Kildare Book Leinster Final Return

Kildare travelled to Bray Emmett’s GAA club on Sunday  to play Wicklow in the semi-final of the Leinster Intermediate Championship.

Kildare from the throw-in moved the ball quickly up field and resulted in a well taken point by Eadaoin Connolly. They followed up this score with a pointed free from Eimear Fogarty. Wicklow had two 45s in the 3rd  and 5th minute – both marginally wide.  Wicklow continued to press forward but  Kildare goalie, Mary Hulgraine denied them any goal opportunities pulling off some fine saves. Pointed  frees for Wicklow in the 9th and 14th minute saw the sides level. A free for Kildare in the 18th minute converted by Roisin Byrne now saw the scoreline as 3 points to 2 in favour of Kildare.

In the 20th minute – some very good free flowing football, saw a well taken point by Aisling Holton.  Wicklow added another point from a free in the 23rd minute while some very good play from the backs, all the way up the field which resulted in a point by Roisin Byrne.  A free for Wicklow in the 30th minute saw them register their 4th point of the first half.  The half time score read Kildare 5 pts to Wicklow’s 4 pts.  Both teams displayed some poor decisive decisions and some very good patches of play throughout this half.

The second half proved to be a much better game of football,  Both teams showed great hunger and there was good movement on and off the ball.  Kildare opened the half with a free by Eimear Fogarty and this was followed by some very good play from Wicklow, which resulted in 2 well taken points by their centre forward, this score levelled the match.  Another well taken free by Eimear Fogarty saw Kildare pull ahead again by the minimum.  Following some very good football played by Kildare resulted in 2 very well taken points by Roisin Byrne and Eadaoin Connolly.   Kildare were now playing with more fluency and this resulted in the ball ending in the back of the net by Eadaoin Connolly.  Kildare now tagged on 2 more points with a point from Maria Moolick and a free from Eimear Fogarty.  The introduction of Ellen Dowling saw her immediately put the ball between the posts.  Wicklow continued to press forward and were awarded 2 frees – which were converted.  Kildare’s Roisin Byrne scored another point for Kildare before Maria Moolick was deemed fouled in the small square and Kildare was awarded a penalty, which was struck low and hard in the back of the net by Erica Burke.

Final Score  –  Kildare 2 – 12 to Wicklow 0 – 10

Kildare was best served by Eadaoin Connolly, Maria Moolick and Roisin Byrne in the forwards, Aisling Holton and Erica Burke middle of the field and in the backs by – Shauna Kendrick and Rachael Reidy.

Kildare now meet Wexford in the Leinster Final on the 10th July, some improvement is required if they are to overcome Wexford on that day.