Kildare show their bottle against all the odds to beat Clare

Allianz Football League Division 2

Kildare 0-16

Clare 0-15

The opening paragraph in the report of this Round 3 of the Allianz Football League Division 2, may not have been written, but it was certainly in the head as we entered into time added on at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Sunday afternoon.

Trialing by three points (0-15 to 0-12) Kildare looked destined for their third defeat in a row. joint bottom of the table along with Limerick and facing into a mighty struggle, not alone to avoid relegation but also into unknown territory and the Tailteann Cup, all that with still four round to go but such was the situation Kildare were in at that particular time.

Clare had lead throughout the game, from their first score of the game after four minutes; led at the break by four — 0-11 to 0-7 — and were still three to the good as the PA announced there would be five minutes, at least, of time added on.

Clare star forward, Eoin Cleary, playing a captain's role, fired over for his county to make it 0-15 to 0-12 before the Kildare revival began with David Hyland splitting the posts on 71 minutes and ended six minutes later when Neil Flynn tapped over a close-in free to see the visitors take the lead for the very first time in the game, collect two extremely valuable points, winning by one on a final score line of Kildare 0-16 Clare 0-15.
Few, if anyone could have envisaged that outcome.

In fairness to Kildare when things were not going their way, that despite a much improved second half performance, they kept plugging away but when they lost Ben McCormack to a second yellow in the 50 minute, well only the most optimistic of supporters could have expected a win but win they did and they deserve to complimented for that.

In recent times, not just recent in fact over a fair few years now, Kildare had now won close games; rarely came out on top when a game was in the melting pot as the final whistle approached but that has changed and all we can do now is hope that this will give the side a great boost as we reach the half-way point in this most competitive of Division 2 leagues, and with Derry due to visit St Conleth's Park this Sunday, the wait will be short lived.

Lining out with four changes from he side that took a bit of pasting from Cork just two weeks ago, it was the visitors who opened the scoring after four minutes, Emmet McMahon firing over.

Three wides from the home side, including two scorable frees followed before The Lilies opened their account with Jimmy Hyland splitting the posts after Darragh Kirwan was fouled.

Two early yellow cards followed from Ryan Houlihan and Padraic Collins, the two had been tussling from the throw-in and were finally given yellows on 10 minutes.

Eoin Clear, free, had Clare in front and they were never behind throughout the game until that late late free.
Cleary added a lovely point from play before Paddy Woodgate's effort was short but actually hopped over the bark.
Ronan Lannigan, up from corner back, saw his close range effort just over the bar and Clare led 0-4 to 0-2 after 14 minutes.
Jack Robinson got on the scoresheet and when Kevin Feely was fouled Jimmy Hyland had the sides level from the placed ball at 0-4 apiece.

Paddy Woodgate was 'fouled' off the ball and how Alan Sweeney was not give a straight red beggars belief. After a long consultation with his linesman, the match official eventually flashed a black card but ironically allowed Clare to take a free (the referee having allowed play to continue) and Cleary fired over to retain the lead on 21 minutes.

Down to 14 players, Clare played as if they had an extra man instead of the other way around and tacked on two quick points from a very dodgy Eoin Cleary free and a point from play from Padraic Collins to put his side three to the good on 25 minutes.
Kevin O'Callaghan found Kevin Feely and the Athy man hit a fine point which was quickly followed by a Jimmy Hyland free, after O'Callaghan had been fouled and the lead was back to a single point.

Cleary stretched the lead with another free before Dermot Coughlan took full advantage of a howler of a hand-pass; Gavin Cooney added another as Clare now led by four.

Points from Jimmy Hyland (Shea Ryan fouled) and a similar score from Eoin Cleary saw the sides head to the dressing rooms with Clare lead by a comfortable, and fully deserved four points 0-11 to 0-7.

Kildare looked to be in real trouble at that stage and that despite having a stiffish breeze on their backs in the second half.
A foul on Paddy McDermott saw Jimmy Hyland reduce the gap but two more Cleary frees had the lead out to five as Danial Flynn entered on 43 minutes.

A few minutes the lead hit the half-a-dozen mark, Gavin Cooney the scorer and while Daniel Flynn hit a vine effort on 50 minutes Ben McCormack picked up a second yellow and with it one felt any chance The Lilies had were gone.

Kildare, in fairness, refused to go away, two points from Darragh Kirwan and Neil Flynn (second half substitute) reduced the gap to three on 55 minutes.

O'Callaghan and Kirwan picked up yellows within a minute of each before a long ball in by Kevin Feely saw Darragh Kirwan close to making contact and finding the net but the effort was cleared.

On 65 minutes an excellent point from Neil Flynn left two in it but a brilliant catch in his own square by Eoin Cleary saw the no. 11 carry the ball out of defence, off-load and was then on hand to get the return and fire over to push the lead back out three on 69.

David Hyland showed great leadership when electing to take the responsibility on when nothing else was on and fired over a great point on 71 minutes.

Five minutes, at least, was the announcement on the time added on as Kildare came forward, refusing to accept what looked like the inevitable outcome of this one.

Clare keeper, Stephen Ryan came out of his goal with the ball, lost possession, then fouled Danial Flynn, the keeper was black carded and Neil Flynn tapped over reducing the gap to one on 72 minutes.

The sizeable Kildare fans then sensed maybe something might be gotten out of this yet and a brilliant point from Danial Flynn had the sides level.

Kildare were now dominant and attacked again, Darragh Kirwan saw his effort fall short but the match official called back play for a foul on the Naas man, up stepped Neil Flynn with another close-in free and Kildare were in front for the very first time in this contest.

The final whistle duly arrived from David Marnane (Cork) and Kildare had secured a victory that just did not look possible for long periods; certainly when trailing by three points one minute into time added on.

But win they did; they showed commendable courage, refusing to lie down and toll over and while Clare will certainly feel this is one that got away, Kildare won it 0-16 to 0-15.

SCORERS

Kildare: Jimmy Hyland 0-4 (4 frees), Neil Flynn 0-4 (2 frees), Danial Flynn 0-2, Paddy Woodgate 0-2 (1 free), Kevin Feely 0-1, Darragh Kirwan 0-1, David Hyland 0-1.

Clare: Eoin Cleary 0-8 (6 frees), Emmett McMahon 0-2, Gavin Cooney 0-2, Ronan Lannigan 0-1, Dermot Coughlan 0-1. Padraic Collins 0-1.

TEAMS

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan; David Hyland, Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott; Kevin Feely, Kevin O'Callaghan; Ben McCormack, Kevin Flynn, Paddy Woodgate; Jimmy Hyland, Darragh Kirwan, Jack Robinson. Subs: Danial Flynn for Jack Robinson (43 minutes); Neil Flynn for Paddy Woodgate (43 minutes); Darragh Malone for Kevin O'Callaghan (58 minute); Shane O'Sullivan for Jimmy Hyland (66 minutes);

Clare: Stephen Ryan; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lannigan; Cian O'Dea, Pearse Lillis, Alan Sweeney; Cathal O'Connor, Darragh Bohannon; Jamie Malone, Eoin Cleary cpt., Dermot Coughlan; Padraic Collins, Emmet McMahon, Gavin Cooney. Subs: Ikgm Ugweru for Alan Sweeney (half-time); Aaron Griffin for Favin Cooney (47 minutes); Brandy Rouine for Cathal O'Connor (47 minutes); Ciarain Russell for Manus Doherty (70 minutes).

REFEREE: David Murnane, Cork.