Kildare 2-9
Tyrone 0-12
By Daire Walsh
KILDARE manager Diane O’Hora said she is thrilled that they had the ability to see off a strong Tyrone side and claim their first Lidl Division 2 in 20 years.
First half goals from Claire Sullivan and Neasa Dooley were crucial at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon as Kildare captured the title.
“Over the moon,” said O’Hora. “When we were starting out here at the start of the year, we wanted to consolidate our position in the division, stay safe. Then obviously the focus changed as we got a few wins and got some momentum. I think today in terms of Mary Hulgraine’s leadership from goals, the whole way up to Roisin Byrne up front, I thought everyone absolutely dug in really deep.
“Tyrone threw the kitchen sink at us. They did a really good job on their analysis. They did a lot of work since we played them a couple of weeks ago and they’re formidable opponents, I’ll tell you and they’re going to go very well in intermediate, no doubt.
“For us, we’re just really, really pleased with the defensive unit and the leadership at the back. Especially with Laoise Lenehan not being there in full-back. Mia (Doherty), Aoife (Clifford) and Fiona (Troute) did a great job.”
Tyrone manager Sean O’Kane said he was really proud of his team and that while they were disappointed not to claim the trophy, they have made considerable progress in this season’s Lidl NFL.
“A lot of positive things to take out of it the league. We gave away a bad goal before half-time and we were on the back-foot then,” said O’Kane. “We were always chasing it, but I’m very proud of the girls, very proud of the management. Very proud of everybody, it was a good game. You’ve got to realise, just over two years ago we were looking at relegation down to Division 3, so it’s a good shift up.
“Kildare are a good side. They’ve good targets. They play well with a good shape, they’re obviously well-organised. We had our chances too and we didn’t take them and Kildare had a couple of goal chances too and they whizzed by the post. I think the best team probably won on the day.”
After Roisin Byrne had opened the scoring with a second-minute point, Emma Conroy responded with a brace at the opposite end to edge Tyrone in front.
However, Kildare, appearing at GAA HQ for the first time since winning last year’s TG4 All-Ireland intermediate championship title, were already showing considerable attacking intent and bagged their first goal on six minutes when Byrne fed the raiding Sullivan for a low finish to the net.
Dead-ball specialists Byrne and Maria Canavan — an extended member of that famous Tyrone family — went on to trade points at either end of the pitch, but with sunshine making way for driving rain in north Dublin, this showpiece suddenly became less free-flowing in nature.
Nevertheless, a two-point salvo by Canavan got Tyrone back on level terms in the 18th-minute and they then squeezed into the ascendancy again when Sasha Byrne found the target from close-range.
Yet Byrne added a brace of her own just as the conditions started to brighten up again and thanks to Dooley’s superb three-pointer on 27 minutes, Kildare brought a 2-4 to 0-6 cushion into the interval.
Tyrone, who drew with Kildare during the Division 2 group stages, were still in contention on the restart, however, and another clinically-executed Canavan free got them back up and running. Captain Aoibhinn McHugh also burst through from midfield for a point that shook the woodwork on its way over, before Kildare finally opened their second half account on 41 minutes with a white flag contribution from Trina Duggan.
The ever-dependable Canavan and Lilywhites substitute Lara Curran cancelled each other out with points as the third-quarter drew to a close, only for the Tyrone sharpshooter to once again chip in with a placed ball effort.
Niamh Farrelly later joined Curran in registering a point off the Kildare bench and this was followed by a majestic Ellen Dowling score from out towards the left-wing. While Canavan brought her personal tally up to 0-8 in the closing moments, a Dooley point ensured that O’Hora’s Lilies had three points to spare in the end.
Scorers – Kildare: N Dooley 1-1, R Byrne 0-4 (2f), C Sullivan 1-0, T Duggan, E Dowling, L Curran, N Farrelly 0-1 each.Tyrone: M Canavan 0-8 (7f), E Conroy 0-2, A McHugh, S Byrne 0-1 each.
KILDARE: M Hulgraine; F Troute, A Clifford, M Doherty; L Murtagh, R Sargent, L Gilbert; G Clifford, H McLoughlin; T Duggan, E Dowling, C Sullivan; N Dooley, R Byrne, A Rattigan. Subs: N Farrelly for Rattigan (25), E O’Toole for McLoughlin (40), L Curran for Murtagh (43), H Tyrrell for Dowling (53), S Munnelly for Duggan (54).
TYRONE: C Donnelly; J Lyons, J Barrett, E Quinn; C Campbell, E Mulgrew, M Corrigan; A McHugh, M Mallon; EJ Gervin, E Conroy, A Horisk; M Canavan, Z Loughran, S Byrne. Subs: A Daly for Horisk (19-22),E McCanny for Byrne (45), C Daly for Barrett (48),A Grimes for Conroy (50), A Daly for Horisk (53), KR Muldoon for Corrigan (60).
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
