Kildare Crowned Leinster Minor A Champions

Kildare 2-06

Meath 0-08

By Aisling Clery

Two second half goals from Edwina Birchall and Ava Cullen secured Kildare’s first ever Leinster Minor A title against reigning champions, Meath in Kinnegad on Wednesday evening.

While it was the Royals who got off to the better start, Kildare quickly restored parity before assuming an ascendancy they were not to relinquish. Meath finished with a flourish, but the Kildare defence was equal to the task and closed the door on any hopes of a Royal comeback.

Ciara Smyth got the game’s opening score before Sophie Ngai levelled the scoreboard on eight minutes. Initially, Meath dominated possession, but they could not get the scores needed with Kildare keeper Niamh Barnes and full back Eimear Glancy particularly impressive.

Orlaith Mallon converted a free on ten minutes, while Sinead Murphy split the posts after a well-timed pass from Mallon to open up a two point gap. This ignited the Kildare attack and after a superb free from Niamh Farrelly and a Sophie Ngai point that rattled off the crossbar, Kildare were level.

From there, Kildare did not look back. Ngai, who was a thorn in the Royal defence all evening, split the posts to push Kildare one ahead and two Niamh Farrelly frees saw Darren Kendrick’s team take a six point to three lead into the half time break.

Kildare were handed the dream start in the second half when Ava Cullen sent a high ball deep into the Royal defence, Edwina Birchall was the first to react and the Kilcullen footballer made no mistake with the finish, pushing Kildare into a six point lead.

While both sides squandered chances, it was Kildare that eventually broke through and Niamh Farrelly combined with Ngai to set up Ava Cullen for Kildare’s second goal on forty-eight minutes. It was to be Kildare’s last score as they soaked up successive Royal attacks with Ruth Sargent particularly impressive here, earning her the Player of the Match accolade.

Meath did eventually find a way through the Kildare defence late on with points from Ciara Smyth (3), Amy O’Leary and substitute Katie Twomey but it wasn’t enough as Kildare hung on to claim victory.

Kildare play Galway in the Zucar All Ireland Minor semi final in two weeks time.

SCORERS: Kildare: S Ngai 0-3 (1f), N Farrelly 0-3 (3f), E Birchall 1-0, A Cullen 1-0.

Meath: C Smyth 0-4 (1f), S Murphy 0-1, O Mallon 0-1 (1f), A O’Leary 0-1, K Twomey 0-1.

KILDARE: N Barnes; N Hayes, E Glancy, A Mernagh; S Galvin, R Sargent, O Monaghan; A Larn (C), M Doyle, E Birchall, E Kendrick, S Ngai; G Murtagh, A Cullen, N Farrelly.

Subs: M O’Loughlin for Monaghan (48), E Brereton Foley for Cullen (48), H Breen for Birchall (59).

MEATH: R Murray; T Kyle (C), L Brown, N Troy; S Caulfield, C Lawlor, L Dwyer; S Murphy, T Foster; E Kennedy, C Smyth, L Hassett; O Mallon, A Foley, A O’Leary.

Subs: R McManus for Hassett (35), O Callan for Murphy (38), S Gavin for Kennedy (44), K Twomey for Mallon (44), E Murphy for Lawlor (54).

Referee: Sinéad McHugh (Dublin).

Photo with thanks to Karl Gormley