Kildare ladies progress to another Leinster final after superb Louth win

TG4 Leinster Intermediate Championship semi-final

Kildare 3-15

Louth 0-10

Kildare are through to another Leinster Intermediate Championship final after defeating Louth in superb fashion. Kildare were fancied to come out on top in this one but they faced the only side to beat them on their way to Division 3 league win earlier this year. Kildare will now face Wexford in Laois Hire O’Moore Park next Sunday, in a repeat of both this year’s recent semi-final and last year’s Leinster final.

Louth kept Kildare's scoring down en-route to success in the league and their remit would likely be the same as they visited Hawkfield once more. Kildare needed scores on the board early to draw out this Louth side and that they did as Lara Gilbert had a score on the board for Kildare after just five seconds. 

Kildare continued their fast start with a point from Lara Curran to extend their early advantage. In response, Louth were quick to show their teeth and knocked over three scores in as many minutes to take the lead. 

As it is so often, the Kildare charge back in the other direction would be led by Róisín Byrne. Byrne would kick the next three scores of this game to re-establish Kildare’s leading position.

Holding a two-point lead, Kildare finally got their first sight at goal as Neasa Dooley broke through the Louth defence. Dooley went for power over placement as she blasted her effort goalwards but Rebecca Lambe Fagan would be able to do enough to direct the effort over the bar. 

It was an encouraging sign from the Athy woman, who is such an important player and scorer for her county. However, by her own high standards, she has been unusually quiet for Kildare in these last two games.

Kildare would get their first goal of the afternoon just three minutes later as corner-back Lauren Burke marauded forward. Burke was one of many members of the backline that got involved in Kildare’s attack as Diane O’Hora’s side were at their fluid attacking best. Burke sent through Lara Curran on this occasion who set herself for the strike and laced the ball into the roof of the net to give Kildare a commanding 1-7 to 0-3 lead 10 minutes before half-time.

Louth would respond with their first scores since the 6th minute as Laura Collins knocked over two on the bounce to reduce the gap.

Not to be outdone by her fellow wing-back and teammate Lara Gilbert, Sarah Munnelly also got herself on the scoresheet with an excellent score from long-range.

The scoring for the remainder of the half would be from the two number 12’s and the two chief scorers for these sides in Róisín Byrne and Lauren Boyle.

Byrne was on fire in the first half, her exemplary free-taking was accompanied with some simply exceptional scores. Off her weaker left side, under pressure, you name it and the Sarsfields forward was knocking them over. She would add two more just before the break to bring her first half tally to an impressive 0-6.

Louth’s main scoring outlet would get one of her own just before half-time and her well-taken point would be the last of the opening half as the sides went in at 1-10 to 0-6 in favour of the home side.

Boyle would be leading the Louth charge back into this game again after half-time as she converted two frees to reduce the gap to six points.

Kildare, like they did all day, would respond well and Lara Curran, who had one of her best games this year, converted a super score.

Just a minute later, Kildare would be bearing down on goal again as Ruth Sargeant latched onto a through ball. Sargeant was making one of her trademark bursts from centre-back and was fouled before she could get her shot at goal in on one of the easiest penalty decisions referee Marion Hayden will have this year. A strong game and a penalty win to add to her superb performance in the semi-final against Wexford, it has been an exceptional couple of weeks for the Eadestown woman in a  Kildare jersey.

Neasa Dooley, who was off the field for last week's penalty, was back on duty and she made no mistake by putting her effort into the top right-hand corner. The Louth keeper did all she could to keep the shot out by getting a hand on it but the power was enough to see the ball into the net. 

Kildare were now fully in command at 2-11 to 0-8 and they weren’t done there.

The game's scoring naturally slowed as the teams made changes and it would be one of those changes that would finally put this game to bed for Kildare. Having been found by a magical chipped ball over the top by Sarsfields teammate Róisín Byrne, Ciara Price gathered possession and finished smartly past the on-rushing Louth keeper.

Kildare would add more points to their tally to amass a superb 3-15 on the day and complete one of their best all-round performances this year. The excellent showing earns them another Leinster final as they face Wexford once more.

Scorers: Kildare, Róisín Byrne 0-9 (0-5 frees), Lara Curran 1-2, Neasa Dooley 1-1 (1-0 penalties), Ciara Price 1-0, Lara Gilbert 0-1, Sarah Munnelly 0-1, Ellen Dowling 0-1.

Louth, Lauren Boyle 0-5 (0-2 frees), Laura Collins 0-2 (0-2 frees), Áine Breen 0-1, Abi Keenan 0-1, Lucy White 0-1.

KILDARE: Mary Hulgraine; Lauren Burke, Laoise Lenehan, Aoife Clifford; Lara Gilbert, Ruth Sargent, Sarah Munnelly; Grace Clifford, Aoife Rattigan; Claire Sullivan, Neasa Dooley, Róisín Byrne; Ellen Dowling, Trina Duggan, Lara Curran. Subs: Ciara Price for Neasa Dooley (38 minutes), Mia Doherty for Aoife Rattigan (45 minutes), Lauren Murtagh for Lauren Burke (52 minutes), Gráinne Kenneally for Lara Curran (53 minutes), Amy Larn for Grace Clifford (60 minutes).

LOUTH: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Eimear Murray, Holly Lambe Sally, Eilish Hand; Seoda Matthews, Shannen McLaughlin, Abi Keenan; Áine Breen, Aoife Halligan; Laura Collins, Niamh Rice, Lauren Boyle; Aoife Russell, Kate Flood, Ceire Nolan. Subs: Mia Duffy for Aoife Russell (38 minutes), Lucy White for Abi Keenan (47 minutes), Roisin Maguire for Lauren Boyle (47 minutes), Katie Doheny for Holly Lambe Sally (50 minutes).

Referee: Marion Hayden (Carlow)