Lilywhites finally capture the Junior title

Lilywhites claim TG4 Ladies junior title

Kildare 2-13 Sligo 3-5

Pre-match favourites Kildare claimed victory in
the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies JFC final at Croke
Park on Sunday, but they were forced to fend off
a spirited second-half fight back by opponents
Sligo before sealing the win. The Lilywhites looked
set to cruise to an emphatic win when first Elaine
Dillon and then Simone Gilbert found the net to
help them to a 2-5 to 0-3 lead at half time.

Kildare added to their lead soon after the restart,
moving 2-8 to 0-3 in front before a sudden burst
in scoring saw Sligo slash the deficit to just
two points. Tracey Marron scored the first of
three second-half goals to leave eight points
between the sides, 2-10 to 1-5.

But then Louise Brett and Noelle Gormley repeated
Marron’s feat and with 24 minutes of the second
half gone, there were just two points dividing
the sides. Noelle Earley had a chance to put the
game beyond first-time finalists Sligo when Kildare
were awarded a penalty late on, but she pulled
her effort to the left and wide.

However, Sligo couldn’t find the target again
and as Tracey Noone and Gilbert added on a couple
more scores, the Lilywhites stretched their lead
to five before the final whistle.