Can Kildare minors get revenge as they face Galway in All-Ireland final clash?

The comeback queens have their final task set for 2023,as they take on Galway in this year’s All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship final. The rematch of last year’s semi-final is set for Pearse Park, Longford on August 5. The Tribeswomen came out on top that day, but more on that later.

Never has a Kildare team bucked the trend of a county’s prior fortunes as much as the minor ladies in 2023. The wider Lilywhite landscape has been filled with near-misses and trying to take some satisfaction from a great performance that faded at the end. But not Darren Kendrick’s side of 2023, they are the ones putting that feeling onto others with courageous comebacks and winning games at the death. 

In a sadistic way it was refreshing, delightful even, to walk out of Staker Wallace GAA as the Cork fans stood aghast that Kildare had stolen it. They were left dumbfounded as to how they had been beaten after seemingly having the upper hand for most of the game, sound familiar?

The Lilies rose to overturn a five-point deficit mid-way through the second half to shock Cork in what was almost a home game for the Rebels with their travelling support having to spend, in most cases, 50% less time in the car than fans donning white. 

After the win, manager Darren Kendrick hailed his team saying, “One thing about them is that they are very resilient, even when Cork scored the two goals, their true team spirit shone through.

“These girls have, without being too cliché, a ‘never say die’ attitude. They never give up, they go right to the end because they know what can be scored in the first half can be scored in the second half. It’s something that’s in them, they have done it before and have now done it again, they are a fantastic bunch of players.”

All Ireland Minor 'A' Championship Semi Final 2022

Galway 2-10

Kildare 0-11

The first issue to address for both sides is player turnover, an occupational hazard for any minor manager as some of their best footballers age their way out of the side.

Kildare have retained full-back Eimear Glancy (now Captain), centre-forward Ellie Kendrick, corner-forward Edwina Birchall and Mayah Doyle who has operated both in midfield and at full-forward in their starting 15. 

As well as the retention of four starters, two from the sideline in 2022 have earned a starting berth in Joy Duggan at corner-back and wing-forward Niamh Farrelly, the latter of which looked the best point scorer on the field against Cork. Farrelly kicked three crucial points from play and her 0-3 was the most of any player from play on the night.

But what does all that mean? Kildare have retained a strong spine from their team of last year and of course have added to their quality in that time too. 

The biggest loss for Kildare in that time was Ruth Sargent, a minor in 2022, the Eadestown player is already a crucial element in Diane O’Hora’s senior ladies side. Sargent has been exemplary and central to a team that have won two trophies already this year with an All-Ireland final of their own on the horizon (August 13).

Now to Galway, based on the team for their recent semi-final victory over Monaghan, they have just two starters that carry over from 2022’s clash with Kildare. They are goalkeeper Leah O’Halloran and Aoibhinn Eilian, who has moved from wing-back to centre-back and became captain in that time.

The other members of the squad to carry over are Sadbh Farthing, Lauren O’Donnell and Ava Travers who have all remained as options off the bench.

Galway would go on to lose to Cork in the 2022 All-Ireland ‘A’ final 1-16 to 1-8. The question of motivation for this game is a wash for both sides, Galway have the hurt of last year’s final and Kildare have revenge in their plans. But then again, I don’t think anyone truly loses a final based on motivation.

A big topic following the semi-final will undoubtedly be surrounding Kildare star Sarah McGovern, who was taken off after 35 minutes against Cork. Could her replacement Alannah Prizeman, who scored Kildare’s second goal to fire them into the lead, earn herself a starting spot over the Raheens star?

My gut instinct would say no, inter-county defenders have consistently said they always feared when a big player had a bad game in the one prior, because they rarely do it twice in a row. McGovern was bested by her marker Ava Fitzgerald on the day, but it was a rare sight and I think she will be on the field and back on form for the big occasion. 

Now to the game itself, Galway and Kildare both give the same impression when you look at their respective results. It’s all high-scoring and entertainment and to compliment one you must compliment the other to an equal extent in that department. These are two exceptional teams, attacking sides who are sure to bring the house down on All-Ireland final day. It’s an extremely hard game to call and that is what makes it even more special. 

Kildare have shown this year that they can produce magic when the chips are down and the Lilywhites in attendance will hope they can replicate that quality and resilience in Pearse Park, Longford at 2pm on August 5.