Kildare ladies suffer first league loss in nearly two years

Waterford 1-13

Kildare 2-7

The dawning of a new era of management and a vastly different squad was received warmly by fans, but not by the gods as gusts of wind and rain took to the field for Kildare’s first Division 1 outing since promotion last year.

After the visitors held extended possession in the opening couple of minutes, Bríd McMaugh got the game’s first score for Waterford. The wing-back was given too much space and punished with a laced shot between the posts.

The Lilies equalised through Róisín Byrne on the five minute mark.

Katie Murray restored the Waterford advantage momentarily before the home side put together a superb attacking sequence that ended in the hands of Molly Aspell who fired over.

Kildare’s new squad did indeed look new at times in this game. In both their familiarity with Division 1 and familiarity with one another. Patient and slick moves, like the one for Aspell’s point, were far too scarce.

Waterford took over from here with an excellent five-minute spell that produced three points without reply. A Karen McGrath point from play was followed by two Kellyann Hogan points from free-kicks. Hogan was solid from set-pieces, but did plenty of damage in open play too to create chances.

Kildare stemmed the flow and began to battle back into this game and got a score for their trouble from Róisín Byrne in the 18th minute to reduce the gap to two.

Less than a minute later they would be in front. Neasa Dooley sent a brilliant ball inside to Alannah Prizeman. The Naas forward was making her league debut, but you would have never known it by watching her spin her opposite number and coolly finish into the corner of the net. It was lethal forward play and Kildare now led 1-3 to 0-5.

Waterford responded to that setback in exemplary fashion with three points in four minutes.

Kellyann Hogan added to her tally in the 27th minute and, after trailing less than 10 minutes ago, Waterford had kicked themselves three clear.

A Róisín Byrne free-kick just before the break meant the visiting side went into half-time with an 0-9 to 1-4 lead. Kildare had been okay across the opening half, but it was clear a lift would be needed to turn performance into victory. A lift that never quite came.

Despite that sentiment, it was an excellent start to the second half for The Lilies with Róisín Byrne firing over an exceptional off her left side 30 seconds after the restart.

The Waterford goal that followed minutes later was a sucker punch to Kildare. Clare Walsh took aim at the posts with her effort dropping short and in under the crossbar at the back post. Delight for Waterford and disgust for ‘keeper Anna Dunlea, whose only real mistake was not being born a few feet taller.

Kildare were only cut further adrift in the second half with Waterford keeping their side of the scoreboard ticking over.
Despite a late surge thanks a to another Róisín Byrne point and an excellent Neasa Dooley, it was too little too late for the newly-promoted Lilies.

MAIN MAN
Neasa Dooley
The Athy woman destined for Aussie Rules in May showed all of the qualities that Kildare fans know that she has. Dooley scored an excellent late goal with a driving run, which only came after she had set up Kildare's first green flag. Other standouts on the day, included Alannah Prizeman and Gillian Wheeler.

TURNING POINT
Waterford's 37th minute goal changed the complexion of this game entirely. Kildare had reduced the gap to one and their momentum was stunted after Clare Walsh's effort fell in at the back post.

TALKING POINT
The main takeaway from this game is that Kildare face an enormous challenge to stay in Division 1 this year. The new management and a young squad now have to pick up points against someone other than fellow promoted team Tyrone. There is also no need to be too dreary. This defeat represents Kildare's first since February 2023

WHAT NOW?
Kildare will face Dublin next Sunday, February 2 at 2pm in Manguard Park.

Scorers, Waterford, Kellyann Hogan 0-5 (0-4 frees), Bríd McMaugh 0-3, Clare Walsh 1-0, Katie Murray 0-1, Áine O'Neill 0-1, Karen McGrath 0-1, Emma Murray 0-1, Lauren McGregor 0-1.

Kildare, Róisín Byrne 0-5 (0-4 frees), Neasa Dooley 1-1, Alannah Prizeman 1-0, Molly Aspell 0-1.

WATERFORD: Katelyn Gardiner; Rebecca Casey, Cara Murray, Maeve Ryan; Eve Power, Karen McGrath, Bríd McMaugh; Emma Murray, Hannah Power; Áine O'Neill, Kellyann Hogan, Katie Murray; Chloe Fennell, Clare Walsh, Lauren McGregor. Subs: Áine Power for Chloe Fennell (45 minutes).

KILDARE: Anna Dunlea; Ruth Sargent, Laura Dunlea, Lauren Murtagh; Mia Doherty, Claire Sullivan; Laoise Lenehan; Gillian Wheeler, Leah Doran; Lara Curran, Aoife Rattigan, Molly Aspell; Neasa Dooley, Alannah Prizeman, Róisín Byrne. Subs: Aoife Murnane for Aoife Rattigan (Half-time), Aishling Irhue for Lauren Murtagh 39 minutes), Ciara Moran for Gillian Wheeler (42 minutes), Emma Wheeler for Leah Doran (50 minutes), Leah McGovern for Aoife Murnane (56 minutes).

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)