Late Clare goal stuns Kildare to end winning run

Clare 2-12

Kildare 0-16

A goal in the third minute of five minutes added at the end of this pulsating game at Cusack Park, Ennis, ended Kildare's unbeaten run in this season's Allianz Football League, Division 3, a defeat that saw manager Brian Flanagan suffering his first set-back in competitive action in 2025.

It was a game that Clare dominated for most of the opening half, but having said that the visitors created more goal chances in that period than in the combined four games prior to this but through a combination of good defending, wrong options and poor finishing the green flag remained static throughout from a Kildare point of view.

Clare scored a goal in each half, the first from full forward Eoin Cleary and the second, and vital one, from impressive corner forward Keelan Sexton.

In front of an attendance of 1,827, it was Kildare who opened after five minutes, Colm Dalton firing over.

Clare responded with three points on the trot from Emmet McMahon, Brian McNamara and Aaron Griffin to lead 0-3 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.

It was obvious at this early stage that Kildare were going to be up against it and their unbeaten run could be threatened by an energetic Clare side that had a fair bit of possession but more importantly were making better use of their scoring opportunities.

Alex Beirne, made a fine turn through the middle but his somewhat speculative goal shot went left and wide.
Clare then raised their first green flag, Eoin Cleary giving Didieir Cordonnier little chance with a low shot to the net after 17minutes.

Ryan Burke, Kildare's corner back, got in a vital hand at a crucial time to deny Clare again, the Caragh man had another excellent game and is certainly looking like he will retain that number 2 shirt as the season unfolds.

Two pointer

Callum Bolton got his second to leave two between them but Clare responded with an excellent two-pointer from Keelan Sexton.

That orange flag was replied to by Didier Cordonnier who converted a free from some 46m.

Ben McCormack had a bit of a goal chance but seemed to be caught in two minds and his effort was easily blocked.

Emmet McMahon got the second of his first half three points to leave it 1-6 to 0-5 with 26 minutes on the clock.

Cathal Cagney was blocked as Brian McNamara charged through the middle went by two Kildare defenders, fouled and Emmet McMahon converted the resultant free.

Kevin Feely picked up a Colm Dalton blocked effort and punched over but that man, Keelan Sexton got his second two-pointer, again with a lot of time and space to make it 1-9 to 0-6 and it stayed at that to the break despite Alex Beirne being denied by

Eamon Tubridy in the Clare goal with the resultant 45 from Cordonnier failing to find the distance and a Ben McCormack effort missing the target.

Six points behind and while Kildare would have the breeze on their back in the second half, they certainly looked in trouble, particularly around the middle while their finishing was just not up the scratch for this level of football.

However, on the resumption, and despite failing to get a grip around the middle, they began to cut into the Clare lead as the rain arrived.

Colm Dalton added his second point, Alex Beirne hit a wide, before Callum Bolton and Ben McCormack left three in it with 41 minutes on the clock.

A couple of missed chances went abegging before Kevin Feely fetched a long ball into the danger area. The Athy man turned, his effort was saved but brought back for a foul and he popped over.

Alex Beirne left just one in on 49 minutes; Ryan Burke made a brilliant block to cut out a certain point for Clare; Ben McCormack hit a very speculative effort left and wide before Kildare were penalised for a 3x3 offence and Clare got their first point of the second half on 55 minutes to leave two between them.

Alex Beirne with a fine two-pointer had the sides level and soon after Kildare had another goal chance but Colm Dalton's effort went high and wide.

A minute later Kildare took the lead, Alex Beirne firing over.

Ryan Burke again cut on a dangerous Clare move; Beirne hit a wide before substitute Dermot Coughlan, just on, leveled up again with 63 minutes on the clock.

Coughlan edged Clare in front again after sending two defenders the wrong way.

Jimmy Hyland's long range effort was caught on the crossbar by keeper Tubridy before Alex Beirne hit a two-pointer to give Kildare the lead. However, Clare were not done and Ikem Ugweuru found Keelan Sexton and the corner forward hit the ball low to the Kildare net.

Final score: Clare 2-12 Kildare 0-16.

SCORERS
Clare: Clare, Keelan Sextion 1-4 (two two-pointers), Eoin Cleary 1-1 (1 free), Emmet McMahon 0-3 (2 frees), Dermot Coughlan 0-2, Brian McNamara 0-1, Aaron Griffin 0-1.

Kildare: Alex Beirne 0-6 (two two-pointers), Callum Bolton 0-3, Didier Cordonnier 0-2 (two-pointer free), Kevin Feely 0-2 (1 free), Colm Dalton 0-2, Ben McCormack 0-1.

TEAMS
Clare: Eamon Tubridy; Cillian Rouine, Cillian Brennan, Manus Doherty; Alan Sweeney, Fionn Kelleher, Sean McAllister; Brian McNamara, Ikem Ugweuru; Aaron Griffin, Emmet McMahon, Ciaran Downes; Conor Meaney, Eoin Cleary, Keelan Sexton. Subs: Gavin Murray for Aaron Griffin (48 minutes); Evan Cahill for Sean McAllister (52 minutes); Daniel Walsh for Conor Meaney (55 minutes); Dermot Coughlan for Alan Sweeney (62 minutes); Mark McInerney for Ciaran Downes (70 minutes).

Kildare: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Mick O'Grady, Brian Byrne; Jack McKevitt, James McGrath, David Hyland; Cathal Hagney, Callum Bolton; Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Niall Kelly, Kevin Feely cpt, Darragh Swords. Subs: Brian McLoughlin for Darragh Swords (29 minutes); Harry O'Neill for Cathal Hagney (half-time); Jimmy Hyland for Niall Kelly (45 minutes); Ryan Sinkey for Ben McCormack (52 minutes); Daniel Flynn for Daniel Flynn (70 minutes).

REFEREE: Brendan Griffin, Kerry.

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