Ladies earn points
CLOONACOOL was the venue on Sunday for Sligo ladies clash with Kildare in Lidil NFL Division 2.
Heading into the game, Sligo were pointless after 4 rounds of games.
With a cagey start from both sides it was Sligo that were on the scoreboard first with a pointed free from Elaine O’Reilly.
Eimear Fogarty levelled matters with an excellent point and Kildare adding two more points from Roisin Byrne, she gave Kildare the lead and her second came at the end of a great move involving Lyons and Moolick.
Sligo tagged on two more points from O’Reilly to level the game after 12 minutes leaving the score at three points a piece. The game’s first goal came from the visitors, Kildare working the ball out of defence where Grainne Lyons gathered possession and the on- rushing Maria Moolick shot from close range leaving Sligo’s netminder Gormley with little chance.
Kildare’s tails were up and two more points followed from Fogarty and a pointed free from Ellen Dowling gave them a five point cushion, 1: 05 to three points.
The game’s second goal came in the guise of a penalty, Kildare backs surrounding a Sligo player in the square trying to dispossess her and as she turned to make a pass out field she was tripped. Ciara Gorman made no mistake from the spot, sending Hulgraine in the Kildare goals the wrong way.
Both sides traded points again through Kildare’s Byrne and Sligo’s McGrath with Moolick finishing the half with a fine point to extend Kildare’s lead at the break 1: 07 to 1: 04.
Kildare started the second half briskly with Roisin Byrne adding another point after winning possession from the throw in and running uncontested upfield to get her score.
Kildare had two chances of goals in succession Moolick and the newly introduced Eadaoin Connolly linking up well.
Moolick saw her shot narrowly go wide. Gormley in the Sligo goals made an excellent one handed save from Ellen Dowling diving low to her right pushing the ball around the post for a 45.
Kildare with a four point lead were now struggling with the intensity of the home side’s play.
Rachel Reidy received treatment for a knock to the face and on resumption of play Sligo worked another point through Stephanie O’Reilly.
Two more points followed from Emma Keavaney and the deficit was now down to one point.
Kildare manager Alan Barry made another change at the back replacing Savage with Emma Wheeler.
Sligo had hit their purple patch levelling the game and taking the lead with two more points from O’Reilly.
Amy Cawley Fox added another point for Sligo and they had now scored six in succession without reply to lead by two 1: 10 to 1: 08.
Ellen Dowling reduced the margin with a pointed free Kildare were not to score again for the remainder of the half, as they could find no way through a dogged Sligo defence.
The home side added more points with O’Reilly getting her fourth of the half followed with a point from Elaine O’Reilly.
Kildare searched for an elusive equaliser but it was the home side that would have the final say getting the insurance point through a pointed free from Aime Cawley Fox.
This left the full- time score with a four point win for Sligo, which showed steely determination throughout to earn their first points of this year’s League.
Donegal are league leaders and unbeaten, while Meath have been putting in great performances since their loss to Laois. . SLIGO: Noelle Gormley, Anne Marie Coleman, Grainne O Loughlin, Tara Doddy, Elaine O Reilly 0.04 ( 1F), Eilise Codd, Lauren Boles, Bernice Byrne, Sinead McTiernan, Amy Cawley Fox 0.01, Stephanie O Reilly 0.04 ( 1F), Emma Keavaney 0.02, Ciara Gorman 1.00, Lisa Casey, Denise McGrath 0.01 Substitutes: Sarah Reynolds 0.01.