Kildare Ladies' footballers shock Dublin in Division 1 tie
Kildare Senior Ladies' footballers defeated Dublin this afternoon
Kildare caused a major upset when they enjoyed a well deserved three point win over Dublin in a hugely entertaining Lidl NFL Division One league encounter. On a afternoon where Dublin would have been fancied to make it back to back wins it was a superb Kildare showing that secured the points. Alannah Prizeman's 10th minute goal proving the difference.
Kildare opened the brightest against their more fancied opponents. Both sides were slow to settle and apart from early wides for both sides there was little action inside the opening eight minutes.
Kildare did open the scoring on nine when Gillian Wheeler played a quick free to Nessa Dooley who tapped over. Sixty seconds later Dooley forced a 45 and when her effort dropped short Alannah Prizeman was on hand to raise a green flag for the homeside. Gillian Wheeler and a Roisin Byrne free had Kildare six up as we closed in on the last 10 minutes.
Niamh Hetherton and Jodi Egan, inside a minute, added Dublin's opening scores but Kildare finished the half with Nessa Dooley and Gillian Wheeler scores to lead 1-5 to 0-2 at the break.
The introduction of Kate Sullivan and Carla Rowe at half time quickly paid dividends as both pointed inside three minutes.
Kildare lost Lauren Murtagh to a yellow on 39 and from the resultant free Rowe added her second.
Roisin Byrne settled Kildare with a 41st minute free to open a four point buffer again but Carla Rowe quickly added two more frees and with 15 left on the clock Dublin were back within two. Jodi Egan reduced it to the minimum with 11 minutes remaining.
Kildare finished the stronger and a third Roisin Byrne free on 59 and a late Leah Doran white flag left three in it as we played out four minutes of injury time. A wonderful afternoon for Kildare LGFA and it sets things up well for the trip to All-Ireland champions Kerry in a week's time.
Mary Hulgraine, Ruth Sargent, Laura Dunlea, Mia Doherty, Lauren Murtagh, Laoise Lenehan, Molly Aspell, Claire Sullivan, Lara Curran, Emma Wheeler, Ciara Moran, Gillian Wheeler 0-2, Nessa Dooley 0-2, Alannah Prizeman 1-0, Roisin Byrne 0-3fs. Subs: Aoife Rattigan for Prizeman, 50; Lisa Shaw for G Wheeler, 55; Siofra Galvin for Curran, 55; Amy Mahon for Murtagh, 55; Leah Doran 0-1 for Sullivan, 63 B/S.
Kate Moran Tighe, Jessie Tobin, Martha Byrne, Aisling Nylan, Niamh Donlon, Leah Caffrey, Aoife Curran, Grace Kos, Hannah McGinnis, Rebecca McDonnell, Chloe Darby, Sophie McIntyre, Anabelle Timothy, Niamh Hetherton 0-1, Jodi Egan 0-2. Subs: Kate Sullivan 0-1 for McIntyre, h/t; Carla Rowe 0-4 (3fs) for Nyhan, h/t; Orla Martin for Timothy, 45; Katie Murphy for Egan, 55; Clodagh Fox for McDonnell, 55.
Shane Curley (Galway)
