How Kildare became All-Ireland Intermediate Champions

TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final

Kildare 2-11

Clare 2-10

Kildare have been crowned TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Champions after a dramatic win over Clare in Croke Park.

It was 50 minutes of one of the most comprehensive and impressive All-Ireland final displays that you will see, and yet it so nearly transformed into a disaster. Kildare, after reducing Clare to just two points from play, sat eight clear at 2-10 to 0-8 with10 to go.

After a Fidelma Marrinan point reduced the gap initially, it would be Clare’s first goal of the afternoon that turned this game on its head.

It was an effort that was dropping just short, after it fell from the air Kildare goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine could only parry her effort and it was about the right place and right time for Marrinan again as she capitalised on the mistake to punch the ball into the net.

Momentum was with Clare as Clíodhna Blake added her second point of the game to reduce the gap to three, but that was quickly responded to by a superb Neasa Dooley point off her weaker left side.

And then, three minutes after their first goal, Clare were back to within a single point. A long ball up the field that looked certain to be easily dealt with was misjudged by two Kildare defenders and left Chloe Moloney getting onto the end of it. Hulgraine came out to close the angle and Moloney tipped the ball around her and into the net.

There were nerves, big moments and after everything that comes with a final but the absence of Lauren Burke in the latter stages of this game also played into Kildare’s struggles. The Naas woman was having another final to remember before her injury in the 49th minute.

The Lilies did superbly after the second Clare goal to run down the clock with some smart ball retention. But in the end, after all their dominance, Clare’s star forward Fidelma Marrinan had a chance from a free to draw her side level and send the game to extra-time.

Marrinan stood over what would have been a stunning point from the range she was at and with two seconds left on the clock but saw her effort drop short. The ball broke and the klaxon sounded and with it the Lilies’ fans and players erupted in celebration.

Kildare were comfortably the better side in this final and undoubtedly in this Championship, yet in the most Kildare way possible, we all ended up astonishingly relieved to hear the final whistle.

Clare led 0-2 to no score after seven minutes of this game as Kildare were searching for their rhythm but when they did, there was no stopping them.

Kildare’s first big opening of the game was for a goal which resulted in Claire Sullivan seeing her effort cannon back off the bar and Neasa Dooley had her rebound blocked by Amy Lenihan. It was a warning sign for Clare who could ill-afford to allow those chances to keep coming.

Those chances did keep coming and after Róisín Byrne got Kildare’s first score of the game with a well-taken free, Kildare would get their first goal just two minutes later. 

After a period of extended possession, Neasa Dooley found Trina Duggan with an exceptional pass off her supposedly weaker foot. Duggan drove at the one Clare body between her and the goal and beat her. Duggan smashed her effort into the back of the net and a player who has set up so many goals for others this year got her own on the biggest day of all.

Player of the match, Róisín Byrne was next on the scoresheet as she drove at the defence and sent over a brilliant point. Kildare were most certainly on top as they had hit 1-3 in under five minutes.

Clare would get one back through a Chloe Moloney free as they struggled to get any change off the Kildare backline. Kildare’s largely excellent performance was propped by their defensive work, Ruth Sargent was exceptional on Fidelma Marinnan, reducing Clare’s star forward just a solitary point from play in this game. 

After points at either end from Chloe Moloney and Lara Gilbert, it was Róisín Byrne who kicked Kildare four points clear once more.

From the resulting kick-out, Ellen Dowling would grab a goal all of her own making as she sharply intercepted Amy Lenihan’s kick-out. Dowling composed herself and perfectly slotted the ball into the net. An incredible moment for a player who was one of the few that outsiders had doubts of starting this final due to recent games ‘early substitutions, but she stepped up to score 1-1 on the biggest of occasions. 

You only had to hear what glowing terms the woman who had come on for her in previous games, Gráinne Kenneally, had to say about Dowling to get an insight into the excellent support within this group.

Kildare went in at half-time leading 2-6 to 0-5, after five Róisín Byrne points and two goals from their Suncroft forwards in Ellen Dowling and Trina Duggan. All while reducing Clare to no scores from play.

The opening minutes of the second half were managed well by the leading side and those crucial early moments were navigated comfortably as both sides could only register a point each from frees in the opening five.

Clíodhna Blake would get the next point of the game and Clare’s first of the game from open play as she drilled her effort between the posts.

A feature of Kidlare’s second half was missed efforts from range as many typically reliable shot-takers like Aoife Rattigan and Neasa Dooley saw their attempts at goal sail wide or drop short.

The teams would remain at roughly the same distance apart as this game, which had been controlled almost entirely by Kildare, built to its dramatic crescendo.

Regardless of how it was achieved for Kildare though, it was achieved. This team has won every trophy available to them this year with Division 3 success over the same opposition, a Leinster Intermediate Championship win and now All-Ireland Champions. The Lilywhites are the treble winners of 2023 and can take this glory and momentum with them as they tackle senior football next year.

But that is focus for another time, for the coming days and weeks it is about reflecting upon what has been achieved. An astounding feat from these players and this management team that we want to see achieving together for years to come.

The Kildare ladies have brought down the curtain on the county's intercounty exploits for this year and in some style too. They have demonstrated themselves to be an exceptional team, fantastic role models and a superb set of people.

SCORERS: Kildare, Róisín Byrne 0-7 (0-5 frees), Ellen Dowling 1-1, Trina Duggan 1-0, Neasa Dooley 0-2, Lara Gilbert 0-1.

Clare, Fidelma Marrinan 1-5 (0-4 frees), Chloe Moloney 1-3 (0-3 frees), Clíodhna Blake 0-2.

KILDARE: Mary Hulgraine; Lauren Burke, Laoise Lenehan, Aoife Clifford; Lara Gilbert, Ruth Sargent, Lauren Murtagh; Grace Clifford, Aoife Rattigan; Trina Duggan, Neasa Dooley, Claire Sullivan; Ellen Dowling, Róisín Byrne, Lara Curran. Subs: Gráinne Kenneally for Trina Duggan (42 minutes), Mia Doherty for Aoife Rattigan (46 minutes), Fiona Troute for Lauren Burke (46 minutes), Orlaith Sullivan for Lara Curran (52 minutes).

CLARE: Amy Lenihan; Áine Keane, Síofra Ní Chonai, Grainne Harvey; Louise Griffin, Caoimhe Harvey, Orla Devitt; Aisling Reidy,  Chloe Moloney; Laurie Ryan, Fidelma Marrinan, Amy Sexton; Laura Griffey, Clíodhna Blake, Caoimhe Cahill. Subs: Megan Downes for Louise Griffin (12 minutes), Ciara McCarthy for Laura Griffey (38 minutes), Róisín Looney for Caoimhe Cahill (44 minutes), Joanna Doohan for Orla Devitt (57 minutes).

Referee: Gus Chapman, Sligo