Bord Gais Energy NFL Round 2 - Kildare v Donegal

Bord Gais Energy NFL Division 1 Round 2

By Jackie Whelan

Kildare 3-8 Donegal 4-11

Kildare came in to this game looking for a huge improvement on last weeks game. Aine Gately got the first opportunity of the game but unfortunately kicked it wide. The most notable change from last weeks game was the appearance of 2011 captain, Donna Berry. Donegal looked to have a certain goal in the opening minutes but Kildare keeper Catriona Dolan pulled off a super save. Orla Carr opened the scoring for Donegal on 4 minutes. Kildare moved the ball up the field and centre back Kate Leahy finished the ball to the back of the net. Geraldine McLaughlin scored a free for Donegal in the 8^th minute, quickly followed by another point to equalise the teams. In the 9^th minute, McLaughlin stepped up to bury the ball past the Kildare keeper. Donegals Eilish Ward lobbed a ball in and Dolan looked to have dealt with it but the ball found its way in to the back of the net. On 12 minutes, McLaughlin had added a third goal for her side. Roisin McCaffery added another point for her side a minute later. With 20 minutes played, a free kick from Gately dropped short to kick Kildare back in to the game making the score Kildare 2-00 Donegal 3-4. McLaughlin added her second free of the game and popped over another point a few seconds later. Grainne Houston scored a great point for Donegal with 24 minutes played. Aine Gately added a great point for Kildare a minute later. Niamh Mailey added a point for Donegal before Feeney added one more for the Ulster side just before half time. Half time score Kildare 2-1 Donegal 3-9.

Maria Moolick opened the second half scoring for Kildare with a well taken point. Eimear Fogarty scored a free a minute later in only her second game in a Kildare senior jersey. Another emerging Kildare star, Roisin Byrne lobbed in a ball that ended up over the keepers head bringing the homeside back in to the game. McLaughlin popped over another Donegal point from a free. Aine Gately did the same for the lilywhites at the other end of the field. 16 minutes in to the second half the same player was very unlucky not to snatch a Kildare goal. On 18 minutes Gately brought it back to 5 points between the sides and her determination added a further point a minute later. McLaughlin stretched Donegals lead back to 5 points. Eilish Ward scored a goal to rule out any chance of a Kildare comeback. Substitute Sinead Melia scored a super point for Kildare with 25 minutes played in the second half. This was to be the last score of the game on what turned out to be a good game of football with some great spells of movement from both teams. Kildare will be disappointed they didn’t get a result in Stephen O’Rourke Memorial Park. Some positives from the game include a determined performance from Aine Gately in the corner forward position, a never give up attitude from midfielder Aisling Holton but the main highlights and signs of encouragement for the coming season was the performance from newcomers Roisin Byrne, Eimear Fogarty and Erica Burke.

Kildare mascot for the day was Megan O’Brien from the Kilcock club. We look forward to seeing Megan represent her county some day in the future.

Kildare scores came from Aine Gately 1-4 (2f), Kate Leahy 1-0, Roisin Byrne 1-0,Eimear Fogarty 0-2 (2f) Maria Moolick 0-1, Sinead Melia 0-1. Donegal scores came from Geraldine McLaughlin 2-6 (3f), Eilish Ward 2-0, Orla Carr 0-1, Roisin McCaffery 0-1, Grainne Houston 0-1, Niamh Mailey 0-1 and Karen Feeney 0-1.

Kildare team: Catriona Dolan, Kiri Lowry, Aisling Savage, Niamh Quinn, Donna Berry, Kate Leahy, Denise Tierney, Grace Clifford, Aisling Holton, Eimear Fogarty, Maria Moolick, Roisin Byrne, Aine Gately, Siobhan Hurley, Erica Burke. Subs used Mary Hulgraine, Sinead Melia, Michelle Carey, Stacey Cannon.

Donegal team: Laura Gallagher, Orla Carr, Ciara Hegarty, Kelly Wilson, Grainne Houston, Niamh Friel, Kate Kenney, Aoife O’Donnell, Roisin McCafferty, Eilish Ward, Roisin Friel, Karen Feeney, Niamh Mailey, Karen Gruthie, Geraldine McLaughlin.