15/04/2022: The Junior Ladies faced a tough test this evening on the road but edged out Miltown2 by the minimum, Kildysart 3-5 to Miltown 1-10. Under the new management of Emma Finucane and Shona Garry, Kildysart continued their blistering start to the Division 4 league campaign, with their 4th win on the trot. This was their hardest test so far and they were full value for their win.

It took time for both teams to get to grips with the match but Lauren Keane got the blues on the board with her first point in the 5th minute. It took another 5 minutes before Miltown equalized. Things started hotting up when Niamh O’Keeffe fired low and hard for the first goal of the match. The sides swapped points and Kildysart led at the first water break 1-2 to 0-2. Caroline Casey excelled in her sweeper role to keep Miltown at bay. Siobhan Moloney was a steady pair of hands in her debut between the posts but there was no stopping the Miltown rifle to the top corner at the restart. The home side added a point right after and Kildysart found themselves behind (for the first time in this campaign), Kildysart 1-2, Miltown 1-3 with 18 minutes on the clock. A point from captain Sinead Kelly and a second from Aisling Murphy gave Kildysart the slender lead at the break, Kildysart 1-4, Miltown 1-3.

Miltown started strong and slotted over 2 points in succession before Sinead Kelly stunned the clarets when she fired from the top of the “D” to the back of the net to put Kildysart back on top where they remained, Kildysart 2-4, Miltown 1-5. The sides swapped points again to leave a two-point margin at the second water break. Kildysart’s third goal came from the boot of Ashleigh O’Brien which put Kildysart up by 5 with 10 minutes remaining. However, Miltown fought back and reduced the margin to just one with 4 unanswered points. With only a minute remaining on the clock, Kildysart were awarded a free but the ball hit the crossbar and a goal scramble ensued only for the ball to be sent wide. Time was up and Kildysart held on for the win. Final score: Kildysart 3-5, Miltown2 1-10, referee: Michael Talty.

Kildysart travel to Ballyvaughan on bank holiday Monday and play Burren Gaels 2 at 12pm. Their final round match is away to West Clare Gaels on or before 2nd May. This year the league is a straight final between the top two teams (i.e. no semi-finals).

Kildysart: Siobhan Moloney, Chloe Sheehan, Laoise Kelly, Susan Casey, Caroline Casey, Kyla Foley, Caiti Donnellan, Sinead Kelly-captain (1-1), Ashleigh O’Brien (1-0), Rachel Conway, Aisling Murphy (0-2), Roisin Donnellan (0-1, 1f), Lauren Keane (0-1), Gillian Finucane, Niamh O’Keeffe (1-0). Subs: Caitlin Casey for S. Casey (46 min).