Late, deflected goal helps Wicklow shock Kildare
Wicklow stunned Kildare 2-10 to 2-9 in their Very Camogie Division 3 clash thanks to a late goal and a Sophie Bermingham point that put them into the lead
A late deflected goal followed by a Sophie Bermingham point gave Wicklow the lead at the critical time as they claimed victory over Kildare with almost the final strike of the tie in this National Camogie League Division 3A game.
A fine point from play from Lea Sutton opened the scoring for Kildare inside the first minute before she added an excellent goal moments later with her opening free of the tie.
Winning a free to the left of the small arc, Sutton faced into the town end goal. Keeping her strike low her effort beat Jessica Driver in the Wicklow goal and send Kildare four clear with four minutes on the clock.
Wicklow soon replied with a goal of their own. A probing strike from Lizzie Bourke found the on-rushing Ciara Connolly, but with Fionnuala Hughes and Connolly missing the sliotar, it caught Ellen Donovan off guard and breached her net to cut the deficit to one.
Trading frees at either end the deficit remained unchanged into the second quarter before Sutton hit three frees in three minutes to send Kildare back into a four point lead.
Points from Shannagh Goetelen and Caoimhe NíBhuirceal maintained the difference into stoppage time before Wicklow's Sophie Bermingham converted a free to cut the deficit to three as the half-time whistle arrived.
A Bermingham free minutes after the restart got Wicklow back within striking distance of Kildare but Ní Bhuirceal was not having any of it, rising the sliotar and gathering possession she burst forward to beat Driver before trickling the sliotar over the goal line.
A further Sutton free, taking her tally to 1-6, and a second point for NíBhuirceal had Kildare seven clear with the tie ticking past the 45 minute.
Refusing to give up Bermingham was again on target two minutes later to cut the deficit to six before Sutton and Goetelen traded points with seven minutes of the regulation 60 remaining.
Three Bermingham frees in the final three minutes ensured to leave the support on edge heading into stoppage time.
A long Wicklow ball into the heart of the Kildare defence two minutes into stoppage time looked to give Wicklow the opportunity they needed to drag themselves back into the tie. With a number of Kildare defenders looking to clear possession, the sliotar deflected past Donovan and the sides were level.
With Bermingham having registered seven from placed balls, she found her first strike from play three minutes beyond the sixty. Raising the white flag she gave Wicklow the lead for the first time, and with time running out they held on to claim the late victory from the jaws of defeat.
Scorers: Kildare: Lea Sutton: 1-7 (1-6f); Caoimhe NíBhuirceal 1-2.
Wicklow: Sophie Bermingham 0-8 (7f); Lizzie Bourke 1-0; Shannagh Goetelen 0-2.
KILDARE: Ellen Donovan; Fionnuala Hughes, Shauna Doyle, Sinead O’Brien; Shauna Mulligan, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Aoife Newman; Rianna Cribbin, Niamh Khran; Ella O’Neill, Caoimhe Ní Bhuirceal, Roisin Maguire; Sarah Lavin, Lea Sutton, Erin McEvoy. Subs: Sinead Lee for McEvoy, 38; Liana Glynn for Lee, 53; Elena Prendergast for Maguire, 57; Mae Donovan for Hughes, 62.
WICKLOW: Jessica Driver; Hannah Doyle, Casey Kelly, Eimer Mutton; Aoife Connolly, Ciara Wafer, Roisin Byrne; Sive Byrne, Shannagh Goetelen; Sophie Bermingham, Lizzie Bourke, Aobha Harman; Ciara Lancaster, Leane Lifely, Ciara Connolly. Subs: Shauna O’Shea for Byrne, 30; Isabelle Doyle for Harman, 47; Daisie Summer Cullen for Connolly, 53.