04/07/2024:  The U14 Ladies topped off their League campaign in style with a win over Miltown in the U14 Division 4 Final in front of a large home crowd, Kildysart 3-8, Miltown 2-5.  The girls were unstoppable all season winning all seven of their league matches, scoring a whopping 32 goals and 45 points along the way.  Being the day that was in it, the team, along with friends and family, celebrated the win with a pitch-side BBQ.

The two teams were well acquainted having only met each other in the last round of the league where Kildysart came out on top, 5-7 to 4-4.  But the slate was wiped clean for the final and both teams were determined to take home the silverware.  Kildysart were quick to set the tone when Olivia O’Shea won the opening throw-in, Siobhan Foley gathered the breaking ball and fed Isabelle Garry who only had one thing on her mind as she raced towards goal and claimed her first green flag.  A few minutes later, Aisling Reidy put over a lovely point under immense pressure from the Miltown backs.  The Claret and Amber opened their account in the 5th minute with a free but Kildysart countered in-kind to leave the score 1-2 to 0-1 with ten minutes played.  Garry converted another lovely score after a well-worked drive up the pitch involving captain Lauren Conway and Aoife Garry.  Miltown kept attacking but the Kildysart backs, Chloe McMahon, Ella Kelly and Lucy O’Connor were more than able for the task, aided in their efforts by goalie Lucy Casey who made two outstanding saves in the first quarter.  Miltown added a point to their tally and moments later lofted a ball to the back of the net, landing just under the bar to make it a one-point game at the first quarter mark, Kildysart 1-3, Miltown 1-2.  Isabelle Garry converted a free but Miltown responded to keep the gap to the minimum.  Kildysart felt the pressure of a repeated Miltown attack but escaped danger when Caoimhe Kelly made a goal-line save and cleared the lines.  Isabelle Garry doubled her goal tally and stretched the lead to 4 with minutes remaining in the half, but Miltown went on the rampage again and struck for their second goal to leave just a point between the sides at the break, Kildysart 2-4, Miltown 2-3.

Emer Murtagh started off the scoring in the second half when she made room for herself and slotted over in a crowded goal-mouth area.  Miltown converted a free in the 34th minute but Kildysart subs Aoife Farren and Lacy Mooney helped keep them at bay for most of the second half.   Another brace from Isabelle Garry gave Kildysart some breathing space, with the first point coming off the shoulder of winger Sarah Garry and the second one from a free after Amelie Fox was brought down.  But it was the super soccer-style goal from Lily Cronin in the 51st minute that gave Kildysart the edge and a 6-point advantage, Kildysart 3-7, Miltown 2-4.  There was no time to relax, however, as Miltown were tenacious and striving for the win.  They pointed in the 29th minute and were looking for more.  Maia Casey put a stop to their run on goal in the dying minutes with a well-caught interception from a high bounce.  Fittingly, Isabelle Garry got the last point of the match to cement the win for Kildysart, Kildysart 3-8, Miltown 2-5.  It was an entertaining game of football, with Miltown right in it til the end, but it was a well-deserved win for Kildysart to top of their fantastic league season.  

Kildysart:  Lucy Casey, Chloe McMahon, Maia Casey, Lucy O’Connor, Ella Kelly, Siobhan Foley, Caoimhe Kelly, Aoife Garry, Olivia O’Shea, Lauren Conway-captain, Isabelle Garry (2-6 4f), Sarah Garry, Aisling Reidy (0-1), Emer Murtagh (0-1), Lily Cronin (1-0).  Subs: Aoife Farren for O’Connor (22 min), Lacy Mooney for E. Kelly (41 min), Amelie Fox for Murtagh (42 min).  Panel: Cara Farren, Aoibhe Pender, Martha Mai Casey, Leah O’Grady, Aoife Murrihy.  Management:  Niamh Conway, Kevin Kelly, Sinead Fox