Kildare manager Diane O'Hora 'over the moon' after league final win over Tyrone

As yet another trophy was hoisted into the air by Grace Clifford, Diane O’Hora, as she always does, stood back from the crowd and watched her captain lift a fourth trophy during her time in charge. The Kildare ladies have won every prize available to them in the Mayo woman’s 18 months at the helm and remain unbeaten (with 21 wins) in their last 22 games.

O’Hora said post-match, “We are over the moon. At the start of the year we were looking at consolidating our position in the division and staying safe. Obviously the focus changed after we got a few wins and some momentum.”

A perhaps easily forgotten fact amongst the continued greatness of this side is that they were Division 3 champions this time last year and have secured back-to-back promotions and league titles.

“From Mary’s (Hulgraine) leadership in the goals right the way to Róisín (Byrne) up front everyone dug really deep. Tyrone threw the kitchen sink at us, they did a really good job on their analysis and they did a lot of work since we met them a couple of weeks ago. They are formidable opponents let me tell you and they are going to go very well in Intermediate no doubt,” O’Hora said.

The Mayo legend and her backroom team made an inspired switch early in this game when Aoife Rattigan was swapped for last year’s county minor star Niamh Farrelly. The Kill forward hasn’t had major league minutes in Division 2, but was thrown into the fray after 25 minutes. A huge demonstration of faith from the Kildare sideline and enormous trust to replace such a valuable player as Rattigan.

Farrelly would set-up Neasa Dooley’s goal just three minutes after coming on and her pace was a huge addition to the Kildare attack. An exceptionally good decision O’Hora and her team.

She said on Farrelly's introduction, “She is a live-wire at training and has got so much pace. She is making lateral runs and winning 50-50s. We brought her in for the Tyrone game a couple of weeks ago and she has got the most amazing attitude for work and urgency. Her commitment and effort level is second to none and to see what is coming through in Kildare is great.”

Following Division 2 success, next up for the Kildare ladies is an away trip to face All-Ireland Champions Dublin in the first round of the Leinster Championship.

O’Hora concluded, “There is absolute huge (excitement), you have nothing to lose. You look at Dublin, they have everything to lose because they have to be thinking that they are playing a Division 2 team who has not solidified themselves at Senior yet.

“It is going to be really, really fun for us and whatever happens you can just take off the shackles and play football because it's done on a league basis. We will be realistic, but we want to do our very best against the All-Ireland Champions because this team is capable of anything, so we’ll give it a crack.”