when Jebb’s free kick only found McGrath but the Eadestown ‘keeper made amends for that mistake by brilliantly keeping out the corner forward’s shot.
Ciara Byrne did find the mark for the home team to cut the lead back to three as the game moved into the final quarter but with ten minutes to go, Jessica Harney fired over to extend the Eadsestown lead back to four.
Even though Tinahely went down to 14 players following Byrne’s yellow card, they kept pushing and Aoife Gorman fired in the 54th minute.
The game was on the line a minute later when Áine Darcy was through on goal but Jebb raced from her line to make a match deciding save, all the more crucial when Eadestown broke away and Cahill finished with a point.
There was one more late scare for Eadestown when Tinahely had a late, late free but the defence was able to scramble away Kinch’s shot after Gorman’s effort had been blocked down and shortly after the final whistle blew to confirm a brilliant win.
Andrea Jebb; Maryann Ryan, Denise Tierney, Ann Marie Logue, Áine Mernagh, Ruth Sargent, Áine Ní Raghallaigh; Siobhan O’Sullivan 0-2 (1f), Laura Byrne; Anna Hynes, Gráinne Kenneally 1-0, Jessica Harney 0-1, Tara Bedford, Kate Murphy, Abaigh Cahill 0-3 (1f). Subs: Alannah Kelly for Ní Raghallaigh, h/t; Sara Carroll 1-0 for Murphy, h/t; Misha Magee for Bedford, 59.
Shona Byrne; Niamh Kenny, Ciara Stokes, Shannan Geotelen, Emily Mulhall, Aine Byrne, Eimear O’Sullivan; Aimee Maher, Aoife Gorman 0-1; Sarah Byrne, Aobha Harmon, Eimear O’Brien, Ciara Byrne 0-4, Jackie Kinch 0-1, Laura McGrath 0-2. Subs: Áine Darcy for S Byrne, 40; Loretta Gilbert for Kenny, 47.
Marion Hayden.
