Kilmore crash out
Clearcut defeat in provincial clash
COUNTY INTERMEDIATE ladies’ football champions Kilmore were dismantled by a devastating Tinahely performance in the first round of the Leinster championship.
The game was over as a contest by half-time, with the Wicklow champions – playing on their home soil - 22 points to the good, with Laura Hogan scoring 2-7 in that period alone.
Kilmore started strongly, with Beth Cardiff-Malone opening the scoring from the first attack. This was to be as good as it got for the Wexford girls though, with Hogan soon showing her class to push Tinahely ahead.
The corner-forward firstly clipped an equalising point before cutting in from the left wing to bury a goal past exposed Kilmore ‘keeper Katie O’Reilly.
Further points followed from Aine Byrne (two), Hogan and Ciara Byrne before Rachel Byrne got on the end of a flowing Tinahely move to rocket a shot to the net.
Niamh Moore and Sharon Kehoe-Cloney bagged good scores for Kilmore, however it was a temporary uprising as Tinahely went straight up the field and, after more intricate passing, Loretta Gilbert rattled another goal to leave the score 3-6 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.
The sheer speed and accuracy of the Tinahely side was a joy to behold. Indeed, they did not hit a wide until the 22nd minute of the half and only recorded five over the duration of the contest.
Their next goal came in the 26th minute, with Rachel Byrne turning provider. She clipped a wonderful ball over the defence to Aine Byrne, and the stylish wing-forward left O’Reilly with no chance as she slotted home.
Kilmore, to their credit, never let their heads drop against clearly superior competition and got a goal near the end of the half.
Maria Byrne strode purposely in along the endline before transferring across the square to midfielder Laura Cousins who finished to the Tinahely goal.
The south Wicklow side got their fifth goal in the first minute of the second-half when Sarah Byrne released Hogan to fire home.
Tinahely took off Hogan and Gilbert early in the second-half with an eye to the challenge that awaited in the semi-final against Clontarf of Dublin.
The second period was played at a gentler pace with Tinahely happy to close the game out without over-exerting themselves. They kept the scoreboard ticking over with Sarah Byrne, Ciara Byrne and Siofra Byrne all contributing positively to it.
For Kilmore, Niamh Moore was impressive as was ‘keeper O’Reilly who made some quite magnificient saves.
Tinahely, however, were on another level. The result means that all three Wexford representatives – the others being Shelmalier (Senior) and Ballygarrett (Junior) – exited from their respective provincial campaigns at the first hurdle.
Kilmore: Katie O’Reilly; Kelsea Morris, Emma Hore, Cathy O’Connor; Beth Cardiff-Malone (0-1), Sharon Kehoe-Cloney (0-1), Nicole Kelly; Laura Cousins (1-1), Orla Fortune; Emma Cousins (0-1), Niamh Moore (0-3), Claire Barry; Johanna Cousins, Aoife Cousins, Ellie O’Connor. Subs. - Maria Byrne, Sophie Boxwell, Lisa Power, Joanne Walsh.
Tinahely: Shauna Bermingham; Ciara Stokes, Sarah Hogan, Emily Mulhall (0-1); Emily Hadden (0-1), Jessica Nolan-Byrne, Aimee Maher; Aoife Gorman (0-1), Jackie Kinch; Aine Byrne (1-2), Sarah Byrne (0-2), Ciara Byrne (0-4); Rachel Byrne (12), Loretta Gilbert (1-1), Laura Hogan (2-8). Subs. - Jade Shannon, Siofra Byrne (0-1), Anna Lawlor, Shannagh Goetelen, Emily O’Reilly.
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).