Ladies lose out to Kildare in League Final

Tyrone 0-12  Kildare 2-9

IN the end it was experience which won this Ladies National League Division Two title for Kildare against a gallant Tyrone side who battled bravely on an afternoon of four seasons in one at Croke Park on Sunday.

Torrential rain and even a gale failed to dampen the contest and Tyrone handled both the conditions and Kildare very well in the first half. Well organised at the back, they looked comfortable on the ball and perhaps the more likely to carve out the win. However a slip allowed for a goal and that ultimately changed the game.

The young Red Hands worked hard to claw themselves back from a four point half time deficit but they could not do enough in the end, despite coming to within two points several times.

Kildare’s experience shone through in the latter stages as they shut out the Tyrone attack. They also had a couple of stunning points at the other end, worthy of their win.

Tyrone had shone brightly through the contest. Youthful players stood up to be counted and they all worked hard against a strong breeze in the first half, carving out several chances. Meabh Corrigan, who returned from Singapore for the game was outstanding, as were Joanne Barrett and Orla Mulgrew who had fine shifts. No-one was fazed by the occasion and undoubtedly, there’s more to come from this young team.

Kildare opened their account on two minutes, Roisin Byrne dropping over a point. But then a brace from the talented Emma Conroy had Tyrone ahead by the fourth minute. Neasa Dooley fired her effort across Caitlin Donnelly’s goal before, after working the ball around the attack zone, Claire Sullivan drilled in a goal.

Byrne added to that with a seventh minute point as Tyrone showed their trademark character. Maria Canavan latched on her first point and as the Tyrone defence marshalled, Canavan added a double, including a sweeping move inspired by corner back Jayne Lyons.

Sasha Byrne was then on hand to steer over a dropped ball by Kildare goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine while at the other end Donnelly done well to touch away a Byrne goal chance. Then came the remarkable change in fortunes.

Byrne drilled over a fine point on twenty nine minutes, their first score in twenty two minutes. The talented attacker added a second a minute later and when the sure footed Emma Jane Gervin was unlucky with a slip at midfield. The ball was worked to Dooley who fired in a killer goal to put her side four up at the break.

Canavan pulled an early point back for the Red Hands on the restart and then Conroy fired in a long ball that experienced Hulgraine dealt with. Again she was on hand to deny Canavan, whose long ball spilled in the square.

A McHugh point that grazed the crossbar closed the gap to two points on ten minutes of the resumption. Tyrone were very much in the game at this stage although more and more Aoife Clifford and Ruth Sargent snuffed out the opportunities.

Trina Duggan, Canavan and Kildare substitute Lara Curran exchanged points. After that, a Canavan free from the right left two between them once more as both sides made changes. Niamh Farrelly tagged on a great point for Kildare while they threatened several times. Barrett and Corrigan also put in some great challenges to keep their side in touch.

Byrne scored a stunning point from under the Cussack stand while Canavan and Dooley exchanged points in the latter stages. But with three between the sides there was no further time.

The Scorers
Tyrone
Maria Canavan 0-8, Emma Conroy 0-2, Aoibhinn Mc Hugh 0-1, Sasha Byrne 0-1

Kildare
Roisin Byrne 0-6, Neasa Dooley 1-1, Claire Sullivan 1-0, Lara Curran 0-1, Niamh Farrelly 0-1

The Teams
Tyrone
Caitlin Donnelly, Jayne Lyons, Joanne Barrett, Eimear Quinn, Caitlin Campbell, Emma Mulgrew, Meabh Corrigan, Aoibhinn Mc Hugh, Meabh Mallon, Emma Jane Gervin, Emma Conroy, Aoife Horisk, Maria Canavan, Zoe Loughran, Sasha Byrne; Subs: Emer Mc Canny For Byrne, Aoibhinn Daly For Horisk, Aine Grimes For Conroy, Clara Daly For Barrett, Aine Grimes For Conroy, Katie Rose Muldoon For Corrigan

Kildare
Mary Hulgraine, Fiona Toute, Aoife Clifford, Mia Doherty, Lauren Murtagh, Ruth Sargent, Lara Gilberet, Grace Clifford, Hazel Mc Laughlin, Trina Duggan, Ellen Dowling, Claire Sullivan, Neasa Dooley, Roisin Byrne, Aoife Rattigan. Subs: Niamh Farrelly For Rattigan, Elle O’Toole For Mc Loughlin, Holly Tyrell For Duggan, Lara Curran For Murtagh, Sarah Munnelly For Dowling

Referee: Shane Curley Galway