LGFA - Dublin defeat Kildare to set up Minor final showdown with Meath

Leinster MFC Rd 3

FT Dublin 1-14 Kildare 1-13

Dublin and Kildare had a huge championship tussle this afternoon in Tom Russell Memorial Park, home of St Brigids GAA club. An injury time Phoebe Macken free proved to be the difference between the two sides at the final whistle. Remarkably it was the only time that Dublin had lead during this keenly contested game.

Kildare came into today’s game fully aware that they could not qualify for the 2026 provincial A minor final having suffered defeat at the hands of both Wexford and Meath in previous rounds.

To their credit Kildare took the game to Dublin straight from the throw in and were fully deserving of their five-point lead at half time. Corner forward Aisling Nolan on target for the opening goal of the contest which arrived eleventh minute of the game. HT score Kildare 1-09 (12) Dublin 0-07 (7).

Dublin management made two changes at half time with Grace McCoy and Áine Mulligan introduced into the forward line. Both players brought an injection of pace to the contest which seemed to ignite those around them in sky blue jerseys.

A key moment arrived in the ninth minute when Áine Mulligan finished superbly to the back of the Kildare net to bring her side within one point of Kildare. The visitors responded with two well taken points to push their lead back out to three. Both sides exchanged scores with Kildare maintaining their slight lead as they game moved into the final quarter.

Corner forward Phoebe Macken came into her own during the closing stages of this hard-fought contest scoring four out of the last five Dublin scores including the winning point which arrived deep in injury time. Macken converting a difficult free to clinch victory for her side.

A draw may have been the fair result but Dublin will be delighted to have kept their unbeaten record intact as they begin their preparations for another encounter with old foes Meath. Meath defeated Wexford today by 0-14 to 1-07 to set up a provincial final meeting with Dublin on April 25th next.

Dublin v Kildare: Aoibhin Malone (Clann Mhuire), Caoimhe Brady (St Brigids), Kate Madden (Kilmacud Crokes), Ellen Fitzgerald (St Brigids), Kate Hanly (Cuala), Sophie McDonnell (Naomh Mearnóg) Captain, Keeva O’Donovan (Thomas Davis), Addison Cahill (St Finians Swords), Marianne O’Farrell (Trinity Gaels), Laoise Murtagh (St Maurs), Zara Flood (Thomas Davis), Siún Ní Cheallacháin (Na Fianna), Phoebe Macken (Clann Mhuire), Molly Bourke (St Brigids), Eva Collis (Lucan Sarsfields).

Dublin scorers: Phoebe Macken 0-08 (5f), Áine Mulligan 1-01, Siún Ní Cheallacháin 0-02, Eva Collis 0-02, Molly Bourke 0-01

Dublin subs: Grace McCoy (Round Tower C) for Marianne O’Farrell, Áine Mulligan (Erin Go Bragh) for Siún Ní Cheallacháin, Sadhbh O’Donovan (Thomas Davis) for Addison Cahill, Zara Quirke (St Marks) for Zara Flood, Ellie Reen (Naomh Mearnóg) for Molly Bourke, Ellen Morgan (Naomh Mearnóg) for Caoimhe Brady, Erin Brennan Conte (Cuala) for Kate Madden, Keyla Abkary (St Finians Newcastle) for Laoise Murtagh, Orlatih Kehoe (St Judes) for Eva Collis, Issy Harrell (Naomh Mearnóg) for Keeva O’Donovan.

Kildare v Dublin: Chloe Wright, Gwyn Canavan, Molly Lawlor, Grace Coburn, Caoimhe Mahon, Moya McCarthy, Rachel Dooley, Aoife Treacy, Ciara Dempsey, Cassie Mallon, Jessica McNulty, Aoibheann Birchall, Aisling Nolan, Abigail Corcoran, Amy Jones

Kildare scorers: Aisling Nolan 1-04 (1f), Aoife Treacy 0-02, Jessica McNulty 0-02, Aoibheann Birchall 0-02 (1f), Abigail Corcoran 0-01, Ciara Dempsey 0-01, Amy Jones 0-01.

Referee: Paul Burke (Louth).