Kick-outs cost Kildare ladies against Royals
Diane O'Hora's side had an uphill battle to face against one of the best team's in the country after a mistake-laden first half spell
Leinster Senior Football Championship Round 2
Meath 2-11
Kildare 0-12
Kildare Ladies came up short against Meath in a brilliant Leinster SFC second round encounter.
After a disastrous opening couple of minutes just one week ago, it was absolutely essential that Kildare got themselves off to a strong start. And so they did as the intensity both in and out of possession was up tenfold compared to the opening exchanges of the Dublin game.
Emma Duggan would beat Ruth Sargent to the ball to get the game's opening score as Kildare’s urgency was used against them by the cunning corner-forward.
Niamh Farrelly would open Kildare’s account from a free in the continued absence of Róisín Byrne, although the young Kill forward would be hard done by not to keep her place regardless of who returns to the forward line.
A swift counter-attack ended with a Hazel McLoughlin score after she was superbly found by Aoife Rattigan. That point would be matched by Meath’s no.9 Aoibhín Cleary at the other end.
The 10 minutes following the Meath equaliser would do all the damage for Kildare as their kick-out struggles continued and cost them this game. Despite options short, Mary Hulgraine opted to go long and more often than not The Lilies came out the wrong side of those restarts. Kildare conceded four points in two minutes as they failed to get out from the back.
The disastrous spell would be rounded off by an Emma Duggan goal as another poor kick-out was gifted to Emma Moyles. The corner-forward would calmly find Emma Duggan in acres of space and the Dunboyne forward finished calmly past the scrambling goalkeeper.
After a whirlwind spell that took Kildare from level to eight points down at 1-7 0-2, they regained their footing in this game. The most frustrating part of the result and the game as a whole from a Kildare point of view was that, aside from those 10 terrible minutes, this game looked like two elite Senior teams going toe-to-toe.
A free from Ellen Dowling was followed by a slick Kildare move that ended with a Ruth Sargent point as The Lilies narrowed the gap.
The home side would deliver a hammer blow before the break however when a Niamh Gallogy’s run from deep wasn’t tracked. Gallogy was brilliantly slipped through and finished low into the net to seriously dampen Kildare hopes on 29 minutes.
A Niamh Farrelly free before the break sent the sides in at half-time at 2-7 to 0-5.
A decent showing, but eight points down, it was tough to swallow for the newly-christened Senior side. However, there were no signs of self-pity come the second half.
Kildare pushed high and were dogged in their defending in the early exchanges as they hassled and harried the Royals all over the field. Kildare had strong spells in this game and to their credit the home side were also superb going backwards and won numerous turnovers in key areas.
An Ellen Dowling point was matched by Emma Duggan at the other end before two Niamh Farrelly frees made this a six-point game.
Substitute Erin Brereton Foley made her presence felt just four minutes after her arrival to reduce the gap with a fine score. After a mixed bag of a day to that point, Neasa Dooley boomed over an outrageously good score long-range to make this a four-point game on 48 minutes.
Dooley would strike again, this time off her left-side, as Kildare made this a three-point game with 10 minutes to go.
Momentum was with Kildare, but Meath showed their mettle to reassume control. The Lilies had spent an enormous amount of energy to get themselves back into this game and the crafty Royals hit three in three minutes to go clear once again.
Niamh Farrelly would get the final score of this tie as Meath won 2-11 to 0-12.
Despite this loss, Kildare have shown that they will be in the mix this summer in the All-Ireland series.
The defeat against Dublin offered little more than a feeling of slight resignation at coming up against the best side in the country. This game brought disappointment in defeat because there was a result there for Kildare.
The Lilies outscored Meath 0-7 to 0-3 in the second half of this game.
MAIN PLAYER
Laoise Lenehan
Kildare's full-back has been sorely missed in recent weeks, and her introduction 14 minutes into this game was a more than welcome return for one the The Lilies' best players. Lenehan's positivity in aiming to win possession and her brilliant reading of the game will be imperative as Kildare navigate a busy summer of Senior football against top opposition.
TURNING POINT
It was all about that 10-minute spell of poor distribution that cost Kildare dear in this game.
TALKING POINT
After Sunday's performance, the mind begins to wonder about what Kildare could do following the intense Leinster Championship. Dublin seem a ways off just yet, but Meath are within reach and with someone of the quality of Róisín Byrne to return, it could be an exciting Championship summer for Diane O'Hora's side.
WHAT NOW?
Kildare now face Laois on May 5 in the third round of the Leinster Senior Football Championship.
Scorers: Meath, Emma Duggan 1-3 (0-1 frees), Niamh Gallogy 1-1, Máire O'Shaughnessy 0-1, Aoibhín Cleary 0-1, Ciara Smyth 0-1, Shelly Melia 0-1, Marion Farrelly 0-1, Meadhbh Byrne 0-1, Megan Thynne 0-1.
Kildare, Niamh Farrelly 0-4 (0-4 frees), Ellen Dowling 0-2 (0-1 frees), Neasa Dooley 0-2, Hazel McLoughlin 0-1, Ruth Sargent 0-1, Erin Brereton Foley 0-1, Sarah Munnelly 0-1.
MEATH: Monica McGuirk; Áine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Nicole Troy; Niamh Gallogly, Lisa Young, Katie Newe; Máire O'Shaughnessy, Aoibhín Cleary; Megan Thyme, Shelly Melia, Ciara Smyth; Ella Moyles, Marion Farrelly, Emma Duggan. Subs: Ciara Lawlor for Áine Sheridan (14 minutes), Meadhbh Byrne for Marion Farrelly (39 minutes), Aisling McCabe for Aoibhín Cleary (59 minutes).
KILDARE: Mary Hulgraine; Fiona Troute, Mia Doherty, Ellie O'Toole; Lauren Murtagh, Ruth Sargent, Lara Gilbert; Grace Clifford, Hazel McLoughlin; Trina Duggan, Ellen Dowling, Claire Sullivan; Neasa Dooley, Niamh Farrelly, Aoife Rattigan. Subs: Laois Lenehan for Ellie O'Toole (14 minutes), Leah Doran for Hazel McLoughlin (19 minutes), Erin Brereton Foley for Aoife Rattigan (40 minutes), Sarah Munnelly for Mia Doherty (54 minutes), Holly Tyrell for Grace Clifford (56 minutes).
Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath)