Kildare ladies come up short against Meath despite super second-half

Leinster Senior Football Championship R2

Meath 2-11

Kildare 0-12

Kildare ladies came up short against Meath in their second Leinster Senior Football Championship game. Perhaps more disappointing than the loss was the early promise that Kildare showed that wasn’t capitalised on.

The Lilies were in this game at 0-2 each, but during a poor 10-minute spell of wayward kick-outs and other nervous distribution, Meath hit 1-5 to move eight points clear of Kildare.

The mistake-laden spell was rounded off by a goal from Emma Duggan that came directly from a Kildare restart. The raising of a green flag was the biggest in a series of blows between the eighth and 18th minute.

The Lilies would close the half strong adding three more points to their tally, but a Royal goal from Niamh Gallogly just before the break knocked the stuffing out of comeback hopes.

Kildare gave a great account of themselves in the second half and showed their true potential at this level. The Lilies outscored Meath 0-7 to 0-3 in the second half.

However, the scoring damage was done in the first and Meath emerged victorious. An enormous step-up in performance from The Lilies.

Meath, Emma Duggan 1-3 (0-1 frees), Niamh Gallogy 1-1, Máire O'Shaughnessy 0-1, Aoibhín Cleary 0-1, Ciara Smyth 0-1, Shelly Melia 0-1, Marion Farrelly 0-1, Meadhbh Byrne 0-1, Megan Thynne 0-1.

Kildare, Niamh Farrelly 0-4 (0-4 frees), Ellen Dowling 0-2 (0-1 frees), Neasa Dooley 0-2, Hazel McLoughlin 0-1, Ruth Sargent 0-1, Erin Brereton Foley 0-1, Sarah Munnelly 0-1.

MEATH: Monica McGuirk; Áine Sheridan, Mary Kate Lynch, Nicole Troy; Niamh Gallogly, Lisa Young, Katie Newe; Máire O'Shaughnessy, Aoibhín Cleary; Megan Thyme, Shelly Melia, Ciara Smyth; Ella Moyles, Marion Farrelly, Emma Duggan. Subs: Ciara Lawlor for Áine Sheridan (14 minutes), Meadhbh Byrne for Marion Farrelly (39 minutes), Aisling McCabe for Aoibhín Cleary (59 minutes).

KILDARE: Mary Hulgraine; Fiona Troute, Mia Doherty, Ellie O'Toole; Lauren Murtagh, Ruth Sargent, Lara Gilbert; Grace Clifford, Hazel McLoughlin; Trina Duggan, Ellen Dowling, Claire Sullivan; Neasa Dooley, Niamh Farrelly, Aoife Rattigan. Subs: Laois Lenehan for Ellie O'Toole (14 minutes), Leah Doran for Hazel McLoughlin (19 minutes),Erin Brereton Foley for Aoife Rattigan (40 minutes), Sarah Munnelly for Mia Doherty (54 minutes), Holly Tyrell for Grace Clifford (56 minutes).

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath)