Kildare favourites to claim first league win in Darver

After having to give way to a much stronger Laois side in Round 1 two weeks ago Kildare’s senior camogie team claimed their first point on the board with a hard fought but well deserved draw against Roscommon in Round 2 of the Very Camogie League Division 3A in Manguard Park on Saturday last.

They will now travel to the Louth GAA Centre of Excellence in Darver on this Saturday full of confidence that they will claim their first victory of the League and first victory under new manager, David O’Mahony. Throw in is at 2pm.

As reported by Seamus Dillon in the Kildare Nationalist of 4 March, Kildare came from six points down with nine minutes to go to claim a draw thanks to an injury time ‘45 from the experienced Lea Sutton. In fact, the Broadford player had given Kildare the lead for the first time in the game with an opportunist goal moments earlier. Indeed, Roscommon’s lead point in injury time from Rachel Fitzmaurice smacked a little of controversary as the shot was originally waved wide but was then awarded thanks to the intervention of a linesperson.

For Louth’s part they suffered a demoralising 7-27 to 0-1 loss to Laois last Saturday after also suffering a 3-17 to 1-2 reversal to Wicklow in Round 1. Saturday will be Louth’s third game in a row at home.

For Saturday’s game in Darver Kildare manager, David O’Mahony, has made nine changes in the side which drew with Roscommon with only Shauna Dunne, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Sadhbh Buckley, Lea Sutton, Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal and Sarah Lavin retaining their positions on the team. Ella O’Neill and Mae Donovan were all used substitutes against Roscommon while Liana Glynn started against Laois and Rianna Cribbin, Erin McEvoy and Donovan all saw game time against the O’Moore county. Naturally enough the bench for Saturday is very strong with Ellen Donovan, Sinead O’Brien and Roisin Forde, among others, ready and willing to enter the fray should they be called upon.

Saying his side were unlucky not to get the victory last Saturday manager, O’Mahony said he was looking for them to build on the draw and to perform to their potential for longer. 

“That has to be the aim next week, the Kildare manager told the Kildare Nationalist. “We’ll look to improve on the performance, that’s the big thing away to Louth.” 

Kildare V Louth, 

Very Camogie League Division 3A, 

Round 3, 2pm Darver, 

Saturday 8 March 

Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan) 

1 Ciara Skehan (Celbridge) 

2 Saoirse Coffey (Athy) 

3 Aoife Newman (Johnstownbridge) 

4 Mae Donovan (Straffan) 

5 Liana Glynn (Celbridge) 

6 Caoimhe O’Sullivan (St Laurence’s) 

7 Rianna Cribbin (Kilcock) 

8 Sadhbh Buckley (Maynooth) 

9 Shauna Dunne (Athy) 

10 Elena Prendergast (Sallins) 

11 Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal (Johnstownbridge) 

12 Ella O’Neill (Moorefield) 

13 Sarah Lavin (Kilcock) 

14 Lea Sutton (Broadford) 

15 Erin McEvoy (Johnstownbridge) 

Substitutes: Ellen Donovan (Straffan), Shauna Mulligan (Rathcoffey), Sinead O’Brien (Lucan Sarsfields), Fionnuala Hughes (Celbridge), Niamh Khran (Maynooth), Roisin Maguire (Clane), Aisling Connaughton (Johnstownbridge), Roisin Forde (Maynooth), Michelle Brogan (Ardclough), Sinead Lee (Rathcoffey).

MANAGEMENT TEAM David O’Mahony (Manager), Colm Cummins (Limerick), Tanya Johnson (Johnstownbridge), Aidan Flynn (Maynooth), Sean McMullen (St Laurence’s), Paul Synnott (Wexford) and Niall Harrisson (S&C).