Kildare minor ladies lose to brilliant Cavan in All-Ireland 'A' semi-final

All-Ireland Championship Minor ‘A’  Semi-Final

Cavan 6-10

Kildare 0-9

The Kildare minor ladies came up short in their quest to reach yet another All-Ireland  Minor 'A' Championship final in 2024. They were eliminated at the semi-final stage tonight at the hands of a brilliant Cavan side.

It was clear from early on the destination of this fixture was always going to be Cavan win. The eventual winners got their first goal after 40 seconds of play and had a second inside five minutes.

At 2-0 to 0-1, Aoife Murnane created a goal chance all on her own before firing just wide for Kildare. That was the last instance in which The Lilies looked close to putting this outstanding Cavan side under pressure.

Darren Kendrick and the Kildare minors have done brilliant things over recent years, but this was one step too far against an excellent side.

This Cavan side will surely create several senior intercounty players with the likes of Ellie Brady, Ella Sheridan and Emma Tolan, amongst many others, shining on the night.

Best for The Lilies were Caoimhe Egan and Aoife Murnane.

Scorers: Cavan, Emma Tolan 3-1, Ella Sheridan 1-2 (0-2 frees), Kayla Bartley 1-1, Kate Fagan 1-0, Katie O'Meara 0-3, Lauren Miney 0-1, Ellie Brady 0-1, Hannah McPhillips 0-1.

Kildare, Caoimhe Egan 0-3, Erin Healy 0-3 (0-3 frees), Ruth Dillon 0-1, Aoife Murnane 0-1, Aishling Irhue 0-1.

CAVAN: Abbey McDermott; Sinead Kelly, Blanaid Smith, Kristina Grigorenko; Cora McDonnell, Alex Peters, Ailbhe Kennedy; Ellie Brady, Lauren Miney; Ella Sheridan, Emma Tolan, Sarah Clarke; Kate Fegan, Katie O'Meara, Katie Mai Reilly. Subs: Kayla Bartley for Kate Fagan (43 minutes), Muireann Daly for Katie O'Meara (46 minutes), Hannah McPhillips for Sarah Clarke (49 minutes), Katie Tierney for Alex Peters (54 minutes), Holly McPhillips for Ella Sheridan (56 minutes).

KILDARE: Sophie Knightly; Emma Earis, Casey Noone, Maisie Molloy; Niamh Kelly, Laura Dunlea, Hannah Murphy; Aisling Irhue, Erin Healy; Aoife Murnane, Eimear Behan, Ruth Dillon; Amy Tyrell, Caoimhe Egan, Saoirse Mahon. Subs: Katie Harney for Emma Earls (20 minutes), Abi Whelan for Saoirse Mahon (28 minutes), Kate Healy for Eimear Behan (46 minutes), Julie Brannigan for Aisling Irhue (46 minutes), Leah Tyrell for Caoimhe Egan (55 minutes).

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway)