Goals hurt Kildare in Camogie Championship opener against Meath

Glen Dimplex Intermediate Camogie Championships

Meath 3-10

Kildare 1-5

It was a less than ideal start to Kildare’s Intermediate Camogie Championship when they faced Meath on the opening day. Mike Wall’s injury-hit side started bright, but were ultimately undone by the much more free-scoring Royals.

Kildare’s Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal got the game’s opening score after three minutes. The Lilywhites had been on the back-foot to that point with the visitors pouring on the pressure, but the Johnstownbridge forward would make Kildare’s first attack a profitable one.

Aoife Carey would level for Meath with a well-taken free from 45’ range after six minutes.

The Lilies would re-take the lead through Ailbhe Ryan. Possession was sharply cut-back to the Naas centre-forward and she took her chance brilliantly, drilling over from just inside the Meath half.

There would not be another score for 15 minutes as Meath got on top in this game, but were repeatedly wasteful in front of goal. The Royals were defending well however as Kildare looked to get forward with fast passes into the front-line, Meath mopped up everything both in the air and on the deck.

Meath would get the biggest moment of the game to that point just three minutes from half-time when they found the net following a brilliant attacking move. It was all about the full-forward line as all three members combined for a superb goal.

Amy Gaffney found Olivia O’Halloran in space, who then used all her innovation and skill to flick the ball over the defence to Grace Coleman. The Killyon forward made no mistake as she smashed her effort into the back of the net.

Meath extended their lead to three points just before the break when another Killyon forward got on the scoresheet when Ciara Foley fired over for her side on 31 minutes. The sides went in at half-time at 1-2 to 0-2.

It was a disastrous start to the second half for Kildare as Meath found the net again. It was Aoibhinn Lally this time and the Kilmessan forward’s effort on goal couldn’t be kept out by Roisin Roche as Meath moved 2-2 to 0-2 ahead.
After a largely strong performance to that point, goals either side of half-time had cost Kildare dearly.

After an Erin Leddy point extended their advantage further, Meath were awarded a goal in controversial circumstances. Ciara Foley drilled an effort goalwards that produced a brilliant catch from Roisin Roche before the Kildare ‘keeper collided with the post. The ball was cleared, but after an unusual pause in proceedings and some dialogue with the referee, the umpire raised a green flag.

Impossible to judge from the press area, but one thing for certain was that the third Meath goal ended Kildare’s hopes of a fight-back.

The Lilies would battle well and remain close to Meath in terms of scoring for the remainder of this game as the Royals hit seven more points to Kildare’s 1-3. Nevertheless, it remained a comfortable win for the visitors at 3-10 to 1-5.

Speaking after the game, Kildare manager Mike Wall said, “It’s tough to take, but realistically we had the best team on paper in the group first so it was always going to be tough. We didn’t get the bounce of the ball and a lucky goal at the start of the second half put our back’s against the wall.

“Then one of the most extraordinary pieces of goalkeeping I have seen was to grab that ball out of the top corner and it was deemed that she went over the line. Whether she did or she didn’t .. .the umpire certainly had a better view than us.”

If the goal just after half-time was a dent to Kildare's confidence then the third goal was a nail in the coffin as Meath were awarded it after some delay. Roisin Roche’s catch and subsequent collision with the post was judged to have meant the ball crossed the line somewhere in the sequence. As the Kildare boss said himself, regardless of what happened and what didn’t, Ciara Foley’s goal after 42 minutes all but ended this game.

Wall added, “We have a lot of injuries, Niamh O’Connor, Michelle Brogan, Lea Sutton only came back today, Ella Copeland is only back. We’re happy with the performance, it was a battling performance and that is not to say that we are just going to take that, but it's certainly something to build on.”

MAIN MAN
LEa Sutton
The Kildare captain made her return from injury off the bench after 39 minutes and made an immediate difference. As well as a brilliantly taken free, Sutton found the net in exceptional style from outside the box. Her drilled effort into the roof of the net was further demonstration of her importance to this team.

TURNING POINT
Only three points down at half-time, the concession of another goal straight after the restart was a hammer blow to Kildare both in terms of confidence and on the scoreboard. Aoibhinn Lally's goal knocked the stuffing out of The Lilies' hopes.

TALKING POINT
Kildare now need to re-adjust for the games ahead as they were handed their toughest task in the opening round of this Championship. They face Antrim, Kerry and Carlow in consecutive weeks.

WHAT NOW?
Kildare now face Antrim away from home on June 1 at 2pm in round two.

Scorers: Meath, Ciara Foley 1-3 (0-2 frees), Grace Coleman 1-0, Aoibhinn Lally 1-0, Olivia O'Halloran 0-2, Aoife Carey 0-2 (0-1 frees), Maeve Clince 0-2 (0-2 frees), Erin Leddy 0-1.

Kildare, Lea Sutton 1-1 (0-1 frees), Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal 0-2, Ailbhe Ryan 0-1, Aoife McDermott 0-1.

MEATH: Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Aine McNerney, Tracy King; Leah Devine, Maeve Clince, Ellen Burke; Erin Leddy, Aoife Carey; Aoibhin Lally, Ciara Foley, Katie Connolly; Olivia O'Halloran, Grace Coleman, Amy Gaffney. Subs: Grace Connolly for Ellen Burke (57 minutes), Ella O'Brien for Grace Coleman (57 minutes).

KILDARE: Roisin Roche; Kelly Perkins, Sorcha Dolan, Laoise Mimnagh; Shauna Mulligan, Aoife McCarthy, Ellen Morgan; Sara Carroll, Meabh Maguire; Aideen Walsh, Ailbhe Ryan, Caoimhe Ní Bhuircéal; Sarah Lavin, Aoife McDermott, Orla Carragher. Subs: Sinead O'Brien for Aideen Walsh (34 minutes), Lea Sutton for Sarah Lavin (39 minutes), Caoimhe Shanahan for Ailbhe Ryan (42 minutes), Ella Copeland for Laoise Mimnagh (57 minutes).

Referee: Karol Collins (Galway)