Cavan defeated in All-Ireland A Final

A second half goal from Catherine Murphy helped Kildare claim the The AirNav Ireland All-Ireland U16 A Championship for the first time in their history with victory over Cavan in Pairc Chiaráin in Athlone. it finished Kildare 1-10 Cavan 0-09

Early points were traded between Kildare’s Catherine Murphy and Cavan’s Ellie Reilly (free). Both sides then had a goal chance apiece but they went wide.

Kildare edged back in front in the ninth minute with a point from Caoimhe Cully. Down the other end Sarah Crowe saw her effort come off the butt of the post. Kildare were four points ahead in the 24th minute.

Cavan created scoring opportunities but were guilty of kicking some poor wides and it’s something that they eventually were made to rue. Kildare had goal chances but were thwarted twice by Cavan netminder Margaret Smith.

The Breffini County needed a score to settle themselves just before the break. In stoppage time Sarah Kate Liggan kicked a free to leave them trailing 0-5 to 0-2 going in at half-time.

Cavan started the second half well. Points from Ciara O’Reilly and Liggan (free) drew them level in the 41st minute. They took the lead for the first time one minute later with a point from Doireann Brady.

Smith made a stop with her foot in the 45th minute to deny Annabelle Lundy. Minutes later Kildare were back level with points from Amy Wall (free) and Murphy. In the 47th minute the Lilywhites were back in front when Murphy found the back of the net.

Ella McPhillips scored a neat point for Cavan in the 51st minute to leave two between the sides but Kildare replied with points from substitute Ellen Moran, Lundy and Cully to put five between the sides in the 55th minute.

Cavan went in search of scores but Kildare were back in numbers defending so well. Substitute Leila Cooney kicked a point to cut the gap to one in the 59th minute. Cavan knew they needed to raise a green flag but were overwhelmed by white jerseys in the final minutes as they fought to keep their goal intact.

Scorers - Kildare: C Murphy 1-2, A Lundy, C Cully, A Dillon 0-2 each, A Wall (f), E Moran 0-1 each. Cavan: C O’Reilly, SK Liggan (2fs), E McPhillips 0-2 each, D Brady, Ellie Reilly (f), L Cooney 0-1 each.

KILDARE: S Burke; R Enright, A Blake, K Mooney; K Hill, S Hannick, D Lanigan; LA Keatley, G Martin; A Lundy, G Byrne, C Cully; C Murphy, A Wall, A Dillon. Subs: E Moran for Hannick and O Dempsey for Mooney ht, K McDonald for Hill 42, B Nolan for Lundy 60+4.

CAVAN: M Smith; E Cusack, SJ Sherlock, A Forde Peat; A Costello, E O’Sullivan, O Miney; A Rogers, S Brennan; C O’Reilly, D Brady, SK Liggan; E Reilly, E McPhillips, S Crowe. Subs: C Kelly for Cusack 47, L Cooney for O’Reilly 50, R Crowe for Reilly 55, L Cooney for O’Reilly 57, C Gumley for Brady 60+2

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).