Preview: Kildare ladies face Clare in titanic league final clash

Kildare have lit up the re-formatted Lidl Ladies Division 3 this year and that level of performance has earned them the league final spot they so richly deserve. They face a repeat of one of their toughest challenges this year in the form of Clare as the Banner county look to bounce right back into Division 2.

The lilywhite ladies came out 0-9 to 0-7 victors in a tough encounter on Clare turf in Cooraclare earlier this year. They face a repeat challenge as Clare will look to make it a tight and tough affair come final day in Parnell Park. 

For my money, Kildare are the most talented team in this division. Their attacking prowess has forced many of their opponents to put bodies behind the ball and attempt to grind out a result. Those who have come to take them head on have been taken apart and the lilywhites have handed out some heavy defeats along the way.

Clare kept the score down and in large part were successful in getting what they wanted aside from the result. They wanted a close game and they got one, the margins being fine will be exactly what Clare will want to replicate come April 16, albeit with a different outcome.

Louth adopted a similar strategy and they were the team who would trip up Kildare to give them their only loss of the league campaign so far. Kildare kicked some 14 wides but the post-match reaction of Diane O’Hora was telling. The level-headed Kildare boss simply addressed the wides and said you won’t win games with those shooting numbers.

The loss was symptomatic of mistakes as opposed to flaws in Kildare’s system or style of play. And that’s a good thing. These players are human and losses of this manner are always possible across a league season. There were lessons to be learned from that day undoubtedly and those teachings could stand this Kildare team in good stead for the challenge presented to them in this final.

Parnell Park itself could play a factor, away in Cooraclare and even at home in Hawkfield, the tight pitch can be to the detriment of an attacking team. When facing an opposition who is trying to deny the likes of Róisín Byrne and Neasa Dooley space, it sure does help when there is less of it altogether. The bigger field on the day could lift Kildare’s chances as the more space afforded means more chances and with

The space for the attacking stars leads us onto the most noticeable improvement in this Kildare side under Diane O’Hora. Their defensive output, Kildare’s defence has been tightened exponentially this year and they hold the best defensive record in the division. Led by Laoise Lenehan and Ruth Sargent in their respective lines of defence Kildare have improved in shape, organisation and tackling this year. Those central players are flanked by quality on either side and it has made Kildare an impressive defensive outfit. The quality  up front is being backed by a confident and structured spine that allows those attackers to flourish even further.

Like in any final clash, nerves will play a factor and the early exchanges are so crucial in this game. If Clare can keep it tight and low-scoring, they can drag Kildare into the trenches of frustration and poor shot selection that has stung once already in this campaign. They have the capacity to do that, Clare are supremely organised and well-run, they are a hard day's work whether you come out on top or not. There are very few easy games against this Clare outfit and it is hard to imagine this final will be any different for Kildare.

Conversely, if Kildare come out of the blocks flying I think they can put points on the board better than anyone in this division. Their attacking prowess could make it a long day for Clare if they get on top early but that is far easier said than done against this team. The likes of Neasa Dooley and Róisín Byrne have hit huge scoring numbers this season so far and they are surrounded and facilitated by smart attacking players up front. 

The attack players as well as support from the midfield means that Kildare have a frightening number of scoring sources.

This Kildare ladies side, for my money, is the most exciting team to watch coming out of the county at the minute. If they can produce their best on the big day I believe they will take home silverware and look good doing it.

Get yourself to Parnell Park on April 16 for 4pm to support the team!