Laois 3 - 13
Kildare 1 - 11

Kildare's interest in the TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship ended in Round 2 of the Qualifiers with a disappointing display against a rampant Laois in Mullingar last Saturday evening.

The game was a big disappointment for Kildare especially after the dramatic win in the 2009 Leinster semi final. Short 8 of that surprise team was probably just too much to make up and while Laois showed 5 changes, two of them were making way for the return from injury of Grainne Dunne and Tracey Lawlor while another 2 were benched and Kildare even had to replace 7 of the 8 on the panel due to retirements and foreign travel. The returning Tracey Lawlor finished Player of the Match and top scorer with 2 - 4 with both goals, point efforts from frees, that dropped short and fumbled over the line by Kildare defenders.

Yet there are positives. For the second half Kildare introduced Siobhan Hurley who had played the All Ireland Junior Camogie Semi Final in Dublin at 3 pm and she had an immediate effect. Within a minute Siobhan held off her marker to win a long ball and an astute pass sent Maria Moolick through but with only the keeper to beat. Maria was fouled from behind and Tracey Noone fairly buried the penalty,. Siobhan also won 2 other frees, which were pointed by Tracy Noone and Catherine O'Malley, twice drawing fouls from Lorraine Muckian who had 4 fouls on Aine Gately in the first half. Sixteen year old Catherine O'Malley had a fine game at wing forward and later at midfield. The excellent held mary Kirwan scoreless while Patricia Delahunt, Angela Lyons and Aoife Herbert also did well in defence. Brianne Leahy first with Aisling Holton and later Catherine O'Malley held their own at midfield. In attack Tracy Noone worked hardest while Deirdre Gately and Siobhan Hurley were also prominent but a few of Kildare's young forwards were not able to match the physical Laois defenders.
As well as Tracey Lwlor, defenders Aisling Quigley, Trish Fogarty and Mags McEvoy, Angela Casey in a free midfield role and forwards Noreen Kirwan, Aisling Kehoe and Grace Weston were very impressive.

Scorers:

Laois
Tracy Lawlor 2 - 4 (2 - 1Frs.),
Noreen Kirwan 0 - 4(0 - 3 FRS),
Aisling Kehoe 1 - 1,
Grace Weston 0 - 2,
Martina Dunne 0 - 1,
Martha Kirwan 0 - 1.

Kildare
Tracy Noone 1 - 4(1-0 pen, 0-3Frs),
Brianne Leahy 0 - 2,
Catherine O'Malley 0 - 2(Frs),
Miriam Murphy 0 - 1,
Deirdre Gately 0 - 1,
Siobhan Hurley 0 - 1.
.
Kildare - Aisling O'Donovan, Aisling Lambe, Aishling Savage, Patricia Delahunt, Angela Lyons, Aisling Holton (Capt.), Donna Berry, Maria Moolick, Brianne Leahy (0-2), Catherine O'Malley (0-2), Tracy Noone (1-4), Aine Gately, Aoife Herbert, Deirdre Gately (0-1), Miriam Murphy (0-1).

Subs: - Kiri Lowry for A Lambe (22 min), Siobhan Hurley (0-1) for M Murphy (HT), Samantha Keatley for K Lowry (48 min), Paula Keatley for P Delahunt (54 min), Cliona Dowling for T Noone (57 min).

Laois - Ciamh Dollard, Grainne Dunne, Lorraine Muckian, Aisling Quigley, Alison Taylor, Patricia Fogarty, Mags McEvoy, Aileen O'Loughlin, Tracey Lawlor (2-4), Mary Kirwan, Noreen Kirwan (0-4), Aisling Kehoe (1-1), Angela Casey, Grace Weston (0-2), Martina Dunne (0-1). Subs - Martha Kirwan (0-1) for Mary Kirwan (50 min), Emma McEvoy for A Casey (52 min), Gemma O'Connor for M Dunne (55 min), Olwyn Farrell for P Fogarty (58 min), Maureen Young for M Dunne (60 min).

Referee: Eugene O'Hare (Down) Tweet

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