Ladies: Byrne the hat-trick hero as Kildare sink Tyrone to retain Division 1 status
March 29, 2025
Roisin Byrne of Kildare in action against Caitlin Campbell of Tyrone during the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 clash at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Kildare 4-10
Tyrone 2-8
by Pat Costello
A second half hat-trick by Róisín Byrne helped Kildare turn around a lack-lustre first half and a one point half time deficit to defeat Tyrone in Round 7 of the Lidl NFL Division 1 tie at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge and so retain their Division 1 status for 2025.
In the process the Kildare win sends Tyrone down to Division 2 for next season.
It was also an historic day as it was the first ladies football game to be played at the newly developed Kildare county grounds.
Kildare opened the brighter and Lara Curran pointed inside two minutes. The Lilywhites won possession from the kickout and Róisín Byrne sent Aoife Murnane in to finish a left footed shot to the net.
The Lilywhites looked to be blooming at that stage but they failed to capitalise on possession and recorded a number of wides. This inspired Tyrone and on their first major attack they came away with a goal after Chloe McCaffrey’s 14 yard free was defected past Mary Hulgraine in the Kildare goal.
The sides were level on three occasions in the first half but Tyrone knocked over three points in a row in the third quarter through Niamh O’Neill, two from frees to lead by two as half time approached.
Róisín Byrne finally stopped Kildare’s wastefulness with a point just before half time to see her side trail 1-3 to 1-4 at the break.
Kildare got the perfect start to the second half with a point from Aoife Rattigan inside ten seconds and the corner forward then set up Byrne for the first of her three second half goals two minutes later. Byrne got her second from a free in the 37th minute after the Tyrone goalkeeper, Caitlin Donnelly and the defence failed to stop the ball from crossing the line and Kildare were now firmly in the driving seat at 4-6 to 1-4, despite losing Amy Mahon to the sin bin in the 33rd minute.
Byrne’s hat-trick arrived in the 40th minute when substitute Gillian Wheeler’s long punt was flicked to the net by the corner forward. Despite losing Meabh Mallon and Jayne Lyons to yellow cards in the closing stages Tyrone continued to fight and they were rewarded with a goal from substitute Aoife McGahan on the stroke of full time.
It was too late, though, to trouble Kildare and their bid to retain Division 1 status as the Lilywhites ran out comfortable winners on the day.
Scorers: Kildare: R Byrne 3-1, A Murnane 1-0, A Rattigan 0-2, L Curran 0-1, M Aspel 0-1, M Doherty 0-1, L Shaw 0-1, N Dooley 0-1 (free), A Prizeman 0-1, L McGovern 0-1.
Tyrone: C McCaffrey 1-2 (2 frees), N O'Neill 0-5 (4 frees), A McGahan 1-0, S Gormley 0-1.
KILDARE: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Lenehan, E Wheeler; M Doherty, L Dunlea, M Aspel; C Sullivan, L Curran; C Moran, L Shaw, N Dooley; A Rattigan, A Murnane, R Byrne. Subs: G Wheeler for C Sullivan 8, A Mahon for C Moran H/T, S Galvin for L Curran 37, E Dowling for A Rattigan 45, A Prizeman for L Shaw 45, L McGovern for A Murnane 53, K Miley for A Mahon 53, E Brereton Foley for N Dooley 58, R Fennin for M Hulgraine 60, A Kilkenny for M Doherty 60, H Murphy for L Lenehan 60 +3, Z Brierty for R Byrne 60 +3, L Reilly for E Wheeler 60 + 3, C Wheeler for R Sargent 60 + 5.
TYRONE: C Donnelly; J Lyons, C Campbell, E Quinn; T McElroy, M Corrigan, S McCarroll; M Mallon, A McHugh; E McNamee, E McCanny, C McCaffrey; N O’Neill, S Gormley, A Horisk. Subs: A McGahan for E McCanny H/T, C Canavan for A Grimes 40, G McKenna for E Quinn 40, E Conroy for E McNamee 48, A Strain for T McElroy 52, M Canavan for A Horisk 59.
Referee: Angela Gallagher (Meath)
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