Kildare ladies boss Monaghan in Division 2 opener
Lidl National Football League Division 2
Kildare 1-6
Monaghan 0-5
It was a winning start to life in Division 2 for Kildare ladies as they got past Monaghan in their return to the second tier.
The opening couple of minutes were dictated by the conditions and while Kildare held possession of the ball, the weather wreaked havoc in their ability to control it. After some safe passing to settle themselves into the game, it was time for something different and no better person than Neasa Dooley to provide that.
The lethal Athy forward is far from shy when it comes to trying something different to create a chance and three minutes into this game she did. Dooley sent a brilliant pass over the top when she saw Róisín Byrne spinning away from her marker.
Byrne was then in a foot race with the advancing Monaghan goalkeeper, Órna Kelly, and beat her to the ball before spinning away from her as well. Byrne had the goal at her mercy with a tight angle to navigate, but finished superbly to give her side the lead.
The goal was nearly wiped out less than a minute later at the other end. One of Monaghan’s biggest threats Sarah Tierney jinked past her opposite number and was now one-on-one with a new face between the Kildare posts, Niamh Barnes.
The absence of Kildare goalkeeping legend Mary Hulgraine will be a notable one in 2024, but her replacement Barnes was up to the challenge here as she saved a certain goal in exceptional style.
Monaghan would get points from Éabha Sherry with a sharp turn and shot over the bar and a close-range free from Leanne Maguire to reduce the gap to one.
Monaghan were making better progress in this spell of the game. The Farney were largely carried up the field by wing-back Maeve Monaghan, who’s pace and ability to travel with the ball was invaluable on a dour day for football.
Monaghan got themselves level through a superb point from Sarah Tierney. The Monaghan corner-forward cut inside brilliantly before curling a fine effort between the sticks to make 1-0 to 0-3 after 12 minutes.
Róisín Byrne’s quick feet would get Kildare back in front as the full-forward turned her marker again before knocking the ball over the bar to restore her side’s lead.
Byrne would return the favour to Neasa Dooley for setting her up earlier with a fine through ball to the Athy forward. Dooley would take her chance too, as she coolly put the ball over the bar.
Less than a minute after her first point of the day, Dooley was stepping up to take a penalty after Lara Curran looked set to find the net herself before being dragged down inside the box.
Dooley dragged the penalty wide of the post, but there were continuous problems regarding the ball rolling off the spot. Although, the ball appeared to move as Dooley went to strike it.
After a fine Monaghan move at the other end, Chloe McBride was the one to put the ball over the bar to reduce the gap to one.
The last score of the half would once again come from Róisín Byrne as she turned her marker inside out before popping the ball over. Byrne’s point meant Kildare went in at the break with a 1-3 to 0-4 lead.
The Kildare focus shifted for the second half as they looked to manage this game, and did so excellently.
The Lilywhites got the opening score of the second half through a Byrne free-kick and sought to protect the lead they had.
Kildare added two more scores to their tally through Róisín Byrne and captain Grace Clifford.
Kildare defended narrowly throughout the second half and closed down Monaghan’s attempts to play through them. Their patient hard work paid off as their opponents only registered one point in the second half, from a free-kick in injury time.
A mature display from Kildare and a perfect start to life in Division 2.
Game at a Glance
MAIN PLAYER
Róisín Byrne
A seriously impressive tally of 1-4 on a day where those with those scoring responsibilities were going to be coveted the most. Through the wind and the rain Byrne kicked Kildare through this game and on to their first win of 2024.
TURNING POINT
The half-time break represented a shift in the flow of this game as Kildare managed this tie entirely differently when they came back out for the second half.
TALKING POINT
What is the aim for this Kildare side in Division 2? The Lilywhites looked comfortably better than Monaghan for large portions of this game, and when they decided it was time shut it down, they did so superbly. That defensive ability will no doubt be called upon plenty in 2024 and the early signs of how Kildare operate on the back foot are good.
WHAT NOW?
Kildare can now look forward to an away trip to Donegal on January 28. No doubt a much tougher task awaits in the second round.
Scorers: Kildare, Róisín Byrne 1-4 (0-2 frees), Neasa Dooley 0-1, Grace Clifford 0-1.
Monaghan, Leanne Maguire 0-2 (0-2 frees), Éabha Sherry 0-1, Sarah Tierney 0-1, Chloe McBride 0-1.
KILDARE: Niamh Barnes; Fiona Troute, Laoise Lenehan, Aoife Clifford; Mia Doherty, Ruth Sargent, Lara Gilbert; Grace Clifford, Claire Sullivan; Aoife Rattigan, Ellen Dowling, Sarah Munnelly; Neasa Dooley, Róisín Byrne, Lara Curran. Subs: Hazel McLoughlin for Lara Gilbert (Half-time), Holly Tyrell for Lara Curran (44 minutes), Elaine Keogh for Fiona Troute (53 minutes), Erin Brereton Foley for Ellen Dowling (56 minutes).
MONAGHAN: Órna Kelly; Aoife Bannigan, Bríd McNally, Shona Brady; Maeve Monaghan, Jennifer Duffy, Emma Clerkin; Jodie McQuilan, Leanna Maguire, Casey Trenor; Chloe McBride, Éabha Sherry, Sarah Tierney. Subs: Celine Nally for Shona Brady (48 minutes), Holly McQuaid for Sarah Tierney (48 minutes), Naoimi Cogan for Aoife Bannigan (56 minutes), Niamh Flanagan for Chloe McBride (56 minutes).
Referee: Eddie Cuthbert