How Kildare's silverware was finally delivered in Croke Park

Kildare 1-24

Limerick 2-19

It has taken a long time but Kildare finally delivered some silverware after this hard-earned but well-earned two point victory over Limerick bringing home the Tailteann Cup.

Overall it has been a season to remember, with many ups and downs but at the end of the day there were more definitely more positives than negatives.

Promotion gained being the initial no. 1 objective; somewhat unlucky in the Leinster semi-final before a run in the Tailteann Cup that finally ended Kildare's barren spell and with it a ticket to next season's Sam Maguire, all in manager Brian Flanagan's first year and when you add in this man's two Leinster U20 wins and an All-Ireland title it is a start at this level he could only have dreamed about.

Saturday, in a blistering hot Croke Park Kildare looked to have this one won and lost at various stages in both halves.
And while Alex Beirne opened the scoring after two minutes Limerick replied through wing-back Tony McCarthy, it was the first of his three points and when you add Iain Corbett's second half point along with Killian Ryan's 1-1 it brought the boy in green half-back total to a very impressive 1-5.

Callum Bolton hit an excellent two-pointer — Kildare playing with the aid of a stiffish breeze in that opening half.

Emmet Rigter replied for Limerick before Cian Burke made a brilliant save but the ball broke to Cillian Fahy and the no. 11 found the left hand corner of the Kildare net, despite the efforts of Brian Byrne, to lead 1-3 to 0-3.

That goal certainly showed what Kildare's opponents were capable of but The Lilies responded well, that after two wides before Darragh Kirwan fired over a two-pointer, the same player leveling up on 12 minutes.

Kildare looked somewhat lose at the back and Tommie Childs should have capitalised after gaining possession all alone but was quickly smothered up.

Kildare played some great football at this stage, captain Kevin Feely edged The Lilies ahead before David Hyland gained possession from a kick-out, passed to Darragh Kirwan who found his fellow Naas club man Alex Beirne who carried before finishing brilliantly to the net an when Kirwan added another point Kildare led by no less than seven points — 1-10 to 1-3 and looked on command with17 minutes gone. However they lost their way for the next15 or 16 minutes as Limerick took control around the middle hitting five points on the trot beginning with a tap-over free after Cillian Burke was penalised for delaying a kick-out as Limerick cut the lead back to just two points.

It took a point in the 33 minutes by the hard-working Colm Dalton to ease the pressure; Limerick hit a terrible wide; Alex Beirne added a point and while Peter Nash replied, a point after the half-time hooter sounded saw Ryan Sinkey punch a point and led 1-12 to 1-9 at the break.

Worry
A worry just before the break saw Darragh Kirwan require attention but happily the Naas man returned unscathed for the second half.

Sinkey fired over from an acute angle on the resumption but Limerick hit back with two points from Tony McCarthy.
Sinkey got his third as David Hyland made a brilliant block after tracking back an opponent.

The Lilies were penalised for impeding and up stepped 'keeper Josh Ryan with an excellent two-pointer and when Ian Corbett added a point the lead was back to a single point with 44 minutes on the clock.

Kildare were in some trouble at this stage but Darragh Kirwan eased the growing worries with a fine point; Colm Dalton had a sniff of a goal chance but was brilliantly dispossessed as the Limerick fans were in full cry.

Peter Nash reduced the gap to one and a minute later Limerick hit the front, Killian Ryan finding the net despite Brian Byrne's valiant effort, and the Munster boys now led 2-15 to 1-16.

Cometh the time cometh the man and Brian McLoughlin hit a brilliant two-pointer to level and while limerick regained the lead with a Cillian Fahy point, Kildare stepped up again with points from Kirwan, Tommy Gill, Feely (free) to open a five point lead. and while Killian Ryan pointed, white flags from Kirwan, McLoughlin and Dalton opened a four point lead 1-24 to 2-17 with 63 minutes gone.

Ryan Sinkey made a brilliant tackle as Limerick came storming back, James Naughton converted a free and then at the death substitute Rory O'Brien saw his effort deflected over the bar by Brian Byrne. The hooter arrived, Kildare, much to the delight, and relief, of Kildare players and fans as The Lilies won on a score line of Kildare 1-24 Limerick 2-19.

It was a hard-earned win with some great score taking and while there were many bumps along the way Kildare finally brought their long drought without silverware to an end with Darragh Kirwan being awarded with the man of the match award.

And the icing on the cake?

Kildare the first team to qualify for the Sam Maguire Cup come 2026.

Along with Division 2 football come the new season, Kildare have finally something to look forward to especially after the disastrous place they found themselves a mere 12 months ago.

Brian Flanagan and his management team, along with all the players, take a collective bow.

Well deserved.
Well earned.
Enjoy!

SCORERS
Kildare: Darragh Kirwan 0-8 (2 two-pointers); Alex Beirne 1-2, Brian McLoughlin 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Ryan Sinkey 0-3, Callum Bolton 0-2 (1 two-pointer), Kevin Feely 0-2 (1 free), Colm Dalton 0-2, Daniel Flynn 0-1, Tommy Gill 0-1.

Limerick: Killian Ryan 1-1, Killian Fahy 1-1, Peter Nash 0-3 (1 free), Josh Ryan 0-3 (45, 1 two-pointer free), Emmet Rigter 0-2, Tony McCarthy 0-2, James Naughton 0-2 (2 frees), Danny Neville 0-1, Tommie Childs 0-1, Tony McCarthy 0-1, Ian Corbett 0-1, Rory O'Brien 0-1.

TEAMS
Kildare: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Ryan Burke, Brian Byrne; Tommy Gill, David Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely cpt, Brendan Gibbons; Colm Dalton, Alex Beirne, Callum Bolton; Ryan Sinkey, Darragh Kirwan, Daniel Flynn. Subs: Jack McKevitt for James McGrath (42 minutes); Brian McLoughlin for Brendan Gibbons (42 minutes); Eoin Cully for Daniel Flynn (47 minutes); Mick O'Grady for Ryan Burke (66 minutes).

Fermanagh: Josh Ryan; Jason Hassett, Darren O'Doherty, Mark McCarthy; Killian Ryan, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy; Tommie Childs; Darragh O'Hagan; Paul Maher, Cillian Fahy, Danny Neville; Emmet Rigter, James Naughton, Peter Nash. Subs: Barry Coleman for Tommie Childs (ts 15-18 minute); Darragh Murray for Darragh O'Hagan (42 minutes); Barry Coleman for Paul Maher (47 minutes); Rob Childs for Emmet Rigter (54 minutes); Tadgh Ó Siochrú for Iain Corbett (61 minutes); Rory O'Brien for Tommie Childs (66 minutes).

REFEREE: Liam Devenney.

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