Ladies SFC
DUBLIN……………………………………………. 3-17
KILDARE…………………………………………… 1-12
DAIRE WALSH
Despite attempting a third-quarter fight back, Kildare lost out to Dublin in the semi-final of the Leinster Ladies SFC at Naomh Mearnog in Portmarnock on Saturday.
Following a positive league campaign the Lilywhites felt reasonably confident about their prospects against a much-changed Dublin team, and even though Dublin fired over a brace of early scores through Amy McGuinness and Sinead Aherne, Maria Moolick and Aine Gately soon replied with points of their own.
A seventh minute point by Elaine Dillon of Maynooth was cancelled out by a Dublin point moments earlier, but the 2010 All-Ireland victors started to settle into their stride, as three consecutive points followed by a 15th minute goal by centre-back Goldrick.
This was a hammer blow for Kildare, and their chances of success became even more unlikely from the subsequent kick-out, as some fine pressurising by Peat enabled corner-forward Davey to finish low to the net.
The Kildare girls did add scores via skipper Moolick and Stacey Cannon (free), but the Metropolitans were rampant, and they pulled 11 points clear thanks to efforts from Aherne, Davey (two) and Goldrick.
The challengers did receive a lifeline in first-half stoppage time with an excellent individual major from Gately following good approach play by Cannon leaving the half time score reading Dublin leading 2-10 to 1-5.
Kildare with Ashling Lambe, Gill Behan and Louise Keatley all introduced for the start of the second period, displayed tremendous character to cut the gap to four after Orla Gowran, Moolick, Dillon and Cannon all raised white flags.
Dublin soon re-affirmed their superiority with points by Hyland, Davey and Healy. A neat Moolick lay-off presented substitute Behan with a chance of a goal, but her strike was over the bar.
This was the final chance for Kildare to manufacture an unlikely comeback, as Dublin once again opened up a sizeable cushion with contributions from the increasingly impressive Hyland (two) and Healy.
A 52nd minute score by the lively Dillon brought an end to this sequence, but although Gately brought her tally to 1-2 with a point, Dublin had already added a third goal and sent Kildare into the hotly-contested All-Ireland Qualifier Series.
DUBLIN: Cliodhna O’Connor; Rachel Ruddy, Siobhan McGrath, Deirdre Murphy; Martha Byrne, Sinead Goldrick (1-1), Sinead Finnegan; Niamh McEvoy, Amy McGuinness (0-1); Natalia Hyland (1-4, 0-2 frees), Denise Masterson, Noelle Healy (0-4); Lyndsay Peat (0-1f), Sinead Aherne (0-1), Lyndsey Davey (1-4).
Subs: Orlagh Egan (0-1) for McEvoy (36), Leah Caffrey for Murphy (50), Siobhan Wood for Peat (55), Elaine Kelly for McGuinness (57).
KILDARE: Mary Hulgraine; Kiri Lowry, Ashling Savage, Jane O’Donoghue; Aileen Quinn, Niamh Quinn, Donna Berry; Jo Timmins, Brianne Leahy; Ashling Holton, Aine Gately (1-2), Maria Moolick (0-3); Stacey Cannon (0-2, 2 frees), Elaine Dillon (0-3), Orla Gowran (0-1).
Subs: Ashling Lambe for Berry, Gill Behan (0-1) for A Quinn, Louise Keatley for N Quinn (all half-time), Kate Leahy for B Leahy (40), Caoimhe Keoghegan for Keatley (52).
REFEREE: James Flood (Wexford).