Returning Róisín Byrne has starring role in Kildare ladies dominant win over Down

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 Round 1

Kildare 3-13

Down 0-6

Kildare got off to a perfect start in their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 campaign with a dominant win over Down. It’s important for any side not to get ahead of themselves in these games but watching from the sidelines, this looked like a mismatch from early on.

Kildare earned themselves a penalty after just three minutes when Neasa Dooley was fouled by Down goalkeeper Kate McKay. The full-forward took the kick herself but slotted it outside the post and wide to keep this game scoreless.

However, just three minutes later Kildare would get their goal as the returning Róisín Byrne won a Down kick out and took off on an incredible solo run. Byrne beat two defenders in red before placing the ball perfectly into the bottom right-hand corner.

The goal gave Kildare a buffer but there was a dip in intensity from the home side as they began to give away sloppy possession in the final third. That coupled with the concession of some admittedly soft free-kicks meant that Down were allowed to gain a foothold in this game.

Kildare were once again lifted by goalscorer Róisín Byrne as she broke through the Down back-line and aimed for goal again but this time saw her effort parried over the bar by the Down goalkeeper. It was just a point scored on this occasion but Kildare lifted their game to its original standard following the raising of the white flag.

Points would follow from Lara Curran and Aoife Rattigan which gave Kildare a five-point lead. Rattigan who finished the day with 0-4 to her name was superb throughout this game, in both her midfield duties and  adding an extra and clinical attacking option when Kildare went forward. The Cappagh woman arrived late to attacks and got on the ball and took her scores very impressively when she got the chance.

There will be a lot made, and rightly so, of Kildare’s attacking output in this game but the quality of the home side’s tackling from one to 15 has to be commended. Clean and precise winning of possession that no doubt frustrated their opponents to the maximum degree.

Neasa Dooley would get the last score of the half as she rounded off 30 minutes of football that was all uphill since her penalty miss. Dooley should be credited for her response to the early set-piece miss, her game never changed as she continued to get on the ball and make things happen for her side throughout.

Following Dooley’s score, Kildare entered the break with a healthy 1-7 to 0-4 lead. Kildare had started cautiously and perhaps nervously in the first half despite their dominance but that had all changed as they smelled blood. 

The Lilywhites sat off early on from kick outs into their defensive shape but before the end of the first half they were pushed up marking touch-tight to win turnovers high up the pitch. 

The home side would kick on after the break, Kildare initially held possession as they looked to take the sting out of any half-time message that may have been ringing in the ears of the Down players. After five minutes of Gaelic games tiki-taka, Sarah Munnelly rounded off an excellent team move with a superb point.

Kildare’s front-line had a double change at the break as Róisín Forde and Ciara Price were introduced to the full-forward line alongside Neasa Dooley. That decision would come to look inspired as Ciara Price found the net following a super passing move that will give any defence in Division 3 trouble.

The resulting kick out would prove disastrous for Down as the ball was turned over high up the pitch as Kildare got their reward for their high-energy press. The ball would find its way to Neasa Dooley as she got the goal her performance so richly deserved to leave the scores at 3-9 to 0-4 and to truly end this game as a contest.

A few extra scores from Lara Curran and Aoife Rattigan who both played supremely on the day closed out a superb win and perfect start to Kildare’s league campaign.

Scorers

Kildare, Róisín Byrne 1-4 (0-1 frees), Neasa Dooley 1-1, Aoife Rattigan 0-4, Ciara Price 1-0, Lara Curran 0-2, Sarah Munnelly 0-1, Róisín Forde 0-1.

Down, Natasha Ferris 0-4 (0-3 frees), Jessica Foy 0-2 (0-2 frees).

Teams

KILDARE: Anna Dunlea; Lauren Burke, Laoise Lenehan, Claire Sullivan; Ruth Sargent, Triona Duggan, Sarah Munnelly; Grace Clifford, Aoife Rattigan; Lara Curran, Róisín Byrne, Hazel McLoughlin; Ellen Dowling, Neasa Dooley, Holly Tyrell.

Subs: Róisín Forde on for Ellen Dowling (Half time), Ciara Price on for Holly Tyrell (Half time), Gráinne Kenneally on for Sarah Munnelly (42 minutes), Lara Gilbert on for Lauren Burke (49 minutes), Amy Larn on for Lara Curran (52 minutes), Fiona Troute on for Claire Sullivan (53 minutes).

DOWN: Kate McKay; Aimee Greene, Ciara Byrne, Orla Boyle; Orla Duffy, Meghan Doherty, Alice McAlea; Aoife Laverty, Clara Mulvenna; Niamh Scullion, Aimee O'Higgins, Laoise Duffy; Sarah Dougherty, Natasha Ferris, Eimear Fitzpatrick.

Subs: Aisling Cull on for Alice McAlea (35 minutes), Jessica Foy on for Aimee O'Higgins (35 minutes), Aoife Keown on for Ciara Mulvenna (38 minutes),

Referee: Ciaran Groome