Lilies let lead slip as Down snatch last gasp win in thriller
Down 3-17
Kildare 4-13
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3
By Donal Fitzpatrick
A late injury time point from Gráinne McClean broke Kildare hearts and condemned the Lilywhites to another defeat in Division 3 in what was a thrilling encounter in Down on Sunday.
The home side were dogged and clawed their way into the game and were level with Kildare going in at halftime 0-9 to Kildares 1-6, the Kildare goal coming from Ellen Dowling after quick thinking from Roisin Byrne to take a quick free to spot Dowling in space to goal from close range.
Both teams exchanged points early in the second half courtesy of frees. Kildare’s second goal came from Siobhan O Sullivan where she was fortunate to connect with a breaking ball that spun over the Down keeper’s head to nestle in the net. Byrne and Dowling pointed again for Kildare either side of points from Down’s Jes Foy and Natasha Ferris. Byrne was in for her second and Kidares third goal on 44 minutes to give Kildare a commanding 10-point cushion.
That goal was cancelled out a minute later when Kildare were caught at the back in a 3 on 1 situation and the only outcome was for Down’s ever dangerous Natasha Ferris to blast to the net. Both sides traded points again and after squandering at least three goal chances, Grace Clifford eventually had the umpire raise the green flag with the team pressure paying dividends.
Second half substitute Mikaela McKenna increased the visitor’s lead by tagging on a fine individual point. McCartan and Byrne exchanged points again and Kildare were seven points to the good with two minutes left of normal time. Unfortunately for Kildare their hard work was undone in injury time. Goals from Kate McKay and Natasha Ferris had the home side in the ascendancy.
Kildare were starting to panic and instead of slowing up play and keeping possession they allowed Down in to level the game with a point from their best player on the day, Natasha Ferris. The game looked like it was going to finish in a draw but there was still time for late drama. Rebecca McGuirk went short with her kickout, Kildare won possession but then lost it through a misplaced hand pass and Down could have finished with a goal, but Grainne McClean opted to kick high to see her shot just drop over the bar to see the home side steal victory with the last kick of the game leaving Kildare head home a very deflated side.
Kildare squandered a lot of scoring opportunities in this tie and it was a game they had control of in the home stretch and should have reached the final whistle with some breathing space and get another three points on the board, but unfortunately they let it slip with a lack of concentration to see the game out. Kildare currently sit in fifth spot in the league standings and travel next weekend to face Roscommon who sit above them in fourth, three points ahead. Kildare need to win next weekend against Roscommon in their final league game to have any chance of salvaging their campaign and secure a semi-final spot.
Down
Christine McCarthy; Hannah Murray, Orla Boyle, Laura Morgan; Cara Cunningham, Roisin Torney, Chara Laverty; Meghan Doherty, Clara Mulvena (0-1); Laoise Duffy (0-1), Jess Foy (0-3f), Aoife Keown; Grainne McClean (0-3), Kate McKay (1-1), Natasha Ferris (2-5).
Subs used: Adair Trainor for Cara Cunningham, Sorcha MaCartan (0-1) for Laoise Duffy.
Kildare
Rebecca McGuirk; Shaun Kendrick, Amy Horan, Rachel Cribbin; Louise Scully, Laura Quigley, Claire Sullivan; Trina Duggan, Aisling Curley (0-1); Niamh Sinnott, Roisin Byrne (1-8,6f), Grace Clifford (1-0); Ellen Dowling (1-2,1f), Siobhan O Sullivan (1-0), Roisin Forde (0-1).
Subs used: Molly Price for Roisin Forde, Gemma Hartnett for Siobhan O Sullivan, Mikaela McKenna (0-1) for Laura Quigley.