Derry Ladies pick up first win of the season with victory over Kilkenny

Lidl National Football League Division 4 

Derry 3-16 

Kilkenny 1-4 

THREE second half goals paved the way for Derry to collect their first points of the season with a deserved victory over Kilkenny in Desermartin on Sunday afternoon. 

Both sides entered the contest rooted to the bottom of the league searching for their first points and in the end it was the home side that collected them. Steelstown trio Emma Doherty (1-8) Dara McKeever (1-1) and Orla McGeough (0-4) leading the way on the scoring front. Very little separated them in the opening half despite Derry enjoying much more of the possession, Emma Doherty hitting six of her side’s seven first half points, all from placed balls. 

On the resumption the home side increased the intensity, the movement and pace were raised and they outscored the Cats 3-9 to 1-0 in the second half, helped too with the wind at their backs. While scoring 3-16 will have pleased the management, so too will the defence that was well anchored by Aoife McGough, Katy Holly and team captain Joanne Corr. 

Ballymaguigan’s Corr was delighted to get a first win under their belt.

“We have been making improvements and we knew today was a big one. Kilkenny were in the same boat as us so it was important that we went at them and got the points.” Said Corr. 

“We were under no illusions at the start of the year we need to make changes and I think we have done that and worked hard and we can see positives from games. We have a lot of work to do but we have plenty to take from each game as we build towards an Ulster final and the all Ireland series after the league.

“Decent score today but we made hard work of it in that first half, we didn’t perform to how we wanted too but in the second half we came out and performed.” 

It was the visitors who settled into the game the better as they hit the opening two points. Gradually, Derry began to string the passes together but on too many occasions they took the wrong options and slowed play down allowing Kilkenny to get players back into defence. Doherty with two frees had them level on 12 minutes and the Steelstown girl edged them in front on 16 minutes, a lead they never were to relinquish. McKeever was a handful and it was her pace and direct running that was causing Kilkenny the major problems. Doherty (free) and a first from play for the home side through McKeever stretched the lead. Doherty with a fifth and the lead was 0-6 to 0-4 on 25 minutes. 

Kilkenny with a brace before great play from McGough fed McKeever coming through at pace before she was pulled back and Doherty tapped over to leave it at the break Derry 0-7 to 0-4 ahead. 

Derry were much improved in the second half, Kilkenny’s cause not helped with an early sin bin. That said it was all about what Derry did with possession and the introduction of the likes of Leah McGonagle, Orla McGeough and Ciara Scullion also helped them. Within four minutes of the resumption they look a commanding advantage when Emma Doherty cooly slotted in the opening goal from the penalty spot after good build up play between Erin Doherty, Cara Donnelly and McKeever who was fouled. McGonagle and Emma Doherty (2) opened up a nine point lead. 

Kilkenny got a lifeline when a strong run through the centre from Ruby Roche created the opportunity and substitute Millie Gilsenan flicked the ball to the net. That though was to be their only score of the half and McGeough quickly hit back with a point. Then McKeever punished a poor kickout to rattle in the second goal for the Oakleaf. Emma Doherty was then sent to sin bin but Derry continued to dominate. Scullion on her home pitch slotted over a fine point that was followed by a further three from McGeough. A long stoppage due to an injury to Kilkenny’s Kym Ryan was followed with a Erin Doherty goal and a McGonagle point to wrap up a very convincing win at the finish. Derry will complete their league campaign with a trip to table toppers Fermanagh. 

Teams & Scorers

Derry: Emma Doherty 1-8 (1-0p, 0-8f), D McKeever 1-1, O McGeough 0-4 (2f), Erin Doherty 1-0, Leah McGonagle 0-2, C Scullion 0-1. 

Kilkenny: M Gilsenan 1-0, K Purcell 0-2, C Moore and K Comerford 0-1 each. 

Derry: Ellie Conway; Hannah Mullan, Aoife McGough, Joanne Corr; Sarah Hargan, Blaithin Donnelly, Katy Holly; Megan Devine, Caoimhe O’Kane; Erin Doherty, Dara McKeever, Annie NiLochlainn; Emma Doherty, Cara Donnelly, Clodagh Moore. 

Subs: Emma McCloskey for Mullan, Leah McGonagle for Moore, Orla McGeough for C Donnelly, C Scullion for O’Kane, Annie Crozier for NiLochlainn, Ciara McColgan for B Donnelly, Anna Martin for Hargan 

Kilkenny: Niamh Gillen; Leah Brett, Ailish O’Neill, Sarah Smith; Kim Ryan, Ailbhe Galwey, Ruby Roche; Kelley Comerford, Ellen Lawlor; Caitlinn Moore, Hollie Brennan, Jennifer O’Keeffe; Millie Niamh Ward, Kate Purcell, Becky Roche. 

Subs: Millie Gilsenan, Becky Lomax, Sarah Corcoran, Aoibhe Ryan, Ciara McEvoy.