Kildare minors chalk up win over Kerry

Kildare 1-13

Kerry 0-7

Leinster champions Kildare defeated Kerry in Round 2 of the Electric Ireland Minor 'B' Championship, played at Moorefield on Sunday.

In cold and wet conditions on a difficult pitch Kildare had done enough in the first half, when they led 0-10 to 0-3 at the break, to withstand an early second half revival from Kerry before going on to win convincingly. Ciara Ryan’s opportunist goal three minutes from time put the icing on the cake for the Lilywhites.

Early points from Orlaith McNeill and the ever reliable free taker, Rebecca McDermott, gave Kildare a lead they were never to relinquish.

Kerry captain and centre half back, Ruth O’Connor, showed her ability when she powered forward to fire over a Kingdom point on ten minutes.

The second quarter belonged to the Lilywhites as they outscored Kerry 0-8 to 0-2 and were unlucky not to have a goal in the period when Roise Hennessy’s shot was batted down by Kerry keeper, Lauren Bowler, but full forward, Anna Coburn, just flashed the ball wide.

Four points in a row from McDermott, one from play, one from a free, as well as white flags from Ciara Ryan and Neasa McPhillips gave Kildare a five point lead before Shannon Collins got Kerry’s second point, from a free in the 24 th minute.

Kildare finished off the half with two more points McDermott, a brilliant solo effort from midfielder Louise Murphy and one from Orlaith McNeill to close out the half 0-10 to 0-3 in front, Kerry’s third point coming from Collins’ second pointed free of the half.

Two early frees from Collins brought the deficit back to five points inside three minutes and it took stout defensive work from Kildare, especially in the full back line of Aoife Mullahy, who was outstanding throughout, Rachel Byrne and Fionnuala Hughes, to keep the Kingdom at bay.

The home side finally lifted the siege again with a free from Laoise Murphy in the 42 minute and as the play continued towards the Kingdom goals, Kildare had chances of goals, including a penalty which McDermott popped over, before corner forward, Ciara Ryan, emerged from a goal mouth scramble to fire home three minutes from time to claim a fully deserved victory for Rob O’Neill’s team.

KILDARE: Tiarna Kinahan; Aoife Mullahy, Rachel Byrne, Fionnuala Hughes; Aoife Keane, Hannah Enright, Ria Harrington; Louise Murphy 0-2 (1 free), Roise Hennessy; Rebecca McDermott 0-7 (3 frees, 1 pen), Neasa McPhillips 0-1, Tara Christie; Ciara Ryan 1-1, Anna Coburn, Orlaith McNeill 0-2. Subs: Rianna Cribbin for Tara Christie 23, Hannah Finnerty for Neasa McPhillips 45, Laura McLoughlin for Ria Harrington 49, Emily Wiseman for Orlaith McNeill 50, Hannah Murray for Anna Coburn 55, Ella O’Neill for Ciara Ryan 57.

KERRY: Lauren Bowler; Tiarna Dineen, Roisin Quinn, Amy O’Loughlin; Anna Chute, Ruth O’Connor 0-1, Anna McCarthy; Kathryn Ryan, Hannah Ryan; Jennifer Harty, Tara Burke, Shannon Collins 0-5 (5 frees); Aine Walsh, Aisling Hennessy, Kate Maunsell Subs: Sarah Harris for Aine Walsh 29, Rachel Sargent 0-1 for Tara Burke 45, Sara O’Connor for Aishling Hennessy, Orla Cronin for Kate Maunsell.

REFEREE: Colm O Moldrin (Cork).