Kerry 2-10 Kildare 2-9
The hosts started the livelier, rushing into a 3 point lead inside 6 minutes
But Kerry responded brilliantly with a well worked goal from Danielle O'Leary in the 11th minute
Kerry then moved into a 2 point lead by the end of the 1st quarter, 1-2 to 0-3
But the hosts responded in kind, scoring 2 points and a goal within 3 minutes to turn this contest back in the hosts favour, 1-5 to 1-2
Kerry landed a point before Kildare captain Laoise Lenehan was sent to the sin bin with 5 minutes to go in the opening half
Siofra O'Shea landed a free to cut the deficit back to 1.
Both sides added another point to their tallies to make it 1-6 to 1-5
Kildare kicked a fine score before the half was to be drawn to a close, Kildare leading by 2 at the short whistle, 1-7 to 1-5
Kerry had a lightening start to the second hald, levelling the game with two quickfire scores in the opening stages, using their lady advantage in the opening stages.
The sides shared a couple of scored and Kerry managed to take the lead by 1, 1-9 to 1-8 with 20 minutes to go.
But Kildare netted in the 13th minute through a great finish by Alannah Prizeman, giving the lilywhites a 2 point advantage heading into the final quarter, 2-8 to 1-9
Kerry's never say die attitude came out once again when Danielle O'Leary netted her second goal of the game. It was well taken on the follow up after a great save by the Kildare keeper, O'Leary palmed it home into the back of the net to put Kerry back in front in a topsy turvy relegation battle, 2-9 to 2-8 with 12 minutes left on the clock.
With 8 minutes on the clock, Danielle O'Leary was brought down in the box to earn Kerry a penalty. Siofra O'Shea stepped up but it was well saved by Rachael Fennin in the Kildare goal to keep a single point between the sides heading down the closing stages.
Rachael Dwyer gave Kerry a two point lead with 6 minutes to go, taking a superb score.
The hosts cut the deficit to 1 with the clock ticking inside the 3 minutes mark
But that was to be the final action of the game and Kerry retain their Division 1 status for 2026
Mark Bourke post match interview
