Kildare run into strong Armagh side
Neasa Dooley was on the mark for Kildare during their loss to Armagh Photo: Aisling Hyland
After thheir great win over Meath last weekend Kildare were brought right back down to earth when they faced a strong, more experienced Armagh side in Silverbridge, the home club of GAA President, Jarlath Burns on Sunday afternoon. In claiming the eleven point victory defending Lidl League champions, Armagh made it five wins from five as well as inflicting Kildare’s third defeat in this season’s campaign.
Playing with the wind, Kildare had the better of the early exchanges but only had Ruth Sargent’s 2nd minute point to show for their endeavours with a couple of wides and dropped shots being a disappointment for them.
Once Armagh drew level with a Moya Feehan free in the 8th minute, they went on to record 1-5 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half. The home side got their opening goal in the 9th minute after another Kildare effort dropped into keeper Anna Carr’s arms and the ball was quickly worked up the field for corner forward, Niamh Henderson, to finish past Mary Hulgraine. Armagh added further scores from the likes of Henderson, Eve Lavery, Niamh Reel and Blaithin Mackin to lead 1-6 to 0-2 at the break. After Kildare had recorded their second point from a Neasa Dooley free, they hit a purple patch where they could or should have recorded 1-2 but ended empty handed with a Róisín Byrne goal bound effort whizzing agonisingly wide on the stroke of half time.
Armagh continued on the front foot in the second half with centre half back, Lauren McConville, Reel, Lavery as well as substitutes Grace Ferguson and Caoimhe McNally all raising white flags. Their second goal came in the 47th minute when Emily Druse finished a loose ball to the Kildare net.
Kildare did finish with a flourish of sorts with excellent points from distance from substitute Aoife Rattigan and Róisín Byrne and an opportunist goal from another substitute, Leah McGovern who reacted quickest after the Armagh goalkeeper had made a good save from Ruth Sargent.
Kildare lost Mia Doherty through injury on the stroke of full time which will be a worry for Pat Sullivan and his management team.
Anna Carr; Maeve Ferguson, Cait Towe, Roisin Mulligan; Louise Kenny, Lauren McConville 0-1, Blaithin Mackin 0-1; Niamh Coleman, Caroline O’Hanlon; Emily Druse 1-0, Moya Feehan 0-1 (free), Eve Lavery 0-3 (1 free); Niamh Reel 0-5 (2 frees 1 x ‘45), Aoife McCoy, Niamh Henderson 1-2. SUBS: Grace Ferguson 0-1 for Maeve Ferguson H/T, Caoimhe McNally 0-1 for Eve Lavery 41, Ciara Garvey for Lauren McConville 45, Maeve Lennon for Emily Druse 48, Megan McCann for Cait Towe 52, Millie Lavery for Niamh Coleman 54.
Mary Hulgraine; Ruth Sargent 0-1, Lauren Murtagh, Emma Wheeler; Mia Doherty, Laoise Lenehan, Molly Aspell 0-1; Claire Sullivan, Laura Dunlea; Ciara Moran, Gillian Wheeler, Neasa Dooley 0-2 (1f); Ciara Price, Alannah Prizeman, Róisín Byrne 0-2. SUBS: Aoife Murnane for Ciara Price 33, Aoife Rattigan 0-1 for Gillian Wheeler 33, Leah McGovern 1-0 for Alannah Prizeman 43, Amy Mahon for Laura Dunlea 43, Leah Doran for Emma Wheeler 49, Lisa Shaw for Lauren Murtagh, Erin Brereton Foley for Róisín Byrne 58, Lara Curran for Mia Doherty 60.
Angela Gallagher (Dublin)
