League Final Beckons as Kildare Overcome Roscommon
League Final Beckons as Kildare Overcome Roscommon
March 09, 2020
Lidl NFL Div 3 Rd 5
Roscommon v Kildare
Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon
HT Roscommon 0.03 Kildare 0.07
FT Roscommon 0.08 Kildare 0.13
Kildare maintained their 100% record securing their 5th league win on Sunday afternoon, defeating Roscomonn by 5pts in this Round 5 Lidl NFL encounter played in Dr Hyde Park and in doing so advancing to a Div 3 league final on April 18/19th with still 2 rounds left to play.
Erica Burke was this reporters player of the match, Covering every blade of grass, defending superbly putting tackles in at the vital moment and getting on the score sheet with a fine point.
The game was a physical enough affair with 4 yellow cards 2 for each side and While Kildare didn't play well to the standards we have seen in earlier rounds they found themselves sucked into a right battle at times.
Roscommon opened their account with a point from Aoife Gavin and this was added to with a Rebecca Finan pointed free to push the home side 2 clear.
Kildare then scuppered 2 opportunities for goals where the wrong option was taking resulting in wides.
Roisin Byrne settled the visitors registering their opening score with a point. Aimee O Connor put the home side 2 points clear followed with Kildare net minder Mary Hulgrane called into action to save pushing Sinead Glennon's effort out for a 45 when a goal looked certain.
Points from Roisin Byrne & Grace Clifford levelled the game with 18 mins played.
Kildare kept Roscommon scoreless for the remainder of the half with some excellent defending led by Erica Burke tracking back to help her defence.
Kildare tagged on 4 more points to see them 4 clear heading into the last few mins of the half.
Two different incidents saw both sides reduced to 14 players with Kildares Niamh Sinnott and Roscommon's Ellen Irwin sin-binned as the half came to a close. The visitors led 0.07 - 0.03.
The wind and rain met players as the second half got underway and Kildares lead was soon down to Two points with a brace from Aoife Gavin. Roscommon had a let off when Grace Clifford's effort came off the upright, the rebound was gathered by a Roscommon defender but referee Kevin Corcoran blew for the overcarry as she tried to clear leaving Lara Curran with a simple tap over. Kildare continued to gain the upper hand tagging on 3 more points through Dooley, Sinnott with her last action of the game and Aoife Rattigan her replacement. Both sides were again reduced to 14 players with Louise Scully & Sinead Kenny both seen yellow. The game finished with a flurry of scores from both sides with Aimee O Connor pointing a late free to leave the full-time score Kildare 0.13 Roscommon 0.08.
The win gives Kildare a six point lead over Roscommon in the standings, and with a three-way tie impossible, Kildares head to head record will see them through in the event of a two way tie.
Down are favourites to join them but they Dropped their first points of the league drawn 11pts each with Wicklow. A win in their next game v Laois on March 22nd will see them through while Kildare will welcome the visit of Longford.
Roscommon: Helen Cummins, Megan Kelly, Sinead Kenny, Rachel Brady, Sara McVeigh, Roisin Wynne, Niamh Feeney, Ellen Irwin, Caroline Conway, Louise Brady, Jenny Higgins cpt, Aoife Gavin 0.04 (1F),
Aimee O Connor 0.01 (F), Rebecca Finan 0.02(f), Sinead Glennon 0.01
Roscommon subs: Sasha Lavin, Sarah Scally, Honor Ennis, Kelley Colgan, Amy Curley, Rachel Fitzmaurice, Laura Fleming, Jennifer Brennan, Kate McPhilips, Kate Nolan, Kate Harrington, Saoirse Wynne, Sorcha Bruen, Sheena Kilrore, Emma Kildea.
Roscommon subs used: Sara Scally for Louise Brady, Sheena Kilrore for Aoife Gavin, Kate Nolan for Caroline Conway.
Kildare: Mary Hulgraine, Claire Sullivan, Lara Gilbert, Shauna Kendrick, Rachel Cribbin, Grace White, Louise Scully, Siobhan O Sullivan, Grace Clifford Cpt 0.01, Erica Burke 0.01 Lara Curran 0.03(3fs), Roisin Byrne 0.03, Neasa Dooley 0.02, Grainne Kenneally, Niamh Sinnott 0.01
Kildare Subs: Irene Heavy, Lauren Murtagh, Rachel Corrigan, Megan O Connor, Aislinn Dooley, Caoimhe Fagan, Leah Hayes, Aoife Rattigan Claire Nugent, Aoife Stapleton, Orlaith Sullivan, Joanne Deay, Sarah Munnelly, Ellen Dowling. Cliodhna Malone. Dervla McGinn.
Kildare Subs used: Orlaith Sullivan 0.01 for Grace White, Aoife Rattigan 0.01 for Niamh Sinnott, Sarah Munnelly for Roisin Byrne.
Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo)
Report with thanks to Dónal Fitzpatrick.
Photos by Karl Gormley