Eadestown Ladies progress in Leinster with late winning goal from Kate Murphy

Eadestown 2-10

Dunshaughlin 2-7

Kildare’s Eadestown march on to the AIB Leinster Senior Club semi-finals after a thrilling encounter in Dunshaughlin!

A last minute goal from substitute Kate Murphy proved the difference between the sides.

In barely playable conditions, due to storm Ashley, the girls in blue showed incredible grit, determination, and class to outbattle a strong Dunshaughlin outfit on their home patch.

Eadestown played with the aid of a very strong wind in the first half and dominated possession and territory, but were faced with a well organised home defence that “parked the bus” and tried to create chances through fast counter attacks.

The Kildare side’s captain, Grainne Kenneally, almost got her team off to a dream start, breaking through the defensive wall and forcing a point blank save from goalkeeper,

Michelle O’Hare. Eadestown opened the scoring in the seventh minute with an excellent fisted point from centre back, Ruth Sargent, following a strong forward run.

Three minutes later, the hard working Siobhan O’Sullivan used all of her experience to set up sixteen-year-old Anna Hynes for a great score from distance.

Dunshaughlin, with a number of current and former Meath county players, were battling hard in defence and working hard to break at pace but were finding it difficult to combat the wind and an Eadestown team that fought hard for every ball.

The Kildare team had forwards that were prepared to get back and force turnovers, and Laura Byrne and Denise Tierney put in some brave tackles when the Meath side threatened.

On eleven minutes, Ruth Sargent again burst forward, scoring her second point of the game and the girls in blue appeared to be growing in confidence.

Two minutes later, Tara Bedford picked off a nice point following a good pass from fellow corner forward, Abaigh Cahill. Kildare ladies captain, Grace Clifford, was having a growing influence on the game during this period and finished off a great team move with a well-taken point before setting up Abaigh Cahill for her first point of the game.

Clifford then drove forward and sent in a piledriver from twenty five meters that forced an amazing full-length diving save from Michelle O’Hare, the ball then bouncing off the inside of the post and out to safety. Eadestown kept pushing forward and Tara Bedford finished off a good team move to chalk up her second point of the game.

With the score at seven points to nil, Eadestown supporters began to speculate about the lead required at half time to possibly make the game safe. Most agreed on ten points at least, such was the force of storm Ashley.

Dunshaughlin had their first shot at the posts after 24 minutes but the wind pushed the ball well wide. However, two minutes later former all-star, Niamh O’Sullivan opened their account with a pointed thirteen metre free.

The Meath side won possession from the kick out, fed the ball to wing forward, Ciara Gorman, who finished to the net and the gap was back to three points with four minutes to play in the first half.

Grace Clifford showed all of her experience to finish a great move after combining well with Ruth Sargent. Dunshaughlin were getting forward more often now and Niamh O’Sullivan completed the first half scoring with another pointed free.

With the score at 0-8 to 1-2 in favour of Eadestown, many believed the lead would not be enough, having to face a gale force wind in the second half.

The task for the Kildare club became even more difficult after the restart when the industrious Meath star, Meadhbh Byrne, weaved her way in from the wing to set up Ciara Gorman for a fisted goal, though it appeared that Byrne hopped the ball twice in the build up.

The game was level and Eadestown had a mountain to climb.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and the girls in blue showed that they are not five-time senior county champions for nothing.

One minute after conceding a heart breaking goal, Grace Clifford drove forward and set up Tara Bedford for her third point of the game.

On 34 minutes, Niamh O’Sullivan tied the game up again with a good point from distance.

With 39 minutes on the clock, Siobhan O’Sullivan took a free kick from 20 five metres out. The ball swerved violently in the wind and crashed against the crossbar. With hitting the frame of the goal twice and some bizarre refereeing decisions going against them, it appeared an impossible task for the Kildare team. However, they finally got a rub of the green when a long range effort from Jessica Harney dropped short. Tara Bedford was on hand to gain possession, round the goalkeeper, and finish to the net. Game on again.

The evergreen Niamh O’Sullivan pointed again after forty two minutes and Laura Murray reduced the margin to the minimum again five minutes later.

Laura Murray levelled matters again on fifty seven minutes but Eadestown would never lie down.

Grace Clifford once again gave the decisive pass to Abaigh Cahill and Eadestown were one up with 64 minutes on the clock.

Dunshaughlin drew level again with their next attack with a fine point from midfielder Niamh Gallogly.

Eadestown drove forward one more time and won a free thirty meters from goal. A clever short free, one last point attempt was blocked and the ball spun into the small square.

Up steps Kate Murphy, an inspirational late sub and only two minutes on the pitch, to finish the ball to the net with the last kick of the game that sent the away supporters into delirious celebrations with a final score of 2-10 to 2-7.

This was a true game of attrition and Eadestown showed that they can adapt to overcome any challenge that comes their way. It was a tremendous team performance in defence and attack with leaders all over the pitch.

Next up is a Leinster semi-final against Wicklow champions, Tinahely, which takes place in Tinahely next weekend.

Scorers: Eadestown, Tara Bedford (1-3), Kate Murphy (1-0), Abaigh Cahill, Grace Clifford, Ruth Sargent (0-2 each), Anna Hynes (0-1).

EADESTOWN: Andrea Jebb, Maryann Ryan, Denise Tierney, Anne Marie Logue, Aine Mernagh, Ruth Sargent, Aoife Clifford, Siobhan O’Sullivan, Laura Byrne, Anna Hynes, Grace Clifford, Jessica Harney, Tara Bedford, Grainne Kenneally, Abaigh Cahill – Subs: Aine Ni Raghallaigh for Anne Marie Logue, Lily Harney for Anna Hynes, Kate Murphy for Tara Bedford.