Electric Kildare put four goals past Meath to grab crucial league win

Kildare came out on top 4-8 to 1-10 when they faced Meath in Round 5 of Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1. It was an exceptional showing from the previously winless Lilies as the potential that they have shown to this point came to fruition with a complete performance.

It took 13 minutes for this game’s first game score but it was an opening stretch of plenty of interest; littered with contests for possession and wides aplenty. It was hard to evaluate from a Kildare point of view; The Lilies were shutting out Meath superbly and turning the ball over at will. They were simultaneously on top defensively while squandering chances at the other end. Two missed frees and six overall wides had Kildare fans worried this was going to be another week of frustration despite some positive signs.

That concern was compounded by Meath opening the scoring with a superb point from The Royals’ player of the game Rachel Casserly.

Pat Sullivan’s side responded instantly with the game’s first green flag. After rapid progression up the field, Alannah Prizeman cut inside onto her stronger right foot but, with defensive attention drawn, handpassed off to a charging Gillian Wheeler. The Kildare midfielder drove towards goal and unleashed a brilliant effort into the top left corner.

After Alannah Prizeman missed two early set-pieces, Aoife Rattigan took over free-taking duty and saw her first effort come back off the post before making amends by firing over the rebound.

Hazel McLoughlin gave The Lilies a four-point lead mere seconds later when she won the resulting kickout and fired over. The score from the Eadestown wing-back gave Kildare a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Aoife Rattigan then won and converted a free-kick a couple of minutes later to extend the home side’s advantage further.

Meath grabbed their second point thanks to a Marion Farrelly effort and Kildare once again responded to a Meath point with an immediate goal. Captain Laoise Lenehan won possession brilliantly from the resulting kickout and sharply found Mayah Doyle up the pitch. The Ballymore Eustace forward accelerated towards goal and took aim off her left side with her effort lobbing over All-Star ‘keeper Robyn Murray and into the net.

Kildare kicked eight clear a minute later when Aoife Rattigan grabbed her third of the first half with a superb side-footed effort from close-range.

Orla Finnegan got Meath’s third after a goal mouth scramble around Corla Nallen threatened to cut the home side’s lead.

Aoife Rattigan got her fourth and fifth points of the half from set-pieces with a couple of confident strikes. The Cappagh forward’s pair of frees were separated by Rachel Casserly’s second of the game for The Royals.

That late sequence sent The Lilies in at half-time with a 2-6 to 0-4 lead over Meath.

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The Royals were first on the scoreboard after the break but suffered a setback five minutes later when Sarah Wall was sidelined with a yellow card.

Kildare made hay straight away and Alannah Prizeman, after an assist earlier, hit the net herself. It once again came from a Kildare turnover which made its way up the field to Ciara Wheeler who in turn sent Prizeman through to jink past the ‘keeper and find the net.

Meath answered with a point but lost another body when Niamh Gallogly was sent to the line for a two-handed challenge into the chest of Gillian Wheeler.

Once again, Kildare took advantage instantly and it was Aoife Murnane who raised the fourth green flag. The Maynooth forward beat three or four defenders, and was fouled, before powering on and finding the bottom right hand corner of the net. Murnane’s goal made this game 4-6 to 0-6 after 43 minutes and all but ended the fixture.

That 12-point gap was maintained with two Aoife Rattigan frees being matched by Emma Duggan and Rachel Casserly at the other end. The St Ultan’s full-forward grabbed a further 1-1 late on to cap a standout performance in green as this tie petered out.

In a performance that felt like it had been coming for some weeks, and one which brought four goals, it was The Lilies’ defensive showing that truly impressed. It was turnovers galore and punishing in the right moments as Kildare won this game 4-8 to 1-0 over The Royals.

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Kildare, Aoife Rattigan 0-7 (0-5 frees), Gillian Wheeler 1-0, Alannah Prizeman 1-0, Mayah Doyle 1-0, Aoife Murnane 1-0, Hazel McLoughlin 0-1.

Meath, Rachel Casserly 1-4, Emma Duggan 0-3 (0-1 frees), Marion Farrelly 0-1, Orla Finnegan 0-1, Niamh Gallogly 0-1.

KILDARE: Carla Nallen; Aine Mernagh, Ruth Sargent, Mia Doherty; Hazel McLoughlin, Laoise Lenehan, Molly Aspell; Nanci Murphy, Gillian Wheeler; Lisa Shaw, Ciara Wheeler, Mayah Doyle; Aoife Rattigan, Aoife Murnane, Alannah Prizeman. Subs: Ruth Dillon for Alannah Prizeman (44 minutes), Laura Dunlea for Mayah Doyle (49 minutes), Meabh McDonagh for Ciara Wheeler (54 minutes), Siofra Galvin for Lisa Shaw (55 minutes), Aisling Irhue for Nanci Murphy (60 minutes).

MEATH: Robyn Murray; Áine Sheridan, Órla Smith, Karla Kealy; Sinéad Murphy, Sarah Wall, Katie Bermingham; Orlaith Sheehy, Niamh Gallogly; Marion Farrelly, Meadhbh Byrne, Megan Thynne; Emma Duggan, Rachel Casserly, Orla Finnegan. Subs: Mary Kate Lynch for Órla Smyth (Half-time), Ciara Smyth for Orla Finnegan (Half-time), Lauren Woods for Marion Farrelly (38 minutes), Ciara Lawlor for Karla Kealy (48 minutes), Meena McConnell for Meadhbh Byrne (49 minutes), Olivia Gore for Orlaith Sheehy (52 minutes).

Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan)