Kildare ladies come up short in league opener against Waterford
Pat Sullivan's first game in charge of The Lilies ends in defeat
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1
Waterford 1-13
Kildare 2-7
The Kildare ladies have lost their opening game of Division 1 to Waterford. On a wet and dreary day, the Manguard Park pitch was at times as stodgy as the football on it with the teams grappling the conditions.
It was a stop-start affair with Kildare showing brief flashes of their signature free-flowing football. The visitors took their chances well and managed the poor conditions with Kellyann Hogan ever reliable from set-pieces on the day.
An Alannah Prizeman goal was the highlight of the game for The Lilies, who were fired in front by the league debutant in the 19th minute.
A late Neasa Dooley goal, brilliant as it was, was too little too late to close the gap.
Waterford, Kellyann Hogan 0-5 (0-4 frees), Bríd McMaugh 0-3, Clare Walsh 1-0, Katie Murray 0-1, Áine O'Neill 0-1, Karen McGrath 0-1, Emma Murray 0-1, Lauren McGregor 0-1.
Kildare, Róisín Byrne 0-5 (0-4 frees), Neasa Dooley 1-1, Alannah Prizeman 1-0, Molly Aspell 0-1.
WATERFORD: Katelyn Gardiner; Rebecca Casey, Cara Murray, Maeve Ryan; Eve Power, Karen McGrath, Bríd McMaugh; Emma Murray, Hannah Power; Áine O'Neill, Kellyann Hogan, Katie Murray; Chloe Fennell, Clare Walsh, Lauren McGregor. Subs: Áine Power for Chloe Fennell (45 minutes).
KILDARE: Anna Dunlea; Ruth Sargent, Laura Dunlea, Lauren Murtagh; Mia Doherty, Claire Sullivan; Laoise Lenehan; Gillian Wheeler, Leah Doran; Lara Curran, Aoife Rattigan, Molly Aspell; Neasa Dooley, Alannah Prizeman, Róisín Byrne. Subs: Aoife Murnane for Aoife Rattigan (Half-time), Aishling Irhue for Lauren Murtagh 39 minutes), Ciara Moran for Gillian Wheeler (42 minutes), Emma Wheeler for Leah Doran (50 minutes), Leah McGovern for Aoife Murnane (56 minutes).
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)