Tyrone visit Kildare in knockout mode for All-Ireland quarter-final

Kildare Ladies are the last of the Lilywhites flying the flag in 2023 and what they have shown so far, that is hardly a surprise. They achieved the crucial promotion to Division 2 that had eluded them for so long, a fact in part due to the unforgiving format of the Lidl National Leagues. Nevertheless, a hurdle that was gotten over, and in the most dramatic of finals with Clare.

Tyrone’s league campaign represents something Kildare might very well take heading into their first year in Division 2 in 2024. The Red Hands were firmly embedded into mid table as they took three wins and four losses home from their league games.

Tyrone sat level with Westmeath and Cavan on nine points, all maintaining their status without truly troubling the sharp end of the league.

Kildare’s league title would be followed by a rampant Leinster Championship campaign, where they looked the outstanding candidate for provincial silverware throughout. But expectation never won a game and the Lilies won plenty en-route to a superb retention of their Leinster Intermediate crown.

Sunday’s opponents Tyrone were firmly embroiled within a typically competitive Ulster Championship, the northern province appears to have little between all of its sides regardless of gender or level.

Tyrone would take top spot in their group with narrow wins over Monaghan and Antrim. Their 2-15 to 4-7 win over Antrim in the group stages left them in pole position heading into the rematch for the final.

However, the rapidly rising Antrim would find another gear on the big stage and turn over Tyrone to take the Ulster Intermediate Championship by 2-18 to 1-15. An incredibly impressive scoreline.

These are two teams with contrasting years so far, Kildare and Tyrone also have plenty to be pleased about but both still with a huge amount to prove in the latter stages of the All-Ireland Championship.

After Leinster final success last year, Kildare failed to build on their provincial success.

This time around, they are two for two on trophies in 2023 and have a fit and firing Róisín Byrne back in their attacking ranks.

Kildare progressed through the three-teamed All-Ireland Intermediate Championship group 1 on top. After a chaotic opener against Leitrim, where the dangerous Division 4 side put 4-8 on the board, Kildare shut Louth down to the tune of just 0-3 conceded to secure top spot and a home quarter-final.

Tyrone, after Ulster championship disappointment, went unbeaten in the group stages too as they sank Offaly and Wicklow when the Leinster pair headed north. They were both comfortable wins for the home side as Tyrone hit 4-17 and 3-10 respectively.

The Red Hands did however draw their final game with Kildare’s familiar rivals and Division 3 finalists Claire in a tight and tense clash away from home. The sides couldn't be separated after an hour of action at Tyrone’s 3-6 to Clare’s 2-9.

Unlike many provincial and All-Ireland Championship games this year, we have no prior data from 2023 to analyse, these teams are yet to meet and that is an enticing prospect in and of itself.

When looking at Tyrone it is easy to see their propensity to both score and concede goals and despite the tendency of ladies football to raise many a green flag, Tyrone still stand out as a team who have had big numbers on both sides of the scoreboard. That, obviously, makes them dangerous. Not just with their own scoring prowess but teams of this nature are agents of chaos and can drag you into their wheelhouse.

Kildare must avoid a straight shootout, while I think they have the firepower to outgun mist teams, it is imperative that they maintain control that they know they can exert over a team. They are a well-drilled and smart outfit and they can turn over any team in this competition on their day.

Despite their chaotic clash with Leitrim, Kildare have been defensively exemplary this year. The Leitrim game stands somewhat alone as a tie you feel Kildare weren’t in command of as goals flowed at both ends.

The league final with Clare was madness but what final isn’t, when you’ve got extra-time drama, cards and much more.

This Kildare team, while typically being brilliant to watch, are not in the entertainment business. Even in tight, close games they haven’t strayed too much in terms of their solidity to where the fixture gets away from them. That has been their bedrock this year, Kildare’s talented forward line are now reinforced with an organised and gutsy backline, who each at various times this year have come off the field where you look at them and go “what a performance.”

We’re in the knockouts now, it needs to be cold and clinical from the Lilywhites in Manguard Park. But if it’s not, and all hell breaks loose, they can mix it with the best of them.