Kildress Ladies fell at the final hurdle in their 2020 League campaign as they lost out to Coalisland by 4-10 to 1-6 in the Patrick Fahy and Co Division III League Final played in perfect conditions at Killyman earlier this evening.
Over the hour, there was no doubt that the better team won, with the Fianna just much stronger and physically more powerful than Kildress, and packed too with quality footballers. The Tones struggled to win and hold possession against that strength and power, but their young team battled more than gamely, though they just lacked the strength to make a lot of good play count. Coalisland meanwhile, after a slightly wasteful first half, always had the ability to crack in a goal any time Kildress showed signs of getting back into things.
The Tones trailed by 2-5 to 0-2 at the break but stepped things up in the early stages of the second half, putting the Fianna defence under pressure and having tough luck with a shot that hit the base of the post and a number of wides. Chloe Tracey’s goal hinted at a revival but Coalisland were not going to let that happen and settled down to see out the game and become worthy and stylish League Champions.
The end of a strange COVID-influenced season, but one that was good for a very young Kildress team and which leaves the players, and their management of Conal Heagney, Maeve Conway and Donna Hagan, looking forward positively to 2021.
Kildress: Charleen Quinn (Captain) | Donna Hagan, Cathy Connolly, Aisling Hagan | Natacha O’Neill, Aoife O’Connor, Mairead Rafferty | Antaine McNamee, Lanaoise Lagan | Emma McKernan, Chloe Tracey (1-3), Eimear McAleer (0-1) | Eilis Keenan (0-2), Ann-Marie Lennon, Stacy Boone | Anna Lennon, Aoife McElduff, Bronagh McAleer, Cara Loughran, Carla Leadon, Chloe McGowan, Ciara Hagan, Dominique Mullin, Emma O’Kane, Marie Daly, Niamh Brannigan, Nicole Keenan, Sarah McAleer, Shannon Crilly, Annie McKenna, Maeve Conway, Rhiannon Loughran
