Derry too hot to handle as they take Kildare apart

Allianz National Football League Division 2

Derry 2-15

Kildare 0-7

Kildare may have had the first scoring opportunity when Alex Beirne made a great run through the Derry defence, off-loading to Neil Flynn whose effort was well saved by Odhran Lynch in the Derry goal in this Round 4 game in the Allianz Football League Division 2 game at St Conleth's Park on Sunday.

That, however, was as good as it got for the home side as league leaders Derry took control, totally dominated and dictated the play, not only for the first half but for the entire game.

No doubt as poor a display from Kildare, even worse than the Cork display, and a loss that leaves The Lilies dangerously close to the relegation area; the only hope being that they defeated Clare and that in essence might just save them from the drop but that is certainly not a given.

Derry full forward, the influential Shane McGuigan opened with a free on two minutes before the boys in red showed their intent when Benny Heron crashed a goal attempt off the upright and was cleared..Playing against a strong breeze certainly did not deter the visitors as McGuigan after being fouled himself hit a free short before Kildare opened their account on 11 minutes, Neil Flynn pointed after Eoin Doyle was fouled. However they were not to score again for 20 minutes while Derry slowly but surely built up a lead that was impressive as it was disappointing for the big home attendance.

Shane McGuigan knocked over a point from play before Niall Toner added point number three.

Kildare at this stage were guilty of some very poor handling and shot selection as McGuigan converted another point from open play to make it 0-4 to 0-1 on 18 minutes; Kildare having hit a wide from play and from a free.

Neil Flynn saw a long range point being plucked from practically over the cross bar by keeper Odhran Lynch followed by another effort that fell short.

On 22 minutes a brilliant ball in by Padraig McGrogan was expertly taken by Benny Heron, who turned his man before his effort was brilliantly knocked by Mark Donnellan.

Three wides from three attempts saw the Kildare score remain at a single point before Mark Donnellan again came to his side's rescue with another brilliant save. However on 30 minutes there was little the Kildare keeper could do as Niall Loughlin got inside his marker and keeper Donnellan before sliding the ball to the back of the Kildare net — Derry 1-5 Kildare 0-1.

Alex Beirne finally got the home side's second point of the afternoon, followed by two atrocious efforts from Kildare, one from play, one from a free.

Shane McGuigan converted a free before a Paul Cassidy effort came off the upright to corner forward Benny Heron and somehow he managed to fire over with the goal at his mercy.

Neil Flynn converted a free before the break to leave the half-time score reading Derry 1-8 Kildare 0-3 with tempers become somewhat frayed just before the break.

A total of eight wides and three shorts certainly did noting for Kildare's cause in that opening half but when you factor in the saves of Mark Donnellan, really Kildare could have any complaints trailing by just eight at that stage.

Ethan Doherty opened for Derry on the resumption with Kildare making two changes at the break, Jack Sargent and Shane O'Sullivan being introduced.

Alex Beirne, who had been decent for Kildare up to that stage, was forced off injured as Kildare continued to find scoring a problem, a continuation from the opening half and it got worse for the home side when Shane McGuigan danced around a couple of half-hearted efforts from defenders before the Slacht Neill man planted the ball in the Kildare net.

The reaction of Kildare manager Glenn Ryan said it all as the Towers man, momentarily went to the dug-out, sat down and folded his arms, no doubt in total disgust at what he had witnessed.

Another wide, another short as fans started to drift away with 20 minutes remaining on a bitterly cold afternoon.

A kick-out by Mark Donnellan to Shea Ryan saw the Sarsfields man drop the ball, gathered by Benny Heron who bore down on goal only for Mark Donnellan again to deny him with another brilliant save.

Such was the dominance of Derry that full back Eoin McEvoy, had the time to get forward and punch over a point, to make it 2-12 to 0-3.

Paddy McDermott got forward for Kildare to split the posts; Ethan Doherty added a point before Darragh Kirwan converted a free on58 minutes.

Donnellan came up with another fine stop before a move summed up Kildare's day when Jack Sargent found Darragh Kirwan between two defenders, for a split second it seemed the Naas man might be in but he lost control of the ball and the chance evaporated just like Kildare's chances.

Niall Toner free made it 2-14 to 0-5 as the PA announced four minutes of time added on, much to the moans and groans of the Kildare fans.

Shane McGuigan and Darragh Kirwan (free) were the final two points of the day with Derry winning 2-15 to 0-7.

SCORERS

Derry, Shane McGuigan 1-7 (5 frees), Niall Loughlin 1-0, Ethan Doherty 0-3, Benny Heron 0-2, Niall Toner 0-2 (1 free), Eoin McEvoy 0-1.

Kildare, Darragh Kirwan 0-3 (3 frees), Neil Flynn 0-2 (2 frees), Alex Beirne 0-1, Paddy McDermott 0-1.

TEAMS

Derry: Odhran Lynch; Chrissy McKaigue, Eoin McEvoy, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty, Padraig McGrogan, Padraig Cassidy; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin. Subs: Shea Downey for Padraig McGrogan (54 minutes); Oisin McWilliams for Benny Heron (59 minutes); Conleth McGuckian for Padraig Cassidy (64 minutes); Paul McNeill for Eoin McEvoy (65 minutes); Ben McCaerron for Niall Toner (67 minutes).

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Darragh Malone; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Paddy McDermott; Kevin Feely, Kevin O'Callaghan; Eoin Doyle, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne; Neil Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Jack Robinson. Subs: Danial Flynn for Jack Robertston (30 minutes); Jack Sargent for Darragh Malone (half-time); Shane O'Sullivan for Neil Flynn (half-time); Paul Cribbin for Alex Beirne (43 miutes); Barry Coffey for Ben McCormack (54 minutes).

Referee: Barry Judge, Sligo.