Kildare find the net and retain their status in Division 2

Allianz Football League Division 2

Kildare 3-10

Limerick 2-7

Kildare retained their Division 2 status with a deserved six point win over Limerick at The Gaelic Grounds on Sunday but not before the home side made them sweat with two second half goals that had the lead cut back to three before Daragh Kirwan showed his ground ball skills when back-heeling the ball to the Limerick net in the 76 minute just before the final whistle arrived.

It was indeed much relief for Glenn Ryan, his management, players and fans as they chalked up their second win of this campaign and in the process ended their league goal famine which goes back to over 12 months with majors from Kevin Flynn, Jack Robinson and that late effort from Darragh Kirwan.

Limerick are relegated along with the luckless Clare and with the final game down for decision this Sunday when Meath visit St Conleth's Park for what will be the final game at the venue before the redevelopment gets under way that will see the venue out of commission for up to 18 months.

Relief, no doubt for The Lilies but there is still a hell of amount of work to be done as they struggled at times to beat a Limerick side that were poor in the extreme but still had the ability to put Kildare under pressure in the second half when they (Limerick) decided to push up which saw them create a number of goal chances and while they did manage to fire two past

Mark Donnellan, they will certainly rue the missed chances that were denied to them by some fine defending but also some deplorable misses.

For Kildare this was an improved display, five changes from the side that lost to Louth; they really should have had this one in the bag a long time before the final whistle but that lack of confidence saw they struggle at times when in face they were no doubt the better side.

Four minutes in and it was Barry Coffey, making his first start in this campaign fired over one of his trademark points; Darragh Kirwan then missed the target but the referee called back play for a free and Paddy Woodgate made no mistake from lose range.

Jack Sargent, who had a fine game, intercepted a pass, found Kirwan and the Naas man opened his account and added another on 14 minutes to make it 0-4 to 0-0.

A minute later and the home side were on the board , James Naughton fired over a free after Mick O'Grady had fouled.

Kevin O'Callaghan who worked his socks off throughout the game, then made a fine run through the middle but ran into traffic and lost possession.

A foul by Kevin Flynn saw Limerick get their second point of the game, again from the boot of centre forward James Naughton.

It was on the 21 minute when The Lilies 12 month plus goal drought finally came to an end with Darragh Kirwan and Paddy Woodgate combined to find Kevin Flynn and the centre back cut through the middle and finished impressively to make it 1-4 to 0-2.

Colm McSweeney made space for himself before firing over but Kildare hit back with a fine point from Ben McCormack.

Aaron Masterson who can be happy with his overall display in midfield made a fine catch, off-loaded to Paddy Woodgate but the Raheens man tried to thread the ball through there was not enough on it and the danger was cleared.

Yellow cards for Neil Flynn and Limerick's Cian Sheehan before Cillian Fahy converted a mark to reduce the lead back to four points.

Shea Ryan was next in the referee's book before Paddy Woodgate set up Neil Flynn and the Maynooth man punched over as we reached the half way point Kildare leading 1-6 to 0-4.

On the resumption and the referee had the visiting fans (and team management) shout their disapproval as he failed to give Kevin O'Callaghan a close-in free for a blatant foul before a lose clearance saw Barry Coleman reduce the deficit.

Ryan Houlihan made a brilliant diving block to deny Brian Donovan as Limerick were now pushing up on Kildare, something they failed to do in the opening half, as three Kildare players failed miserably to gain possession in a bit of a moment of madness.

Kevin O'Callaghan denied Peter Nash a goal with a clearance off the line as Limerick threatened to find the Lilies net; another chance went right and wide before David Hyland had Kildare back in front by six.

On 55 minutes that threatened Limerick goal finally arrived after a poor clearance wen to James Naughton who made no mistake to make it Kildare 1-8 Limerick 1-5.

Within a minute of that Limerick green flag Kildare responded in kind after Darragh Kirwan inside from the left wing passed to Jack Robinson and the Clogherinkoe man palmed to the net much to the relief of the travelling Kildare fans.

James Naughton and Darragh Kirwan exchanged points on 64 and 66 minutes before Limerick hit the net again, this time a shot from Robbie Bourke was finished, soccer style, by Cillian Fahy and the fat was in the fire again with just three points separating the sides on 68 minutes.

Mark Donnellan denied Peter Nash as we were informed their would be five minutes of added time.

Jack Sargent made another fine interception to break up a Limerick attack as Kildare suddenly poured forward.

Darragh Kirwan found Paul Cribbin who was fouled and Jack Robinson converted but Limerick hit back with a fine punched point from Brian Donovan to keep the margin at three with time running out.

Daniel Flynn picked up possession in his own half, off-loaded to David Hyland who put Darragh Kirwan through. However the Naas man lost control of the ball as Limerick keeper Danial O'Sullivan advanced but as the ball broke Kirwan had his back to goal and duly back-kicked to the net with final whistle coming on the kick out. Final score line: Kildare 3-10 Limerick 2-7.

Kildare: Darragh Kirwan 1-3, Kevin Flynn 1-1, Jack Robinson 1-1 (free), Barry Coffey 0-1, Paddy Woodgate 0-1 (free), Ben McCormack 0-1, Neil Flynn 0-1, David Hyland 0-1.

Limerick: James Naughton 1-3 (2 frees), Cillian Fahy 1-1 (mark), Colm McSweeney 0-1, Barry Coleman 0-1, Brian Donovan 0-1.

TEAMS

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Arran Masterson, Kevin O'Callaghan; Barry Coffey, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne; Neil Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate. Subs: Daniel Flynn for Ben McCormack (29 minutes); Jack Robinson for Neil Flynn (51 minutes); Paul Cribbin for Alex Beirne (53 minutes); Paddy McDermott for Barry Coffey (66 minutes); Eoin Doyle for Paddy Woodgate (71 minutes).

Limerick: Donal O'Sullivan; Michael Donovan, Sean O'Dea, Brian Fanning; Barry Coleman, Colm McSweeney, Tony McCarthy; Cathal Downes, Cillian Fahy; Paul Maher, James Naughton, Cian Sheehan; Davey Lyons, Brian Donovan, Hugh Bourke. Subs: Adrian Enright for Davey Lyons (34 minutes); Gordon Brown for Tony McCarthy (half-time); Peter Nash for Cathal Downes (42 minutes); Robbie Bourke for Barry Coleman (53 minutes); Davey Lyons for Hugh Bourke (66 minutes);

Referee John Ryan, Cork.