Kildare crowned All-Ireland U16 'A' champions with thrilling win over Cavan
Kildare became AirNav Ireland All-Ireland U16 ‘A’ champions with a 1-10 to 0-9 win Athlone GAA
It was defensive heroics and incisive attacking that saw Kildare become AirNav All-Ireland U16 ‘A’ champions on a sun-kissed Wednesday evening in Athlone. The Lilies ran out 1-10 to 0-9 winners after a thrilling back and forth encounter with Cavan.
A second half goal from Sarsfields’ Anna Dillon was followed by incredible Kildare nerve down the home stretch as they closed out for a historic victory to be crowned the best team in the country in their age group.
Kildare’s Catherine Murphy opened the day’s scoring after a little over a minute. The Athy forward was receiving (very) early treatment moments prior but recovered enough to put the finishing touch on the end of The Lilies’ first attack.
The Breffni equalised and were looking to do much more but were denied a green flag by a superb save from Sadie Burke. However, the official was playing advantage and Ellie Reilly slotted over the resulting free.
Goal chances, and in particular missed goal chances, were a through-line of the first half with both no.15s Anna Dillon and Sarah Crowe flashing efforts past the post in the first 10 minutes.
Dillon came alive to set-up Kildare’s second when she fetched a high-ball into the forward line before spinning sharply and slipping in Caoimhe Cully to score.
Approaching the mid-point of the first half, Kildare went two clear after Catherine Murphy jinked through the on-rushing blue backline to score.
The Lilies were keeping Cavan out at the other end with super turnovers and forced four incidents of overcarrying or charging in the opening half.
Annabelle Lundy put Kildare 0-4 to 0-1 ahead when she was first to react after Amy Wall’s free hit the upright and bounced into the dangerzone. The Kilcock wing-forward shot high over the blocking Cavan hands to score Kildare’s fourth.
Cavan had an onslaught of their own but it was regrettably fruitless as missed frees and poor shooting kept them adrift.
It was then Kildare’s turn to aim below the crossbar with Dillon and Murphy threatening the Cavan net and Margaret Smith denying the latter.
Murphy did put Kildare four clear in the 23rd minute with a lovely curling effort while Cavan remained with just a single score.
Caoimhe Cully was next to be kept out by the Cavan ‘keeper after she beat two before having her effort smothered by Smith.
Cavan got the half’s final score with Sarah Kate Liggan’s free sending Kildare in with an 0-5 to 0-2 lead.
The trailing side made an electric start to the second half with the game’s next five scores. Sarah Jane Sherlock brought the gap back to two but it was a two-minute burst of four scores that shot Cavan into the driving seat in this fixture.
Sarah Kate Liggan’s second free and Ciara O’Reilly’s first levelled this game before superb back-to-back scores from Ella McPhillips put Cavan 0-7 to 0-5 ahead in the 42nd minute.
Kildare captain Amy Wall stepped up to settle her side’s nerves when she slotted a fine free to bring The Lilies back to within one.
Catherine Murphy restored parity with another stellar curling effort and the teams were level 0-7 apiece with 15 minutes to go.
The game’s next score was its most significant when future Player of the Match Anna Dillon beat her opposite number before giving the ‘keeper the eyes and firing low into the bottom right corner off her favoured left side.
Ella McPhillips picked up her third point to reduce the gap heading into the final 10 minutes but it was Kildare in command when it mattered most.
A beautifully constructed counter-attacked from Sadie Burke right to the top of the pitch ended with Kill’s Ellen Moran restoring her side’s three-point advantage.
Kildare’s star forwards were undoubtedly Anna Dillon and Catherine Murphy who both came forward again to create The Lilies’ next two points. Dillon set up Annabelle Lundy and Murphy found Caoimhe Cully, both of whom slotted super scores to leave Kildare five clear with five to go.
It was shoulder to the wheel in the closing moments with Kildare full-back Amber Blake, one of standout performers in the final, again stepping up to win turnovers at the centre of an excellent Kildare defensive performance.
Cavan’s Leila Cooney got the game’s last score with a super solo run and point but The Breffni were unable to breach again as Kildare finished 1-10 to 0-9 winners and became All-Ireland U16 ‘A’ champions.
Kildare: Anna Dillon 1-2, Catherine Murphy 0-2, Caoimhe Cully 0-2, Annabelle Lundy 0-2, Amy Wall 0-1 (0-1 frees), Ellen Moran (Kill) 0-1.
Cavan: Ella McPhillips 0-3, Sarah Kate Liggan 0-2 (0-2 frees), Ellie Reilly 0-1 (0-1 frees), Sarah Jane Sherlock 0-1, Ciara O'Reilly 0-1, Leila Cooney 0-1.
KILDARE: Sadie Burke; Rachel Enright, Amber Blake, Kayla Mooney; Kate Hill, Sarianna Hannick, Doireann Lanigan; Lily Anne Keatley, Grace Martin; Annabelle Lundy, Grace Byrne, Caoimhe Cully; Catherine Murphy, Amy Wall, Anna Dillon. Subs: Orlaith Dempsey for Kayla Mooney (Half-time), Ellen Moran (Kill) for Sarianna Hannick (Half-time), Kali McDonald for Kate Hill (41 minutes), Breffni Nolan for Annabelle Lundy (63 minutes).
CAVAN: Margaret Smith; Emma Cusack, Sarah Jane Sherlock, Andie Forde Peat; Aimee Costello, Erelle O'Sullivan, Orla Miney; Aoife Rogers, Shonagh Brennan; Ciara O'Reilly, Doireann Brady; Sarah Kate Liggan; Ellie Reilly, Ella McPhillips, Sarah Crowe. Subs: Clodagh Kelly for Emma Cusack (46 minutes), Leila Cooney for Ciara O'Reilly (51 minutes), Riona Crowe for Ellie Reilly (53 minutes), Chloe Gumley for Doireann Brady (61 minutes).
Referee: Angela Gallagher (Meath)