What we learned as Kildare's 2025 season came to an end against Kerry

Tralee was at full volume for Kerry’s home All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final clash with Kildare. The kids were flooded in and the stand was packed as all in attendance were treated to a fine game of football. The Lilies ultimately exited this year’s Championship but showed that continued work could see them rise to further challenge the top teams in Ireland.

After absorbing some early pressure, Kildare broke out of the back and worked the ball quickly up the pitch to Alannah Prizeman. The young Naas forward won a foul and knocked over the free that followed to give The Lilies the lead in the fifth minute.

A minute later their advantage had doubled after they regained possession. Aoife Rattigan, who had a blistering opening half, curled over a wonderful point from just inside the 40m arc (not that being a couple of steps would have given her any extra for her troubles).

The Lilies continued to pile on the pressure and yet again forced a turnover before getting down the side of The Kingdom with Gillian Wheeler firing over this time.

It was a lightning start from the visitors who grabbed their fourth point in as many minutes from an Alannah Prizeman free.

The simple set-piece was preceded by Kildare's first sight at goal with Laoise Lenehan slipping in Mia Doherty, who had her attempt at rounding the goalkeeper smothered. Play went back for an earlier infringement from the retreating Kerry defence.

It had been a dream opening for the underdog side, but champions did like champions do and Kerry roared back into things by raising a green flag.

After a switch of play, Cáit Lynch received possesion and, after in the region of 12 steps (you can watch it here), offloaded to Emma Costello who saw her low effort at Mary Hulgraine parried clear by the Kildare stopper. However, Síofra O'Shea was on hand to tap home for the first of her three goals and, after a hectic 10 minutes of Championship action, it was 0-4 to 1-0 in The Lilies’ favour.

Kildare held strong in the minutes that followed and forced plenty of wides from the now buoyant All-Ireland champions, who did equalise through Danielle O’Leary after a handling error in the middle of the field.

There was little to separate these sides in the minutes that followed as the game kicked up another gear. Róisín Byrne set up Ciara Wheeler to edge The Lilies back in front before Rachel Dwyer restored parity.

Alannah Prizeman (once) and Danielle O’Leary (twice) also added to their respective tallies from play in a white flag rich few minutes.

Five minutes before the break and a misplaced kickout from Mary Hulgraine looked set to be punished as Síofra O'Shea tore through on goal. The Southern Gaels forward took aim but was tackled by the retreating Lia Reilly. The Sallins player had burst a gut to recover position and O’Shea fired wide under pressure. Despite some Kerry appeals, the referee signalled for nothing before pausing, and then consulting his umpires. The man in the middle had unequivocally the best view of things but after the chat awarded a penalty much to Kildare’s dismay.

Síofra O'Shea slotted the resulting kick superbly into the bottom left corner and Kerry’s one point advantage turned into four.
Alannah prizeman answered on the scoreboard with a sublime score that soared high over the bar, but Kerry’s four-point lead would be taken into the break as Anna Galvin fired over late on.

The Kingdom had been seriously challenged, but still led 2-5 to 0-7 at the break.

The Lilies once again started brightly with the 10 minutes after the restart being the closest they came to bridging the gap between the sides.

Alannah Prizeman added another point from a free in the 34th minute. The Naas forward then looked destined to level things after skinning her opposite number and sliding a superb effort low across the turf. Huge credit has to go to Kerry captain Cáit Lynch who recovered to block Prizeman’s effort from nestling in the corner.

Perhaps jarred by the close call, the All-Ireland champions took over from here.

Three Kerry points in as many minutes arrived before an excellent long ball from Anna Galvin landed into Síofra O'Shea and The Southern Gaels forward clinically completed her hattrick in the 40th minute and ended this contest.

Alanah Przieman was the player to try keep pace for Kildare on the scoreboard in the remaining minutes with Róisín Byrne also pitching in.

The Kingdom finished as 3-12 to 0-11 winners over The Lilies, but Kildare can be pleased with their efforts in Tralee and a season that had some real high points.

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