No excuses as Kildare ladies give way to Galway as tough start continues

Kildare suffered a disappointing defeat away to Galway on Sunday afternoon as the Tribeswomen claimed an eleven-point victory to move into second place in Division One of the National Football League.

Despite a determined second-half fightback, Kildare were left with too much to do after Galway’s clinical finishing, particularly before the interval, proved decisive.

Pat Sullivan’s side struggled to live with their opponents intensity on Sunday afternoon for long periods.

The hosts made a sharp start and quickly settled into their rhythm, racing into an early four-point lead. Roisin Leonard and Aoife O’Rourke opened the scoring for Galway, while Andrea Trill added two points as Kildare struggled to contain the early attacking threat.

To their credit, the Lilywhites regrouped and began to find their footing through Laoise Lenehan and Aoife Murnane, who both got on the scoresheet to stem the early tide. However, a two-point free from Galway’s Roisin Leonard restored the momentum to the home side, stretching the advantage despite a Kildare free courtesy of Roisin Forde in response.

The closing stages of the first half proved costly for Kildare. A moment of quality from Leonard, who delivered an excellent outside-of-the-boot pass, which allowed Andrea Trill to finish calmly to the net for Galway’s first goal.

Soon after, Leanne Coen struck for a second major, placing the ball emphatically into the top corner and leaving Kildare facing a significant deficit.

Roisin Forde converted a free on the stroke of half-time to offer some encouragement, but Galway led 2-6 to 0-5 at the break.

The task became even steeper five minutes into the second half when Galway struck for their third goal. Andrea Trill turned provider once more, setting up Roisin Leonard to find the net and extend the lead to 3-9 to 0-5 following additional points from Trill and Kate Thompson.

Kildare, however, refused to fold. Aoife Rattigan added a free before substitute Mayah Doyle won a penalty after being fouled inside the small square. Alanah Prizeman stepped up confidently and converted from the spot to reduce the arrears to 3-9 to 1-6.

That spell offered a glimpse of momentum for the visitors, but Galway responded well to halt the comeback. The home side added further scores through the closing stages to ensure there would be no dramatic turnaround, although Prizeman did land a late free for Kildare.

While the final margin was disappointing, there were positives in Kildare’s battling response, particularly during their second-half resurgence. However, the concession of three goals ultimately proved too much to overcome a Galway side that were clinical when their chances arose.

Kildare will look to regroup quickly as their Division One campaign continues, knowing that improved defensive solidity and sharper starts will be key in the rounds ahead.

Sullivan’s side sit in seventh place on one point in Division One after three games. Kildare will look to bounce back with an away trip to their neighbours Dublin on Sunday February 22 in round four. After a draw to Cork and a defeat to Armagh in their two earlier games, the 2024 Division two champions will know they need to get some wins on the board if they are to survive in Division One this year.

On a challenging afternoon for Kildare, captain Laoise Lenehan chipped in with 0-2, while substitute Alanah Prizeman made a notable impact off the bench, finishing with 1-1.

GALWAY: L O’Halloran; R Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, B Quinn; S Healy, C Trill, H Noone (0-1); N Divilly, A Madden; A O’Rourke (0-1), K Slevin (0-1) (Captain), K Thompson (0-1); A Trill (1-4), L Coen (1-0), R Leonard (1-3, 0-1 tp f). Subs: A Molloy for Healy (30), L Noone for O’Rourke (40), E Noone (0-1) for Leonard (48), M Glynn for Thompson (52), K Mee for R Quinn (54), E Smith for A Trill (54 ), D Keane for Slevin (56), E Power for H Noone (56), S McGovern for Coen (60), S Ní Scanlain for C Tril (60), E Mitchell for B Quinn (60).

KILDARE: R Fenin; E Wheeler, R Sargent, M Doherty; H McLoughlin, L Shaw, L Leehan (0-2); N Murphy, M Aspell; M McDonagh, C Wheeler, A Rattigan (0-1, 0-1 f); A Murnane (0-1), A Murtagh, R Forde (0-2, 0-2 frees). Subs: G Wheeler for McDonagh (34), M Doyle for Forde (42), A Prizeman (1-1, pen, 1 free) for Murnane (43), S Galvin for Aspell (50), A Cahill for Shaw (54), L Reilly for Rattigan (54), L Reilly for McLoughlin (60), L Dunlea for Murphy (60).

REFEREE: Gus Chapman (Sligo).

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