Armagh Ladies knocked out of the All-Ireland Championship by superb Kildare

Armagh Ladies’ season came to a disappointing conclusion this afternoon, as they were knocked out the Championship by Kildare.

Deadlocked at the break

Kildare had a goal chance just 30 seconds into the game, but Anna Carr raced off her line to deny Alannah Prizeman at close range. At the other end, Caroline O’Hanlon scored the first of her four first half points from a free.

It was tit-for-tat in terms of scores throughout the first half, and a Ruth Sargent point was cancelled out by O’Hanlon, before the Lilywhites moved into the lead following two impressive scores from Gillian Wheeler and Aoife Rattigan.

Armagh’s number 14 Niamh Henderson had half a goal chance for Armagh, but blazed a powerful shot over the bar rather than underneath it. Moments later, Kildare’s number 14 had one herself but once again Carr prevented her from raising a green flag.

Kildare’s Roisin Byrne then hit the upright post, but the visitors moved back in front following a Lara Curran point, and were two-to-the-good when Prizeman converted a free.

Armagh were level quickly however, with O’Hanlon and Reel pointing from frees. Reel’s free came after Kildare’ s Lisa Shaw brought down Lauren McConville with a high tackle and was sent into the sinbin.

Kildare managed the player disadvantage well though, with both sides only scoring one more point each before the half-time break. Ciara Wheeler swung over from the left wing for the away side, before O’Hanlon hit another free to see the two teams deadlocked at 0-6 apiece at the interval.

Before the short whistle, Kildare had yet another goal opportunity when Curran was in one on one, but for the third time Carr came to the rescue and made the save.

The Lilywhites storm to victory

Kildare were first off the mark in the second half, as they won the throw-in and worked it forward to Laoise Lenehan, who pointed.

Armagh were plagued with wides in the second half, hitting six in the opening 12 minutes, including a goal chance for Kelly Mallon, which flashed wide of the far post.

Kildare remained on top with scores from Byrne and substitute Mia Ryan, either side of a Reel free for Armagh.

But on 46 minutes, Kildare got a huge shot in the arm when they found the back of the Armagh net. Approaching from the by-line, Byrne had her angle at goal closed down by Carr, but was able to fist it across the face of goal for Laoise Lenehan to finish from a yard out.

Kildare added to that goal with a Rattigan point seconds later, and when goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine denied Mallon a goal chance at point-blank range, it looked certain to be their day.

The next two scores were traded with Emily Druse and Prizeman finding the target for their respective sides, but Armagh showed signs of life late on.

With five minutes to go, Henderson put the ball on a plate for Lauren McConville, and the Crossmaglen star kept her composure and finished low and into the bottom corner in a one on one to pull it back to a two-point game.

The deficit was reduced to one by Aimee Mackin – who played in her first game since May last year, and got five minutes off the bench – but a point from Kildare’s Ryan meant that Armagh had to chase a goal.

They had a chance when Aimee Mackin drilled a free kick into a free kick into a crowd of bodies which deflected and could have gone anywhere, but crucially it was the Kildare shot-stopper who came away with it and they held on for the win.

MATCH STATS

Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, C Towe, R Mulligan; E Druse (0-1), M McCann, G Ferguson; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon (0-4, 4f); L McConville (1-0), C McNally, B Mackin; K Mallon, N Henderson (0-2), N Reel (0-2, 2f).

Subs: E Lavery for B Mackin (HT), E McConaghy for McNally (40), E McGeown for Mallon (51), A Mackin (0-1, 1f) for Reel (55).

Kildare: M Hulgraine; R Sargent (0-1), L Lenehan (1-1), M Doherty; L Shaw, L Murtagh, M Aspel; L Reilly, C Moran; C Wheeler (0-1), A Rattigan (0-2), L Curran (0-1); G Wheeler (0-1), A Prizeman (0-2, 2f), R Byrne (0-1).

Subs: M Ryan (0-2) for Murtagh (43), Ellen Dowling for Rattigan (51), A Mahon for G Wheeler (57).

Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Down).