Poor Kildare dismantled by in-form Kerry in All-Ireland SFC opener
Kildare came up well short, 1-19 to 0-8, in their Round 2 All-Ireland Senior Championship clash with Kerry in Cedral St Conleth’s Park
The Kildare ladies were well-beaten in the curtain-raiser of Cedral St Conleth’s Park’s Kildare and Kerry All-Ireland Senior Championship double-header.
The Lilies best spell in a dismal opening half didn’t result in a score as they kept early possession but failed to capitalise. Both teams defended narrow throughout but it was the home side who failed to make use of the pitch in Newbridge by not getting width into their attack and carrying possession into trouble on multiple frustrating attacks.
The visitors opened the scoring through Emma Costello when the white sea parted for the Kerry centre-back. The Lilywhites levelled a minute later when Aoife Murnane worked the ball back out to Aoife Rattigan to score.
Jadyn Lacey fired Kerry back ahead and Kildare were never able to make their attacks a fraction as fruitful as The Kingdom’s. The opening half breeze into the Kilcullen end of St Conleth’s Park seemed to deter Kildare shooting which was replaced by carrying the ball into contact with the compact Kerry backline.
Danielle O’Leary and Niamh Ní Chonchúir put Kerry three clear with a pair of scores converted under little duress.
Just past the midpoint of the first half, The Kingdom took a stroll through the middle of the Kildare defence when O’Leary combined with Caoimhe Evans to unlock a door that was already slighted ajar. The Rathmore forward slotted home in fine style to give her side a 1-4 to 0-1 lead.
The disarray continued with Siofra O’Shea adding her first from play before Mary O’Connell went through on goal but decided a white flag would satiate her.
The Lilies got their second point in the 19th minute when they transitioned up the pitch well and Molly Aspell finally put an end to their desire to turn away from goal and curled one over.
That change in attitude returned a third point when Gillian Wheeler lofted the ball into Alannah Prizeman who struck over off her weaker left side.
Kildare were pressing the Kerry kick-out throughout but on more than one occasion saw Mary Ellen Bolger’s restart beat them all and find a teammate over the top with the aid of that breeze.
The Kingdom got the half’s final three scores to further exert their dominance in the game and on the scoreboard. Jadyn Lacey got her second before two Siofra O’Shea frees sent the visitors in with a 1-9 to 0-3 lead at the break.
Easily the most disappointing aspect of this game was the performance, in particular given what this Kildare team has shown on better days against high-quality opposition. It was a display that seemed alien to what had come before from this Kildare outfit, particularly in terms of their last outing; a close-fought Leinster final with Dublin.
After the restart, it was more of the same. There was little indication that Kildare had the capacity for a comeback and it proved so with The Kingdom kicking further ahead with scores from Aishling O’Connell and Siofra O’Shea.
A free at either end was next before Danielle O’Leary made this game 1-13 to 0-4 after 40 minutes. Molly Aspell, who was undoubtedly the standout player for The Lilies, was next on the scoresheet.
The gap was 12 with 20 minutes to go and only looked like growing. Kildare’s saving grace was that this fine Kerry side lifted off the pedal coming down the home stretch after a dominant display.
The Kingdom did not register a single wide in this game as they ran out 1-19 to 0-8 winners in beyond comfortable fashion.
The Lilies must park this uncharacteristically poor performance ahead of a crucial clash with Tipperary next weekend where they can secure progression to the knockout stages from Group 2.
Kerry: Danielle O'Leary 1-3, Siofra O'Shea 0-6 (0-4 frees), Jadyn Lucey 0-2, Niamh Carmody 0-2, Emma Costello 0-1, Niamh Ní Chonchúir 0-1, Mary O'Connell 0-1, Aishling O'Connell 0-1, Roisín Rahilly 0-1, Kiera Furey 0-1.
Kildare: Aoife Rattigan 0-4 (0-2 frees), Molly Aspell 0-3, Alannah Prizeman 0-1.
KERRY: Mary Ellen Bolger; Roisín Rahilly, Deirdre Kearney, Eilis Lynch; Aishling O'Connell, Emma Costello, Aoife Dillane; Anna Galvin, Mary O'Connell; Niamh Carmody, Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Caoimhe Evans; Jadyn Lucey, Danielle O'Leary, Siofra O'Shea. Subs: Leah McMahon for Jadyn Lucey (50 minutes), Eabha Ní Laighin for Aishling O'Connell (50 minutes), Niamh Quinn for Caoimhe Evan (51 minutes), Mikala Mulvihill for Niamh Ní Chonchúir (53 minutes), Kiera Furey for Deirdre Kearney (54 minutes).
KILDARE: Corla Nallen; Meabh McDonagh, Emma Wheeler, Lisa Shaw; Hazel McLoughlin, Rith Sargent, Laoise Lenehan; Nanci Murphy, Gillian Wheeler; Lara Curran, Jessica Harney, Molly Aspell; Aoife Rattigan, Aoife Murnane, Alannah Prizeman. Subs: Mayah Doyle for Meabh McDonagh (40 minutes), Abaigh Cahill for Nanci Murphy (48 minutes), Amy Mahon for Lisa Shaw (48 minutes), Lia Reilly for Jessica Harney (51 minutes), Siofra Galvin for Lara Curran (51 minutes).
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork)