Limerick have no answer to Kildare

Suzuki Ladies National Football league Division
2

Kildare v Limerick Match Report

Limerick have no answer By: Ciara Byrne 

Ladies NFL Division 2 Kildare 6-25 Limerick 1-4

ORIGINALLY to be held in Oola, bad weather conditions all week
meant the pitch was unplayable and had to be moved to Limerick
IT, where a top-class drainage system meant any more April showers
weren’t going to put these two sides off. A re-shuffled Kildare
team charged hell for leather with a strong wind at their backs,
and Noelle Earley took the first point in under a minute. Limerick
attempted to answer back a number of minutes later when full-forward
Dympna O’Brien forced Kildare keeper Catriona Dolan into a save,
one of the few she would have to make throughout the game. Kildare
dominated at mid-field, with Leahy and Holton constantly driving
the ball forward and creating scoring opportunities. Within 15
minutes Earley had stolen another point, while Aisling Jennings
totted up three and left corner-forward Emma Hannon popped one
over, stretching the Lilies’ lead to 0-6 to no reply.

Limerick’s half back line defended as best they could, but this
Kildare side were on fire as they continued to take score after
score. Such was Kildare’s confidence that even corner-back, Aoife
Herbert, whose father, Pat, hurled with distinction for the Shannonsiders,
made a run forward taking a crack at goal only for the ball to
hit the crossbar and be swept up by Aine Gately who planted firmly
in the back of the net in the 19th minute. With more than 20 minutes
gone, Limerick finally got the chance to mark the scoreboard,
when full-forward Dympna O’Brien pointed. However, before the
end of the first half, Kildare took many well-worked scores including
two from Brianne Leahy and one from Siobhan Hurley and, at the
break, the lead was 1-17 to 0-1.

The second half throw-in was won by Kildare and taken straight
up toward the Limerick goal where Earley gave a quick pass to
Stacy Cannon who popped it over. Limerick fought particularly
well at halfback and used mid-fielder Jennifer Stokes to pump
the ball forward. Equally Kildare’s defence were not going to
let them through easily and finally the backs saw some play as
Kate Leahy and Clodagh Flanagan were forced to intercept Limerick
passes and make several clearances. Limerick continued to put
pressure on and were rewarded in the 6th minute when Dympna O’Brien
pointed from a free. Mid-way through this half, Kildare were unlucky
to lose Kate Leahy to the sin bin for ten minutes. Limerick, however,
took advantage when an attempt at a point dropped short and due
to some messy play and confusion in the box, Kildare gave away
what could be deemed a soft goal to the home side’s centre-forward
Lisa Molineaux. Less than two minutes later, Limerick added to
their score when O’Brien won a free on the 14-yd-line and popped
it over the bar, making their score 1-3.

The Kildare forwards didn’t take long to push the play back up
the pitch and continue their scoring spree. A goal from Earley
showed her class, while Limerick’s next score was a point from
Meadbh Nash. With ten minutes to go and a clear comfortable lead
Kildare management ran on all six substitutes. They took the opportunity
to show their talent, with Jackie Kelly taking two points and
Emma McCartney powering in a goal that started from a Kate Leahy
clearance in the backs.

The last five minutes saw three more Kildare goals, by Hazel
Mulligan, Earley and Brianne Leahy respectively to leave the end
score Kildare 6-25 to 1-04. Kildare move forward to the play-offs
in the coming weeks but first must meet Louth in a back game tonight
(Wednesday).

Kildare: Catriona Dolan, Aoife Herbert, Kate Leahy, Clodagh Flanagan,
Maria Moolick, Celia Hogan, Hazel Mulligan, Aisling Holton, Brianne
Leahy, Stacy Cannon, Aisling Jennings, Siobh n Hurley, Emma Hannon,
Noelle Earley, ine Gately. Subs: Emma McCartney for Jennings,
Donna Berry for Hurley, Anne Dempsey for Earley, Kim Turner for
Cannon, Jackie Kelly for Hannon, Bernie Durkan for Mulligan

Limerick: Siobhan Stenson, Ailbhe Egan, Catriona Davis, Treasa
Mulcaire, Aine Egan, Meadbh Nash, Rose Kilternan, Jennifer Stokes,
Emma O’Grady, Maureen Copes, Lisa Molineaux, Clodagh Reidy, Claire
Keating, Dympna O’Brien, Sandra O’Connor. Subs: Valerie Horigan
for Ckeating, Sarah Horigan for Reidy, Yvette Moynihan for Copes