Kildare ladies and the road to becoming All-Ireland Champions
Before the winning of three trophies and a homecoming to the adoring masses, the Kildare ladies’ treble-winning journey started all the way back in January, in St.Conleth’ Park.
It was the start of a new dawn as the departure of manager Sean Finnegan resulted in one of his selectors being promoted to the senior position. Mayo legend Diane O’Hora was chosen to lead the Kildare ladies side into 2023, with ambitions of promotions and titles on their mind.
O’Hora’s reign began in style with a 3-13 to 0-6 win over Down in Newbridge and nobody in attendance perhaps truly knew how a regular of an occurrence this vibrant, attacking football would become.
Kildare would go on to tear stripes off many teams in Division 3 as they made their way to the final. They suffered their only defeat of the year against Louth on February 19, quite the feat in a season that ended in mid-August.
After being stuck in the battleground of Division 3 for six years, Kildare edged Clare 2-11 to 2-10 in a thrilling extra-time. A game filled with drama, ill-discipline and a starring role for the returning hero Róisín Byrne. Byrne kicked 10 of Kildare’s 11 points, one being the winning free in extra-time and in doing so showed everyone what Kildare had missed in her lengthy absence.
The Kildare ladies continued to surprise as they shifted their focus to provincial silverware. Their newfound defensive strength was outstanding with a backline full of youth and talent.
The Leinster final saw Róisín Byrne take home Player of the Match once more for another incredible display, but there was another name constantly mentioned for the prize in the press area of O’Moore Park. Lauren Burke was staggeringly good in the Leinster final and exemplified all that had been praised about this outstanding Kildare defence.
The Leinster Championship dominance was a sight to see as Kildare hit scores of 3-12, 3-14, 5-8 and 3-15 on their way to the final. The brand of attacking football, slick possession and just sheer entertainment was winning the hearts and minds of so many in the county.
Two trophies in the bag and plenty accomplished, but there was undoubted ramping up of pressure as The Lilies entered the All-Ireland series. All-Irelands are where elite teams are judged and the Kildare ladies of 2023 had shown already themselves to be a great team and with that came great expectation.
There was chaos in Leitrim, domination of Tyrone and Louth and a low-scoring scrap in the wind and rain against Wexford, but they all ended the same way, a Kildare win.
It all came down to August 13 and the season had come full circle, as Kildare faced Clare on the hallowed turf of Croke Park. 50 minutes of exceptional play was finished with 10 minutes of utter bedlam, but ultimately it went the way of every game bar one in 2023, Lilywhite glory and 2-11 to 2-10 victory once more.
It was all about the wonderful storylines in this Kildare team, the captain Grace Clifford who missed their 2016 success, star forward Róisín Byrne coming back flying from knee injury hell and two of the most experienced members of the squad in Trina Duggan and Ellen Dowling scoring incredible goals in the Croke Park final. And that is just to mention a few, there is a litany of superb plots and subplots in what was a glorious year.
A trailblazing ladies team, led by a woman, who's 2023 ended like it was supposed to , with their captain Grace Clifford lifting the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup aloft in the Hogan Stand.