Kicock Senior Ladies enjoyed the perfect preperation for next tuesday’s Division 3 League Final v Ballkelly as they emphatically defeated neighbours Celbridge by twenty points in their own back yard tonight. The hosts themselves were also warming up for a league final, the Division 4 deceider v Robert Emmets next tuesday. With a panel of well in excess of twenty-five this year, a friendly like this gave ample oppurtunity to Kilcock’s managment team to give all their girls a good run out and try some players in new positions while also giving other girls a chance to stake a claim for a starting berth in the forthcoming final. Some notable changes to the side that beat Na Fianna in the leauge semi-final were the moving of full forward Emma Robinson to midfield where she turned in a masterful display, the starting of Louise Keane in the forwards on the edge of the square and Aoife Divily moving out to centre forward from corner forwad while Ciara Leonard and Therese Macken got their chance to shine in defence. In the absence of the holidaying manager Shane Stone, these decisions were left up to selectors Seamus Kane and Robert Cox. When the game got underway, captain Shona Cagney got the girls in green and gold off the mark early with a well taken point from twenty yards, infact Kilcock would go on to rack up 1:08 without reply with points from Grace White(1), Emma Robinson(1), Aoife Divily(1) and a brace each from Emma Rochford and the impressive Laura O’Neill all either side of a fine goal from Louise Keane who received the pass from Cagney who had made a great run to split the defence and showed great vision to find the unmarked Keane who slotted the ball low to the keepers left. While the forwards were working like a well oiled machine, tackling from the front, finding their passes and putting their shooting boots to a good cause, the defence were busy shoring things up at the back, with Rachel Fagan in particular to the fore in her new sweeper role. Caitlin NiMhuricu added two points either side of the change of ends and just before she came off she got the score of the night with a thunder bolt goal to the bottom corner of the net. Further points from the hard working White(2), Keane(2), young Emma Maguire and Emma Rochford helped the visitors pull away plus a goal from wing forward Shanon Byrne. Celbridge struck 1:04 throughout as the Kilcock defence was in a miserly mood and most of these scores came as Kilcock rang the changes and some girls were forced to play out of position. But in all the whole panel involved can be happy with their performance with Emma Robinson and Shona Cagney well on top in the middle of the park and Rachel Fagan, Bernie Durkan and Ciara Leonard shoring up at the back. Aoife Divily played the playmaker role to perfection and though all the forwards kept the scoreboard ticking over and it was hard to single one of them out for a  special mention, which is a good sign. Kilcock can go away happy and continue there industrious buid up to the final but Celbridge will know a big improvement is required if they are to bring back the silverware to the Hazelhatch Road Clubhouse.

               This reporter would also like to give a special mention and well done to Emma Maguire and Hayley White who appeared again for the seniors tonight as these two girls are only thirteen years old and both surely have a long and successful career ahead of them if they continue to progress at this rate. Also well done to goalie Eimear Kelly who got called up to the Kildare senior ladies team…well done Eimear and best of luck.

Kilcock Team:
1:Eimear Kelly
2:Emma Maguire(0:01)
3:Fiona Campion
4:Rachel Fagan
5:Shanon Byrne(1:00)
6:Bernie Durkan
7:Ciara Leonard
8:Shona Cagney(0:02)
9:Emma Robinson(0:02)
10:Laura O’Neill(0:02)
11:Aoife Divily(0:01)
12:Grace White(0:03)
13:Caitlin NiMhuricu(1:02)
14:Louise Keane(1:02)
15:Emma Rochford(0:03)

SUBS:
Therese Macken
Deirbhle Mulvihill
Hayley White
Emma Bermingham
ALL USED.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DEFENCE: Rachel Fagan
MIDFIELD: Emma Robinson
FORWARDS: Aoife Divily

PLAYERS MISSING FROM THE PANEL TONIGHT:
Sheena Byrne
Ashling O’Connor
Caoimhe Fagan
Linda Byrne
Orla Cagney
Noelle Conlon
Emily Milner
Katie Devine
Mary Tighe