Dominant Lilies sail past Offaly in refixture: Kildare 4 18:: Offaly 0-10

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Kildare 4-18 Offaly 0-10.

By Donal Fitzpatrick, LGFA PRO Photos Austin Crowe

Kildare senior ladies put in a dominant display on Sunday against Offaly in St Conleth’s Park that boosts their scoring difference and leaves them knowing that a win against Sligo away next weekend will secure a Div 3 league semi-final spot

We have seen this Kildare team blow hot and cold so far throughout the League where they have dominated for the majority of games only to lose concentration and see games they should have won slip away from them. They started slowly on Sunday against Offaly, but one could see as the game progressed, everything fell into place as Kildare players went up the gears, especially in the second half. The home side led at the break 1.08 to 0.06, Kildare’s first goal going the way of Ellen Dowling slipping her shot under the body of Offaly netminder, Lauren Dunne.

Offaly managed only 4 scores in the second half and this was mainly due to the excellent defending by Kildare led by Lara Gilbert and Shauna Kendrick. Lara Curran and Orlaith Sullivan kept the Kildare scoreboard ticking over with simple frees but it was Grace Clifford, Neasa Dooley and Ellen Dowling who were rewarded with green flags raised as they cut through the Offaly defense, with pace and ease not missing the target. Kildare scored an impressive 3.10 in that second half with Suncroft’s Ellen Dowling finishing the game as top scorer on a tally of 2.04 - all from play.

Daniel Moynihan’s chargers are starting to knit very well as a team and whilst it has taken time, there are things to be worked on. Sligo won’t be an easy place go, with plenty still at stake and after Sunday’s display, this Kildare side are well equipped to get that result and secure a semi-final spot in this Division.

We wish the players and management the very best of luck next weekend and hopefully by day’s end, Kildare’s League campaign will still be on track.

Referee Stephen McNulty (Wicklow)

Kildare team: Rebecca McGuirk, Claire Sullivan, Shauna Kendrick, Gemma Hartnett, Rachel Cribbin, Lara Gilbert, Trina Duggan, Sarah Munnelly, Grace Clifford cpt ,Lara Curran, Orlaith Sullivan, Molly Price, Ellen Dowling, Neasa Dooley and Mikaela McKenna.

Kildare subs: Amy Heffernan, Eadaoin Connolly, Rachel Corrigan, Louise Scully, Michelle Curley, Paula Doran, Amy Horan, Cliodhna Malone, Dervla McGinn, Rose Mernagh, Siobhan O Sullivan, Aoife Rattigan, Ciara Wheeler and Clara Wosser. Kildare Subs used: Louise Scully for Gemma Hartnett,Rachael Corrigan for Claire Sullivan,Siobhan O Sullivan for Molly Price, Paula Doran for Mikaela McKenna, Clara Wosser for Rachel Cribbin.

Kildare scorers Trina Duggan 0.01, Grace Clifford 1.01,Lara Curran 0.02(2Fs),Ellen Dowling 2.04, Neasa Dooley 1.03, Mikaela McKenna 0.01, Molly Price 0.01, Orlaith Sullivan 0.05(3Fs)

Offaly team: Lauren Dunne, Nicole Byrne, Katie Kehoe, Aoife Carey ,Roisin Ennis, Sarah Cummins, Annie Kehoe, Emma Maher, Sinead Byrne, Roisin Mealiffe, Jenifer Byrne, Angela Brady, Marie Byrne, Dawn Hannon cpt, Sarah Kehoe.

Offaly subs: Roisin Kane ,Emer Nally, Maria Kelly, Fiona Stephens, Lara Cuskelly, Niamh Bracken, Michelle Mann, Therese Robbins, Anna More, Tara Dunne, Emma Bracken. Offaly subs used: Tara Dunne for Angela Brady,

Offaly scorers Roisin Ennis 0.01, Jennifer Byrne 0.05 (4Fs), Angela Brady 0.01,Marie Byrne 0.02, Dawn Hannon 0.01