Kildare held by last-minute equaliser in thrilling league opener with Cork

Kildare 2-7

Cork 1-10

The Kildare ladies mirrored their male counterparts in producing a superb away performance to kick off their league season and, much like The Lilies in Omagh, could well have taken all of the points away from MTU Arena.

Kildare could have been much further ahead than the two clear that they were as the game approached half-time. There looked to be a late sting in the first half when Melissa Duggan sliced through the Kildare back-line and drilled the ball into the back of the net for Cork.

The Lilies' eight first half wides, seven of which came in the opening 11 minutes, seemed set to haunt them but they had a late first half haymaker of their own to come. The home side held possession at the back but one exchange between defenders showed too much of the ball to Alannah Prizeman who sharply intercepted The Naas forward found the undoubted star of the day, Aoife Murnane, who drove towards goal and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. The visitors in white led 1-5 to 1-3 at the break.

The Rebels were level within five minutes of the restart as they sought to up their game, parity remained until 11 minutes from the end when, after major goal chances at either end, Aoife Murnane found the net for the second time. It was glorious from the Maynooth forward who cut across the ball on her left foot and left Caoimhe Richmond in the Cork goal stranded as the ball cannoned off the post and into the net.

A Katie Quirke free and two super points from substitute Abigail Ring got Cork back level with five to go in an admirable response from The Rebels.

Kildare's Jessica Harney, moments before being taken off, brilliantly restored their narrow advantage when she spun and fired over a super score from a tight angle in the 57th minute

The Lilies held possession and maintained control deep into added time but Cork eventually got their key turnover and a subsequent free on the counterattack.

Katie Quirke made this game level from the close-range set-piece as Kildare came away with a more than deserved draw at 2-7 to 1-10.

One of the highlights of this fixture was the implementation of the new LGFA rules which allowed for more free-flowing football as well as a higher level of physicality in this fixture. The new regulations played their part in a thrilling league opener as Kildare earned a valuable Lidl NFL Division 1 point.

READ NEXT: The 12 new rules to know before the Kildare ladies' league campaign starts this weekend

Kildare, Aoife Murnane 2-2, Alannah Prizeman 0-2 (0-1 frees), Aoife Rattigan 0-1, Mayah Doyle 0-1, Jessica Harney 0-1.

Cork, Katie Quirke 0-5 (0-5 frees), Melissa Duggan 1-0, Abigail Ring 0-2, Grace Ní Mhurchú 0-1, Emma Cleary 0-1, Leah Hallihan 0-1.

KILDARE: Rachel Fennin; Emma Wheeler, Ruth Sargent, Mia Doherty; Hazel McLoughlin, Lisa Shaw, Laoise Lenehan; Nanci Murphy, Gillian Wheeler; Mayah Doyle, Ciara Wheeler, Aoife Rattigan; Aoife Murnane, Lara Curran, Alannah Prizeman. Subs: Jessica Harney for Lara Curran (2 minutes), Molly Aspell for Mayah Doyle (38 minutes), Meabh McDonagh for Gillian Wheeler (42 minutes), Roisin Forde for Aoife Rattigan (45 minutes), Amy Mahon for Jessica Harney (57 minutes), Abaigh Cahill for Alannah Prizeman (60 minutes).

CORK: Caoimhe Richmond; Aimee Corcoran, Dara Kiniry, Katie Horgan; Melissa Duggan, Sadbh McGoldrick, Rosie Corkery; Aoife Healy, Abbie Mahony; Rachel Leahy, Grace Ní Mhurchú, Emma Cleary; Rachel O'Regan, Katie Quirke, Leah Hallihan. Subs: Aine O'Sullivan for Rachel O'Regan (42 minutes), Kate Redmond for Abbie O'Mahony (49 minutes), Abigail Ring for Leah Hallihan (49 minutes), Ciara Hughes for Rosie Corkery (57 minutes).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)