Róisín and Ellen shine as Kildare ladies defeat Sligo with ease

Róisín Byrne and Ellen Dowling hit 1-4 each for the Lilies as they made the long trip down to a cold very damp Kilglass GAA club on Sunday afternoon to face Sligo in round 6 of the Div 3 Lidl NFL.

The visitors, who wore their new away black jersey for the first time this year, didn't disappoint as they recorded a comprehensive 16 point victory over the Yeats County women.

Conditions were poor throughout the contest for both teams with slippery underfoot turf and a strong wind blowing in from the coast, along with driving rain, reminding everyone why the Wild Atlantic Way was aptly named. It was however a dominant opening half display from the Lilies as they led by 3-9 to 0-2 at the break.

Neasa Dooley, Ellen Dowling and Roisin Byrne all found the net for Kildare in that opening half and Aife Haran with both Sligo scores.

The rain eased during the second period and Kildare opted to keep ball for long periods, forcing Sligo to step up. To their credit, they brought a little more bite to the game managing to turn over Kildare play and register some excellent scores when opportunities presented.

Sligo did get a consolation goal when a Sarah Reynolds free was lobbed high into the square with Kildare net minder Mary Hulgraine jumping to catch, she was met with a challenge from Sinead Regan. As both players landed, the ball broke with Regan quick to react punching home.

Diane O’Hora’s charges outscored their opposition in the final ten by five points to two, to finish strongly. Sligo, finished the game with fourteen players when Isabelle Henry was sin binned for a foul on Ciara Price. A pointed free from Sinead Naughton was the last action of the contest leaving the fulltime score Kildare 3-15 Sligo 1-5.

The final round of games take place next Sunday with a top of the table clash that sees Kildare play Wexford at home where a win for Kildare would see them advance to the Div 3 final on April 16.

KILDARE: Mary Hulgraine, Lauren Burke, Laoise Lenehan, Aoife Clifford, Lara Gilbert, Ruth Sargent, Sarah Munnelly, Grace Clifford Captain, Aoife Rattigan 0-1, Claire Sullivan, Roisin Byrne 1-4 (3fs), Triona Duggan, Ellen Dowling 1-4 (4 fs) Neasa Dooley 1-1, Lara Curran 0-4. Subs: Anna Dunlea, Amy Larn, Elaine Keogh, Ciara Price, Fiona Troute, Grainne Kenneally, Hannah Davis, Holly Tyrrell, Jessica Harney, Lauren Murtagh, Mia Doherty, Molly Aspell, Molly O Loughlin, Orlaith Sullivan, Roisin Forde 0-1.

SLIGO: Ellen McGuire, Ellie McDermot, Claire Dunne, Ciara Scanlon, Isabella Henry, Nicola Brennan 0-1, Tara Breheny, Sinead Regan 1-0, Sarah Reynolds, Maeve Casserly, Sinead Naughton 0-1, Aife Haran 0-2, Caoimhe Connor, Tara Philips, Leah Duffy capt 0-1 Subs: Kate Hosey, Orla Devlin, Fiona Feeney, Clara Battle, Rachel O Brien, Orla Naughton, Leanne Taylor, Leah Kelly, Lauren Fitzgerald, Ciara Gorman, Lisa Powel, Megan McCormack, Sarah Gurley.

Referee. Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).