Kildare ladies impress in opening day win over Down

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 Round 1

Kildare 3-13

Down 0-6

Kildare ladies have beaten Down in their opening Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 game. The Lilywhites were impressive throughout this game and it became clear early on that they were the team in the ascendency. However, being in control is not enough for victory on but Kildare converted their strong start into a great win.

Kildare missed an early penalty when Neasa Dooley put her effort wide, but they would find the net just three minutes later when Róisín Byrne won a Down kickout and took off an incredible solo run. Byrne beat two Down defenders and slotted her effort into the bottom right hand corner. 

The home side would build on their strong start to complete an opening day victory for Diane O'Hora and Kildare as they look push for promotion from Division 3 in 2023.

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