MONAGHAN TAKE FULL POINTS IN LAST LEAGUE GAME

Monaghan 0-18  Kildare 0-8

Monaghan went into Sunday’s game assured of a semi final spot, whereas Kildare needed a win to stand a chance of avoiding relegation. With a semi final position safe there was a changed Monaghan line out from previous games. It was Monaghan who started the livelier and Catriona Mc Connell opened the scoring of the day firing over a point with less than a minute of the game gone. Ciara Mc Anespie had a golden opportunity of a goal soon after but her shot was well saved byKildare keeper Mary Hulgraine. Kildare defence was under immense pressure in the opening quarter and 3points in succession all from frees from Niamh Kindlon and a point from Ciara Mc Anespie put Monaghan 5 points clear. It took a free converted by Eimear Fogarty to get Kildare off the mark on the 12 minute mark. Monaghan’s pressure continued and 2 more goal opportunities went astray. Aoife Mc Anespie’s shot on goal was well saved by Mary Hulgraine and a blistering shot from Catriona Mc Connell ricocheted off the post.
Kildare soaked up the pressure and mounted an attack of their own. They were rewarded with a point once again from a free converted by Eimear Fogarty, but Natasha Mohan kept Monaghan 4 clear with a point for the home side. Kildare then had a great opportunity for goal only to see their attempt blocked on the line. Two points in succession for Monaghan, one from Cora Courtney and the other from Catriona Mc Connell put 6 between the sides but Kildare immediately responded with 2 points from midfielder Ash Holton and half forward Maria Moolick, who was coming more into the game for the Lilywhites. With just 4 points now between the sides it looked like Kildare had weathered the storm but just on the stroke of half time Aoife Mc Anespie found Natasha Mohan who fired over the bar to put Monaghan 5 ahead going into the break

Half time score  Monaghan 0-9  Kildare 0-4

Kildare were probably the happier going in at the break, because for all of Monaghan’s dominance in the opening half, Kildare where still in the game. Monaghan introduced Laura Mc Eneaney and Therese Mc Nally at half time and like the opening minutes of the first half, they mounted serious pressure on the Kildare defence. Aoife Mc Anespie opened the scoring of the second half when after a surging run forward she fisted over the bar. She added her second point of the day not long after having received a great ball from Catriona Mc Connell. Ciara Mc Anespie added another to put Monaghan 8 clear with only 6 minutes of the second half gone. Kildare also introduced a number of subs but it was still all Monaghan and substitute Laura Mc Eneaney soon got her name on the score sheet with 2 points in succession to put Monaghan 10 clear after the opening quarter. Kildare’s first score of the half came from a free converted by Eimear Fogarty but 3 further points from Monaghan, one from Catriona Mc Connell, one from Amanda Casey and another from Laura Mc Eneaney stretched Monaghan’s lead to 12. It was an uphill task for Kildare now but they didn’t give up and they continued to take the game to Monaghan. Monaghan introduced Ciara Duffy and Barbara Ward for the last quarter but it was Kildare who finished the scoring of the game with 2 points, one from Eimer Fogarty, the other from her midfield partner Ash Holton to leave 10 points between the sides at the end.

Final score  Monaghan 0-18  Kildare 0-8