Antrim 3-11 Kildare 2-09 at the Cricky

Pics by Bert Trowlen

Antrim claimed a hard-fought victory over Kildare in the All Ireland Minor A Shield series on on Sunday at the Cricky. The match opened with Eimear McCaughan firing over an early point for Antrim, which was quickly canceled out by a free from Kildare’s Ruby Baker. Antrim regained the lead through a ’45’ from Maeve Scullion and a long-range free by Caoimhe McErlain, but Kildare surged ahead in the 12th minute when Aoibheann Birchall found the net from a long free. The half remained competitive as Eimear McCaughan and Bella Rose Gleeson exchanged scores, followed by two points from Ruby Baker and a long-range effort from Grace Nolan. However, Antrim finished the half strongly with points from Eimear McCaughan and Tegan Cassidy, capped off by a crucial Eimear McCaughan goal in the 29th minute to leave Antrim leading 1-08 to 1-04 at the interval.

The second half began with Eimear McCaughan extending Antrim’s lead from a free, but Kildare responded through a well-worked score and a free from Alannah Pearson and Ruby Baker. Kildare continued to pressure as Alannah Pearson added another point, but Antrim pulled away again when Anna Smyth and Louise McBride combined to set up a goal from play by Cara Delaney. Kildare kept themselves in the hunt with a scrambled goal from Alannah Pearson in the 18th minute, but despite a fine save from the Kildare goalkeeper shortly after, Antrim’s accuracy proved decisive. Late points from Eimhear McCloskey and Tegan Cassidy kept the Saffrons in control, and although Kildare managed one final point, a second goal from Eimear McCaughan in the final minute secured a 3-11 to 2-09 win for Antrim.

Antrim

1. Maeve Scullion
2. Cara Lynch
3. Laoise Stone
4. Isabelle Martin
5. Orla Munce
6. Cara Delaney
7. Amy Gault
8. Eimhear McCloskey
9. Amelie Annett
10. Louise McBride
11. Caoimhe McErlain
12. Anna Smyth
13. Eimear McCaughan
14. Aoife Fitzsimons
15. Tegan Cassidy

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Kildare

1. Megan Doherty Brunnock
2. Laoise Ni Bhriain
3. Closa Kelly
4. Katie Moran
5. Keeva Flynn
6. Aoife Ni Riain
7. Ruby Moran
8. Aoife Ni Treasaigh
9. Grace Nolan
10. Roisin Gilchrist
11. Aoibheann Birchall
12. Alexandra Solan
13. Ruby Baker
14. Alannah Pearson
15. Saoirse Green

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