Maynooth reach Kildare SFC knockouts with late win over Raheens

Maynooth 3-10

Raheens 0-12

Maynooth have reached the knockout stages of the Joe Mallon Motors Kildare Senior Football Championship with a Round 3 result against Raheens to progress out of Group B alongside Naas and Sarsfields.

Both sides scored early on in this game with Paul O’Dea’s opener for Maynooth being answered instantly by Daire Gilmartin. The short distance between scores set the table for an altogether different meal than what was served in the opening half.

O’Dea turned provider for Maynooth who edged ahead through Fionn Ó'Giolláin. It would however be their last score for 21 minutes.

Sloppy passing from both of those teams irked a frustrated watching crowd but applause were drawn when Dara Crowley equalised with a fine score after a burst of pace just before the 10-minute mark.

That lack of passing coherence continued and Dara Crowley was again the man to raise a white flag in this game’s time of need with another great point.

Raheens moved three clear on the 20-minute mark after Daire Gilmartin boomed over a two-pointer with the most confident strike of the afternoon to that point while Niall Colgan played advantage.

Two Paddy Mahoney frees deep into the first half reduced the gap to just a single point with neither side having impressed in the opening half an hour.

In a game all about progression, it appears both outfits were focused on the avoidance of elimination early on.

A point at either end after the restart maintained the status quo before Maynooth registered their first goal of this game in bizarre circumstances. Fionn Ó'Giolláin had his first effort at goal saved by Declan Campbell and his second then cannoned back off the crossbar. The rebounding ball hit Fionn Tully and dribbled agonisingly into the Raheens net.

Raheens responded well and got level thanks to points from Paddy Woodgate and Dara Crowley before Jack Taafe sent them two clear with a two-point free.

Neil Flynn levelled with a double of his own, which arrived a mere 10 seconds after his introduction from the bench.

The sides remained level with five minutes left on the clock when the game turned on a black card. Luke O’Donovan was correctly sidelined for dragging Ciarán Flanagan to the ground after the Maynooth midfielder had just fielded possession.

Maynooth capitalised on their numerical advantage with a close-range point from Paddy Mahoney and a Flanagan score after extended team possession.

The leading side put this game to bed with two Eoin Donnellan goals in as many minutes. 

Donnellan beat the Raheens ‘keeper to the ball after being slipped in by Neil Flynn for the first and was on the end of a handpass across goal to slap in for the second.

Raheens ended the game’s scoring with a free from Jack Taafe as they exited this year’s Championship with a 3-10 to 0-12 loss to Maynooth.

Maynooth, Eoin Donnellan 2-1, Fionn Ó'Giolláin 1-1, Paddy Mahoney 0-3 (0-1 frees), Neil Flynn 0-2 (one 2pt), Paul O'Dea 0-1, Matthew Diamond 0-1, Ciarán Flanagan 0-1.

Raheens, Daire Gilmartin 0-3 (one 2pt), Dara Crowley 0-3, Jack Taafe 0-3 (0-3 frees, one 2pt free), Paddy Woodgate 0-2 (0-1 frees), Killian Thompson 0-1.

MAYNOOTH: Mark Donnellan; Cathal Quinn, Sean Mahon, Darren Maguire; Callum McCabe, Niall O'Sullivan, Fionn Ó'Giolláin; Paul Maguire, Ciarán Flanagan; Paul O'Dea, Paddy Maguire, Daniel Farrell; Paddy Mahoney, John Flattery, Matthew Diamond. Subs: Eoin Donnellan for John Flattery (36 minutes), Conor O'Grady for Sean Mahon (41 minutes), Sean Higgins for Paul Maguire (41 minutes), Neil Flynn for Daniel Farrell (47 minutes).

RAHEENS: Declan Campbell; Shane McSweeney, Jack Hamill, Graham Waters; Fionn Tully, Niall Cramer, Daniel Hamill; Dara Crowley, Killian Thompson; Luke O'Donovan, Niall Dolan, Daire Gilmartin; Paddy Woodgate, Liam Power, Jack Taafe. Subs: Fionn Cooke for Liam Power (Half-time).

Referee: Niall Colgan