Crunch game coming for Kildare after loss to Faithful Boys

Offaly 2-17

Kildare 0-17

It may be just a stat but Kildare have defeated Offaly the last 13 times these counties have met in the Allianz Football League.

So I suppose we could say all things come to end eventually but that hardly lessens the pain from a Kildare point of view.

And have no doubts, the home side in Glenish O'Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday, were more than worth their six point victory.

They were certainly more up for the game than their opponents; more clued in and that was very obvious from very early on.

One of the mysteries of the opening half was that the home side only led by a single point, that after being the more influential side in the opening 35+ minutes.

Kildare opened inside a minute with James McGrath linking up with Callum Bolton, the Sarsfields man splitting the posts.

The visitors also created an early goal chance when Ben McCormack found himself in on goal but as if to emphasise the drought of goals The Lilies are going through at the minute, it looked like McCormack was in two minds whether to punch over or go for goal and as what often happens in such situations, the shot was weak and straight into the 'keeper's arms.

Seven minutes in and Offaly opened their account after Didier Cordonnier cleared his line, the ball was brought back for a free and Keith O'Neill popped it over.

Cathal Hagney, who overall did well for Kildare, and Ben McCormack both found the range and Kildare led 0-3 to 0-2, Keith O'Neill converting a second Offaly free.

Early yellow
Cathal Hagney picked up an early yellow card for a foul on Keith O'Neill but the free was pushed wide.
Callum Bolton made a fine catch to move forward but Ben McCormack's point effort was short.

The impressive Dylan Hyland hit the first two-pointer of the day, a fine effort and when Jack Bryant added another point the home side led by two with 18 minutes on the clock.

A high ball into Jimmy Hyland was cleared with ease, not the first or last, shocking ball into the inside players.

Dylan Hyland added a second two-pointer and after Jack McEvoy's effort came off the upright, Shane Tierney, with his back to goal, kicked the ball over his head and over the bar to make it 0-8 to 0-3 with 23 minutes on the clock.

Kildare looked in trouble at this early stage; they looked like a team that were suffering the ill-effects from that defeat at the hands of Clare, poor movement; a lack of pace very similar to what we witnessed in Ennis.

Callum Bolton got his second of the game, a fine effort, and when Ryan Sinkey hit a beauty to reduce the lead to three on 26 things were looking somewhat rosier.

John Furlong, Offaly centre back, came through the middle of the Kildare defence getting in on goal but his blistering shot went high and over.

Alex Beirne and Ryan Sinkey reduced the lead back to two before a Dylan Hyland free after the ball was brought forward 50m.
Jimmy Hyland converted a free after being adjudged to have been fouled, Kevin Egan punched a point but Kildare hit back with two late points from Kevin Feely, the first a free, to leave the half-time score reading Offaly 0-11 Kildare 0-10.

There is no doubt The Lilies would have been happy being just a point adrift, while Offaly had to be wondering why they had not put more daylight between the sides.

Revival
Kildare were hoping for a second half revival, as we saw in Ennis two weeks ago, and they certainly got it with points from Colm Dalton, Kevin Feely as Kildare took the lead with 44 minutes on the clock.

Callum Bolton picked up a yellow; Dylan Hyland converted a free; Jimmy Hyland had Kildare two ahead while Offaly hit a two point free wide, Kildare responded with a short from Colm Dalton.

On 54 minutes the big turning point of the game arrived with Offaly attacking through Shane Tierney, the corner forward found Rory Egan and wing back made no mistake as Offaly were back in front by one — 1-12 to 0-14.

Dylan Hyland hit an inspirational point as the home fans were making their voices heard and with points from Cormac Egan and Hyland again, they certainly had much to shout about as they now held a four point lead on 61 minutes.

Colm Dalton and Cathal Hagney reduced the deficit but then disaster as the Kildare defence was torn to shreds with Keith O'Neill combining with Daire McDaid, the corner back being fouled and the referee immediately pointing to the spot.

Up stepped Dylan Hyland who hit his shot lot to Didier Cordonnier's left and while the Two Mile House man made a valiant to keep it out the ball hit the net.

Game over, ball burst.

Kevin Feely added a free a making a excellent catch on the edge of the square but the final point of the game went to Offaly with Cormac Egan racing through before punching over the bar.

A fully deserved victory for Offaly but, for a second game in a row, a very disappointing display from the boys in white.
They did show improvement in the second half but that was only for a short period, one the first Offaly goal arrived the writing was on the wall for Brian Flanagan's side.

Kildare now play Antrim in Newbridge on Sunday while Offaly have to travel to Ennis to tackle Clare.
The two promotion spots are more or less now between the three.

Kildare can still gain the badly needed promotion spot provided they defeat Antrim who are fighting relegation with just four points after just two wins.

Offaly look to be in prime position for the second spot. They have a healthy aggregate score over Offaly 37 as against 16 leaving it that if they can avoid a defeat of no more than 11 points they will get through.

A win for Kildare over Antrim should see Kildare keep ahead of Clare (if they were to defeat Offaly) as The Lilies have an aggregate score of the best of them all with +48 with, as we said Clare just +6.

Still Kildare must get the better of Antrim and while on what we have seen they should be capable of that but those two last defeats has certainly not just knocked them back somewhat, it has no doubt dented their confidence and their belief.

On the injury front the news is somewhat encouraging with Kevin Flynn seen going through some exercises prior to the start of Sunday's game while manager Flanagan also told the press after the game that Darragh Kirwan trained last Thursday and seems to have come through that well.

Either of both if available would be a huge boost for The Lilies.

SCORERS
Offaly: Dylan Hyland 1-9 (two two-pointers, penalty, 3 frees); Rory Egan 1-0, Cormac Egan 0-3, Keith O'Neill 0-2 (2 frees), Shane Tierney 0-1, Jack Bryant 0-1, John Furlong 0-1.

Kildare: Kevin Feely 0-4 (2 frees), Cathal Hagney 0-3, Callum Bolton 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-2, Colm Dalton 0-2, Jimmy Hyland 0-2 (1 free), Ben McCormack 0-1, Alex Beirne 0-1.

TEAMS
Offaly: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson cpt., Aidan Bracken, Daire McDaid; Rory Egan, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn, Keith O'Neill; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney. Subs: Aaron Leavy for Keith O'Neill (49 minutes); Nigel Dunne for Shane Tierney (69 minutes).

Kildare: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Mick O'Grady, Brian Byrne; Harry O'Neill, James McGrath, David Hyland; Callum Bolton, Cathal Hagney; Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Kevin Feely, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Jack McKevitt for Ryan Burke (44 minutes); Brian McLoughlin for Ben McCormack (44 minutes); Aaron Masterson for Ryan Sinkey (51 minutes); Darragh Swords for Alex Beirne (56 minutes); Niall Kelly for Jimmy Hyland (67 minutes).

REFEREE: Paddy Neilan, Roscommon.

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