Diane O'Hora hails her side's defensive work as they beat Monaghan on opening day

Speaking after her side's opening day win over Monaghan, Kildare ladies manager Diane O'Hora had high praise for her team's performance.

She said, “We’re delighted. The conditions today were horrendous. I have been around football for a long, long time and I probably haven’t seen a team control a game as well as the Kildare ladies did today.

Adding, “Anything could have happened, but you just feel safe and secure in how they approach the game and with their attitude. They knew what they were dealing with. I always say they are such a clever bunch. I do believe they controlled it from start to finish today.”

The win is the ideal start for Kildare after promotion last year to Division 2. Monaghan represented perhaps their most winnable fixture on paper and a win on the opening day was a must.

The standout element of Kildare's second half display was their excellent defending and the Kildare boss had more praise for her side's defensive structure.

“The girls were exhausted coming off the pitch. The way they controlled it defensively and the amount of turnovers they got was an absolute credit to them. Monaghan are so strong and they are a much bigger team than us. But we pushed out in numbers and great teamwork and communication managed to get us the win today,” O'Hora said.