by Daragh Nolan
Photo Credit: Karl Gormley Photography
Kildare are into the All-Ireland U16 ‘A’ final after they produced an excellent comeback to beat Cork in Fethard Town Park.
The Lilies made the perfect start to this game by finding the net just two minutes after the first whistle. A superb driving run from Catherine Murphy ended with the Athy forward being impeded and the referee stretching his wingspan to signal a penalty. Anna Dillon dispatched the spot-kick in convincing style, finding the top of the net with a confident strike.
Cork answered with three points without reply to leave this game level with 10 minutes on the clock. Isabelle O’Callaghan was the first on the scoresheet for The Rebels after Nell Kinsella’s effort hit the upright and was initially cleared by Kayla Mooney before the St Valentine’s forward eventually pointed.
The wing-forward stood out from the word go in this game.
Kinsella then turned parity into advantage for her side after a driving run through the heart of the Kildare defence which ended in her burying the ball in the back of the net.
Catherine Murphy replied with a gorgeous point at the other end before Amy Wall made this a one-point game again when she kissed her shot off the inside of the upright.
Nell Kinsella then turned provider after another incisive run, offloading to Niamh O’Connor who laced the ball into the roof of the net to make this game 2-3 to 1-2. Cork’s second goal was the last play before a much-needed water break in the baking heat in Fethard.
Cork were next to raise a flag after rehydration too with Shauna Keane knocking over her second free.
Kildare were struggling to deal with Cork’s direct running but were kept in this game by their own talented and varied forward line. Grace Martin found Caoimhe Cully who struck over off her left but Kinsella replied for The Rebels soon after.
Back-to-back Kildare scores from Catherine Murphy and Anna Dillon cut Cork’s lead to three with Kildare’s full-forward line impressing again.
However, the girls in red responded with two of their own when Niamh O’Connor added to her goal with a white flag and Abbie Ní Scannlain knocked over her first of the evening.
The leading side were inches from a commanding lead when Caoimhe Brennan was slipped through on goal. The Inch Rovers wing-back’s low effort was superbly denied by the foot Kildare ‘keeper Sadie Burke.
There was time for one more for each side before the break with Catherine Murphy unleashing yet another super strike from range before Shauna Keane got her first from play. The Rebels led 2-8 to 1-6 at the interval.
Keane was first on the scoresheet after the restart as she comfortably dispatched another set-piece.
The Lilies were now six back but a moment of magic in the 34th halved that lead when Grace Byrne’s forward run was offloaded to Anna Dillon who produced a stunning finish into the top right corner off her left foot. It would be hard to understate the quality of the finish from the Sarsfields forward for her second goal.
Amy Wall was next to score for Kildare as they continued to build on the momentum carried on from their second goal. Anna Dillon, after picking up her second goal four minutes prior, picked up her second point to make this a one-point game.
The next couple of minutes were all about Grace Byrne with the Castledermot forward levelling things after an excellent run and score and then putting The Lilies ahead after linking up superbly with Catherine Murphy.
After a Lilywhite blitz of 1-4 without reply, Kildare carried a 2-10 to 2-9 into the second half water break.
Kildare’s comeback was facilitated by their superb defensive work all over the field which forced Cork turnovers. One such turnover ended in another Anna Dillon point as Kildare doubled their lead with 10 minutes to go.
Nessa McCormack got Cork’s just second point of the second half in the 52nd minute.
However, it was Kildare who continued their momentum forward. Catherine Murphy picked up her fourth point from play before Grace Byrne grabbed her third with a superb outside of the boot effort to send The Lilies three clear.
The closing moments were all about Kildare captain Amy Wall who put her side four clear and then, after Cork grabbed a late late goal to force a grandstand finish, won an excellent turnover outside her own box as Kildare closed out for a superb 2-14 to 3-10 win.
Kildare: Anna Dillon 2-2 (1-0 penalty), Catherine Murphy 0-4, Grace Byrne 0-3, Amy Wall 0-3, Caoimhe Cully 0-1.
Cork: Nell Kinsella 1-2, Niamh O’Connor 1-1, Shauna Keane 0-4 (0-3 frees), Kate O’Connell 1-0, Isabelle O’Callaghan 0-1, Abbie Ní Scannlain 0-1, Nessa McCormack 0-1.
KILDARE: Sadie Burke; Rachel Enright, Amber Blake, Kayla Mooney; Kate Hill, Sarianna Hannick, Doireann Lanigan; LilyAnne Keatley, Grace Martin; Caoimhe Cully, Grace Byrne, Annabelle Lundy; Catherine Murphy, Amy Wall, Anna Dillon. Subs: Ellen Moran (Kill) for Kate Hill (44 minutes), Kali McDonald for Doireann Lanigan (51 minutes).
CORK: Lorna Hodman; Aoife McCarthy, Mairead Whelton, Lucy Kelleher; Sarah McCormack, Lucy O’Brien, Caoimhe Brennan; Orla O’Brien, Ella O’Sullivan; Abbi Ní Scannlain, Aoife Harte, Nell Kinsella; Isabelle O’Callaghan, Niamh O’Connor, Shauna Keane. Subs: Nessa McCormack for Niamh O’Connor (37 minutes), Roisin O’Sullivan for Abbie Ní Scannlain (37 minutes), Maria Humphreys for Caoimhe Brennan (48 minutes), Kate O’Connell for Abbie Ní Scannlain (47 minutes), Ciara Hanrahan for Nell Kinsella (58 minutes).
Referee: Shane Curley, Galway
