Ruthless Dublin hand Kildare ladies first loss in over a year

Leinster Senior Football Championship Round 1

Dublin 4-15

Kildare 2-4

It was a rough welcome to Senior football for the Kildare ladies as they faced All-Ireland champions Dublin. 

The Lilies were on the opposite end of a heavy defeat and got a taste of what they have been doing to teams over the past couple of years.

The loss of Róisín Byrne pre-match was an undoubted blow to Kildare chances and likely had its own psychological impact on this game.

Kildare got off to a poor start, conceding 1-2 in the opening two minutes. An opening point from Hannah Tyrell was followed by two kick-outs that Kildare were punished for losing.

It was a long day in Parnell Park for Kildare, who looked physically outmatched against The Dubs.

One definite positive on a difficult afternoon was Niamh Farrelly. The Kill forward hit a brilliant 2-2 on the day and even when Róisín Byrne returns will surely have done enough to keep her place in this team.

Dublin, Carla Rowe 1-4 (0-3 frees), Orlagh Nolan 1-3 (1-0 Penalty), Kate Sullivan 1-1, Hannah Tyrell 0-4 (0-3 frees), Caoimhe O'Connor 1-0, Jennifer Dunne 0-2, Chloe Darby 0-1.

Kildare, Niamh Farrelly 2-2 (0-2 frees), Ellen Dowling 0-2 (0-2 frees).

DUBLIN: Abby Shiels; Martha Byrne, Leah Caffrey, Jessicq Tobin; Niamh Crowley, Olwen Carey, Niamh Donlon; Jennifer Dunne, Grace Kós; Caoimhe O'Connor, Niamh Hetherton, Orlagh Nolan; Hannah Tyrell, Carla Rowe, Kate Sullivan. Subs: Sinéad Goldrick for Martha Byrne (Half-time), Nicole Owens for Kate Sullivan (35 minutes), Chloe Darby for Grace Kós (38 minutes), Aoife Kane for Jessica Tobin (44 minutes), Annabelle Timothy for Carla Rowe (46 minutes).

KILDARE: Mary Hulgraine; Fiona Troute, Mia Doherty, Aoife Clifford; Lauren Murtagh, Ruth Sargent, Lara Gilbert; Grace Clifford, Hazel McLoughlin; Trina Duggan, Ellen Dowling, Claire Sullivan; Neasa Dooley, Niamh Farrelly, Aoife Rattigan. Subs: Lara Curran for Niamh Farrelly (19 minutes, Blood Sub), Niamh Farrelly for Lara Curran (27 minutes), Ellie O'Toole for Aoife Clifford (Half-time), Sarah Munnelly for Hazel McLoughlin (41 minutes), Leah Doran for Trina Duggan (42 minutes), Lara Curran for Ellen Dowling (47 minutes), Lisa Shaw for Lauren Murtagh (56 minutes), Alex Reynolds for Neasa Dooley (61 minutes).

Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford)