Clare 2-10 Kildare 2-11- Late Clare rally held off by Lillywhites

By Patrick Sharkey in Croke park,

Róisín Byrne was excellent for the Eastsiders as they saw the game out with the only blemish on an otherwise perfect afternoon for Kildare being Fildema Marrinan and Chloe Molony’s two late goals.

If there was a way to make a statement, this was it as Diane O’Hora’s Kildare beat Clare.

The Eastsiders delivered a statement performance against youthul side that was hopeful.

With just eight minutes played, it was 0-2 to 0-1, but Kildare came back into it through scores from Róisin Byrne and Triona Duggan. Kildare was kept at bay early enough because of some superb saves and kickouts from the CLare Amy Lenihan who kept her cool.

The closest they got to pegging Kildare back was making the score-line read 0-2 to 1-3, and that did very little to disrupt the rhythm of the team from Munster.

Fidelma Manning personally embodied the blue and yellow cause as she scored three points in the opening 30 minutes at Croke Park. This made it 0-5 to 2-6 at the break and Kildare pushed up for a goal once played resumed.

Byrne was denied by the Clare back-line during this advance and Dowling fired narrowly wide.

Their attempts to get back in the game were complicated by a searing run from Fildema.

However the first half advantage was enough as Kildare ended up booking their place in the senior championship next year but as for Clare they should be proud of their efforts put in.

Clare were in total control and the goal just padded their tally, and almost everything they hit went over the bar.

Kildare scorers: Roísín Byrne (0-6, 0-1f), Ellen Dowling (1-2), Triona Duggan (0-1), Lara Gilbert (0-1), Aoife Rattigan (0-1), Neassa Dooley (0-2)
Clare scorers: Fildema Marrinan (1-4), Chloe Moloney (0-2, 0-2f), Clíodhna Blake (0-2),
Clare subs: Ciara McCarthy for Laura Griffey 39 minutes. Roisin looney for Caoimhe Cahill 46 minutes. Orla Devitt for Jonna Doohan 57 minutes.
Kildare substitutions: Graínne Keneally for Triona Duggan 41 minutes. Mia Doherty for Aoife Rattigan 49 minutes. Fiona Tourte for Lauren Burke 52 minutes.