Kildare on the ropes after dismal loss to Cavan

Allianz Football League Division 2 

Cavan 0-16

Kildare 0-12

In the end there was just four points separating Kildare and Cavan in the opening round of the Allianz Football League clash at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday evening.

However, it was not the hot favourites, Kildare, who prevailed but their opponents Cavan, and if the truth be told the visitors were more than worth their victory as the dominated for long periods; showed much more aggression, much more hunger than The Lilies who were a massive disappointment on the day.

This was a big game for both counties; Cavan gained promotion from Division 3 last season while Kildare struggled to retain their Division 2 ranking and if this is anything to go on it could be a long hard, challenging road for Glenn Ryan's boys again in 2024.

Watching from the stand where he was banished having picked up a two game suspension from Kildare's clash with Monaghan in the All-Ireland series last season, the manager much have been pulling his hair out as he watched his side play second fiddle for long periods, rarely threatened their opponent's goal while looked under extreme pressure every time Cavan were in possession piling forward with pace, power and purpose.

After less than five minutes it was obvious that Kildare were facing an uphill battle as Cavan brushed aside some very meek challenges with consummate ease; at times it looked like men against boys as the lads in blue showed they had not traveled to Carlow for the ride.

A foul on Ciaran Brady after two minutes gave Cavan the opportunity to open the scoring and with a place kicker of the calibre of Paddy Lynch that proved costly not just on this occasion but throughout the game as Kildare's tackling left so much to be desired; their handling was poor (and that's putting it mildly) while some of their kick passing was simply not up to the desired level.

Oisin Brady extended the Cavan lead on four minutes before Kildare opened their account with an excellent effort from Darragh Kirwan.

As happened throughout the game most times Kildare scored Cavan replied instantly and it was Paddy Lynch who fired over Cavan point no. 3 to lead 0-3 to 0-1 with just five on the clock.

Jimmy Hyland got Kildare's second of the day (a point that was queried by the linesman but given) but two minutes later Dara McVeety had that two point lead restored with a fine effort.

The Kildare defence was under pressure as a unit looked in big trouble coping with the pace of the Cavan attack.
Ben McCormack hit a brilliant point on 12 but Oisin Brady did not wait too long to reply as he skint his marker before firing over.

One of the Lilies best points of the day came from a fine move involving Brian Byrne, Paddy Woodgate and Daragh Kirwan, the Naas man reducing the lead back to one on 16 minutes.

A minute later and the sides were level after Jimmy Hyland and Paddy Woodgate combined, the latter being fouled and the former knocking over the free.

That, however was as good as it got for Kildare.

Paddy Lynch converted a free, Gerard Smith added another and when Kevin Feely committed a silly, silly foul Lynch made it 0-8 to 0-5 on 27 minutes.

Kevin Flynn reduced the deficit but again Cavan responded, this time Killian Clarke, with not a white jersey within ten yards of him, found the posts.

A high ball in from Paddy Woodgate had Cavan netminder Liam Brady under pressure but he scrambled the ball clear before being awarded a free out.

Killian Brady picked up the first yellow of the game, the Cavan corner back following a foul on Darragh Kirwan but the resultant 45m free by Mark Donnellan went left and wide.

Kevin Flynn was next to see yellow as we reached the half-way break with Cavan well in control and leading 0-9 to 0-6.
It was a poor half from The Lilies, fortunate enough to be just three adrift but their was ample evidence in that half that

Kildare were in trouble; outplayed in midfield, standing off their men at the back and generally playing second fiddle throughout the field.

Off we went and while Kildare gained possession from the throw-in, a Cavan foul ensued but inexplicably Kevin Flynn took the free and sent it some 20 yards straight into the arms of a Cavan player.

Two minutes later and Kevin Flynn was pulled up for a double hop and those two incidents alone summed up the Kildare performance, and that from two of the most experienced players on the field.

Kevin O'Callaghan picked up a yellow before Cavan increased their lead, Ciaran Brady punching over.

Jack Sargent showed some aggression in the tackle, something that had been missing up to that point before a trip by Ciaran Brady on Darragh Kirwan saw the match official issue a yellow keeping the black card firmly in his pocked (that is assuming he had his black card with him).

A foul on Darragh Kirwan saw Paddy Woodgate raise his only white flag of the day but that score was quickly wiped out when Dara McVeety got his second of the game. Kildare looked to be back in with a shout with points from Darragh Kirwan and a

Shane O'Sullivan punched effort, the Clane man just on, could have had a go at a goal but elected to take his point.
Another needless free saw Paddy Lynch extend the lead but Shane O'Sullivan got his second of the day.

Ben McCormack picked up a yellow before another incredibly needless foul by Kevin Flynn saw Paddy Lynch extend the lead and while second half substitute Aaron O'Neill fired over a fine point Cavan added two more from Cormac Reilly and another from Paddy Lynch.

Jack Sargent got forward to get his name on the score sheet but that was the last big action of the game as Ben McCormack picked up a second yellow (but no red) for kicking the ball away in absolute frustration.

Final score line: Cavan 0-16 Kildare 0-12.

A bad, bad day for Kildare and with a trip to Enniskillen next up on Saturday and Armagh the visitors two weeks after that no doubt Kildare will need to show an amount of improvement if that is not stating the absolute obvious.

Paddy Lynch was the star man for Cavan with good assistance from Dara McVeety, the Brady Boys while Cavan defence as a unit was way superior than anything Kildare offered.

Sean O'Sullivan did well when he came on; Paddy McDermott had a fine third quarter but apart from those two it was a case of a game to forget.

Scorers: Cavan, Paddy Lynch 0-8 (6 frees), Dara McVeety 0-2, Killian Clarke 0-1, Oisin Kiernan 0-1, Gerard Smith 0-1, Ciaran Brady 0-1, Cormac O'Reilly 0-1, Oisin Brady 0-1.

Kildare: Darragh Kirwan 0-3, Jimmy Hyland 0-2 (1 free), Shane O'Sullivan 0-2, Ben McCormack 0-1, Kevin Flynn 0-1, Jack Sargent 0-1, Aaron O'Neill 0-1.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Oisin Kiernan, Killian Brady; Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Oisin Kiernan; Killian Clarke, Ryan Donohoe; Ciarán Brady, Dara McVeety, Gerard Smith; Paddy Lynch, Tiarnan Madden, Oisin Brady. Subs: Brian O'Connell for Oisin Kiernan (38 minutes); Ryan O'Neill for Ryan Donohoe (49 minutes); Caoimhin O'Reilly for Tiarnan Madden (61 minutes); Cormac McKeogh for Oisin Brady (65 minutes); Ryan Brady for Ciaran Brady (73 minutes).

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Ryan Burke; Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely, Kevin O'Callaghan; Luke Killian, Ben McCormack, Paddy McDermott; Paddy Woodgate, Darragh Kirwan, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Shane O'Sullivan for Jimmy Hyland (49 minutes); Ryan Houlihan for Brian Byrne (55 minutes); Aaron O'Neill for Kevin Feely (59 minutes); Eoin Doyle for Luke Killian (67 minutes); Callum Bolton for Paddy Woodgate (68 minutes).

REFEREE: Barry Tiernan, Dublin.