Kildare too strong as gallant Longford fall at the final hurdle

Kildare . . . 1-23   Longford . . . 3-8

Goals from Kate Shannon (15th minute) and Grace Cullen (20th minute) left Longford 2-5 to 0-6 ahead and a surprise result was looking like a possibility in the provincial title decider at the Kinnegad grounds on Wednesday evening. 

The firm favourites Kildare were in a state of shock and almost conceded a third goal when Cullen shot wide moments after finding the back of the net when she connected with a pass from wing back Ella Duggan. 

The complacent Lilywhites, on the strength of their comprehensive 3-14 to 1-7 win when the counties clashed in the group stage, eventually woke up to dominate the remainder of the first half in a glorious spell that yielded seven points in a row.

The reigning Leinster minor champions also went close to scoring a couple of goals with a shot from Aoife Murnane hitting the crossbar while a brilliant save from Longford keeper Aoife Cooney kept out a cracking strike from powerful midfielder Sarah McGovern.

Kildare ended up leading by 0-13 to 2-5 at the break and extended their advantage with further points from the outstanding McGovern sisters who clocked up the tremendous total of 1-15 between them with lethal corner-forward Leah receiving the player of the match award. 

Longford pulled a point back when Anna Hayden converted a free with six minutes gone in the second half but Kildare quickly regained the upper hand in adding another 1-8 to their most emphatic tally. 

Sarah McGovern burst through to score a great goal in the 37th minute and that finished off Longford who battled it out to the bitter end. 

Substitute Elena O’Reilly grabbed a consolation goal in the 55th minute after a shot from Sian Gallagher rebounded off the upright while Kate Shannon (free) and Ella O’Reilly fired over a point apiece in stoppage time. 

Kate also landed a couple of points in the early stages of the game and it was a well-worked move that created the clear-cut chance for Shannon to shoot to the net with Kate McEntire providing the final pass.  

Anna Hayden and the hard working midfielders Ella O’Reilly and Sian Gallagher also got their names on the scoresheet in the first half of this entertaining encounter and it was a fantastic achievement for Longford to get this far after making the move up from the ‘B’ grade. 

KILDARE: Sophie Knightly; Joy Duggan, Eimear Glancy, Heidi Lyons; Julie Brannigan, Laura Dunlea, Hannah Murphy; Sarah McGovern (1-6), Mayan Doyle (0-2); Edwina Birchall (0-2), Ellie Kendrick, Aoife Murnane (0-2, 1 free); Leah McGovern (0-9, 4 frees), Abi Whelan, Niamh Farrelly (0-1).

Subs:- Meabh McDonagh for H Lyons (23 mins); Alannah Prizeman (0-1) for A Whelan (43 mins); Lara Prendergast for S McGovern (injured, 50 mins); Erin Brereton Foley for L McGovern (stoppage time). 

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney (Clonguish); Emma Farrell (Ardagh), Ailbhe Brady (Mostrim), Rachel Fallon (Ardagh); Funmi Talabi (Mostrim), Kate McEntire (Dromard), Ella Duggan (Clonguish); Sian Gallagher (Ardagh, 0-1), Ella O’Reilly (Mullinalaghta, 0-2); Megan Glennon (Clonguish), Anna Hayden (Ardagh, 0-2, 1 free), Sarah Macken (Colmcille); Kate Shannon (Longford Slashers, 1-3, 1 free), Tessa Tiernan (Grattans), Grace Cullen (Rathcline, 1-0).

Subs:- Elena O’Reilly (Dromard, 1-0) for G Cullen (half-time); Rachel Penrose (Longford Slashers) for M Glennon (55 mins); Ella Reilly (Mostrim) for A Hayden (injured, 57 mins); Caoimhe Crossan (Mostrim) for E Farrell (59 mins); Katherine Kilduff (Ardagh) for F Talabi (stoppage time). 

Referee: Marion Hayden (Carlow).