Kildare U21 ladies looking to bounce back against Mayo this weekend following opening day defeat
The Kildare U21 ladies will be looking to get a first win of their All-Ireland Championship campaign this Sunday when they host Mayo in Hawkfield at 12 noon.
The ladies succumbed to a superb second half performance from Armagh in the Orchard County's home ground last Sunday, eventually being beaten by seven points thanks to an inspired display by senior star Amie Mackin.
Armagh 3-13
Kildare 3-6
LGFA Aisling McGing u21 Championship Round 1
The Kildare u21s travelled North early Sunday morning, destination Lurgan in County Armagh for the opening round of the Aisling McGing u21 championship. The panel have been together for the past eight weeks and were in positive mood and really looking forward to the game. For many of the girls this was the first time they would have donned a Kildare Jersey and as a group was the first time they would be playing together against a strong Armagh side that was boosted by eight players from their senior panel including star forward Amie Mackin.
Armagh opened the scoring with a point from Mackin and Kildare’s Molly Price levelled matters with a pointed free. Kildare followed this up with a well taking goal from Mickaela McKenna but Armagh not to be undone responded straight away, from the Kickout working the ball down field for Nicole McKenna to shoot past Aoife Wosser, the Kildare Netminder. Price and Mckenna goaled each pushing the Kildare lead out to six points, but they then suffered a massive blow as the Lilies were forced to make an early change losing Price through injury as she was replaced by Leixlip’s Tara Hallinan.
Armagh tagged on two more points through Mackin and Jones and this was followed with a fortutious goal from Mackin her shot was scuffed then deflected by a Kildare back for the ball to roll into the bottom corner, wrong footing Wosser and reducing the Kildare lead to a solitary point. Conditions underfoot were soft and players were at times finding it difficult to get to grips with the slippy sod. Louise Scully and McKenna tagged on further poinst for Kildare with Mackin reducing the margin with a point for Armagh to leave the half-time score 3-3 to 2-4 in Kildare’s favour.
Kildare were after putting in a good shift in the first half and needed to continue in the same vein of form for the second period. Kilcock’s Eve Powderly opened the half with a point after Aisling O’Connor used her strength to stave off three Armagh defenders to release the pass for Powderly to score. Armagh replied with two points from Mackin, the first from a free followed with her second, a sublime effort from the tightest of angles and distance just in from the side line on the Kildare 13 meter line. McKenna and Kendrick pointed for Kildare each side of another Mackin point leaving the score Kildare 3-6 Armagh 2-7..
Kildare’s challenge faltered after that, and a second goal from Mackin and further scores from Jones and Magee saw the home side home with plenty to spare.
Kildare can take lots of positives from the game and with some players missing today due to work commitments will be boosted with their return for next weekend’s game v Mayo in Hawkfield at noon.
Armagh
Anna Carr, Collette McKrink, Coleen McKenna, Grace French,Anna Hynds,Clodagh McCambridge, Gabrielle Fox,Niamh Coleman,Trina Grimmes, Megan McCabe, Aime Mackin 2-9(2F), Alana Doran, Aoibhinn Jones 0-3, Nicole McKenna 1-0, Lauren Magee 0-1
Kildare
Aoife Wosser, Gemma Hartnett, Rose Mernagh, Emma Maguire,Louise Scully 0-1, Shauna Kendrick 0-1, Jessica Nolan, Niamh Bergin, Tara Breen, Molly Price 1-1(1F), Mikaela McKenna 2-2(1F) , Shauna Fitzimons, Eve Powderly 0-1, Aisling O Connor, Caoimhe Murphy.
Subs
Aoife Murphy, Lisa Murphy 0-1, Amy Doolan, Ciara Fennan, Tara Hallinan, Orla Kirwan.