Eastern Gaels Ladies secured another three important League points this afternoon (Sunday, 9 March 2025) with a solid performance in sunny Kilbride.

An early driving run by Emma O’Sullivan saw Annaleigh McGuinness open the scoring with a fine point but this was quickly cancelled out after the home side’s first attack.  Kilbride then took the lead with a point from a free but Eastern Gaels soon began to dominate.

Caoimhe Walsh soon had Gaels level with an excellent individual score after good work by Kate Ball.  A high ball into the Kilbride square then broke towards Amy Lowth who finished it to the net soccer-style.

Caoimhe Cairns then opened her account with a pointed free from the left and this was soon followed by a booming effort from Emma.  Caoimhe C secured possession from the resulting kickout and split the posts again.

On 10 minutes some excellent work from Kate O’Sullivan saw Amy Lowth score her second goal with a cool finish.  As they did for most of the game Emma then combined well with Caoimhe C who scored her third point and pushed the lead out to ten points – 2-06 to 0-02. 

The Gaels attack was functioning well with Leah Maguire and Aoibhinn Butler stretching the home defence in the corners.  Caoimhe C then won another Kilbride kickout and again finished nicely for another point. 

The home team were still lively in attack but excellent interceptions by Alison Boyle and Cliodhna Cairns snuffed out a couple of dangerous situations.  Gaels had a further scare on 19 minutes when a Kilbride shot came off the crossbar and was cleared by Isabelle McDonnell Murphy.  

The next attack saw the ball drop dangerously in the Kilbride square and Sorcha Cronin pounced to volley the loose bar over the bar.  

Good defensive work by Alison and Kate Kelly set up a flowing move with Annaleigh and Emma combining to set up Caoimhe C for another fine score.

Gaels were well on top now with Caoimhe W and Grace Milner dominating the middle and Kate O’Sullivan and Siofra Murphy providing plenty of support from the wing back positions.

Emma added to the Gaels total with another point from the right to make it 2-10 to 0-02. 

The home side then ended a 20 minute scoreless spell when an awkward high ball was excellently saved by Isabelle but the rebound was finished to the net. 

Isabelle’s kickouts were excellent throughout the game, consistently long and finding a Gaels’ jersey.

Another dangerous Kilbride attack was ended by some excellent defending by Kate B and the turnover saw Emma fouled and Caoimhe C pointing the resulting free.

Kilbride finished the half strongly with two consecutive points from play and were denied another score after some good defending by Kate K. 

Gaels started the second half brightly with Caoimhe C pointing a free after a foul on Emma before the latter finished coolly to the bottom left of the net after a good move.  

The visitors continued to dominate with Siofra M and Caoimhe W both winning excellent possession in the middle thanks to astute reading of the game.  

Amy L was then denied a hat-trick by the left post after a great counter attack.  

In the seventh minute Emma pointed from play and was fouled shortly after, with Caoimhe C pointing her fourth free.

A quick Kilbride break saw the home side score a nice point but another promising move was stopped by some good defending by Alison.

As the halfway point of the half approached Emma pounced for another well-taken goal to leave the score at 4-14 to 1-05.

Kilbride then had a purple patch with a pointed free followed by a speculative high ball which found the back of the net.  Gaels hit back with a point from Caoimhe C after good work by Emma.  

The home side pointed again on the break only for Caoimhe to feed Emma this time for a well worked point.

Kilbride finished strongly and only good work from Kate K prevented a certain score.  The resulting attack saw Annaleigh fouled and Caoimhe C making no mistake with the free.  

But the home side had the last say finishing strongly with a quickfire goal and a point, leaving a final score of Kilbride 3-08, Eastern Gaels 4-17.

Next up is a trip to Longwood in a fortnight’s time. 

 

Eastern Gaels: Isabelle McDonnell Murphy, Kate Ball, Alison Boyle, Kate Kelly, Siofra Murphy,  Cliodhna Cairns, Kate O’Sullivan, Grace Milner, Caoimhe Walsh (0-01),  Annaleigh McGuinness (0-01), Emma O’Sullivan (2-04), Caoimhe Cairns (0-10, (5f), Aoibhinn Butler, Amy Lowth, (2-00) , Leah Maguire, Sorcha Cronin (0-01).