Kildare v Wicklow; Job done with little fuss or bother

Leinster Senior Football Championship

Kildare 1-17

Wicklow 0-10

It was a bit like olden times at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow on Sunday.

The sun was splitting the trees; an attendance that saw the game being delayed for ten minutes; a great atmosphere and a straight knock-out Leinster Championship clash; no second chance; no back door.

Kildare, who were without the services of Ryan Houlihan (calf injury) and Jimmy Hyland (hamstring) were dealt a further blow when team captain and one of the most consistent players this season, Mick O'Grady fell to the dreaded hamstring. The Celbridge man was replaced by Eoin Doyle and what a game the Naas man had, minding Wicklow dangerman, Kevin Quinn and mind him he did, restricting him to just a single point from play.

It goes to show that Doyle is at his best when given a strict role rather than that lose, play-everywhere role he is often asked to fill.

It was another Naas man, Alex Beirne who opened the scoring after some 47 seconds. Aaron Masterson won possession from the throw-in, passed inside to Ben McCormack who found Beirne who finished brilliantly.

Wicklow replied with a converted free from Eoin Darcy and took the lead when a miss-placed at the back went to Mark Kenny and the corner forward made no mistake on seven minutes.

  The lead did not last too long with Jack Robinson made some space for himself before splitting the posts.

Allenwood's David Malone, no stranger to scoring despite playing at no. 4, got forward and made no mistake.

Wicklow leveled for the third time on 13 minutes, after being awarded a free, the referee then proceeded to bring the ball in, after a Kildare player had a few verbals and Eoin Darcy knocked over his second free of the afternoon.

The two Naas man, Darragh Kirwan and Alex Beirne combined before the latter hit over a lovely point to regain the lead on 15 minutes.

Kildare players seem to have a bit of a problem with the surface as for the third time a man in white slipped up; Ben McCormack saw his intended pass being intercepted but Eoin Doyle was alert to the danger and was quick to clean up.

Jack Robinson who had a fine opening half and gave the Wicklow defence plenty to think about, danced his way into space and sent over a lovely effort to open a two point gap with 18 minutes on the board.

Wicklow full back, Paul McLoughlin picked up a yellow card before Darragh Malone was penalised for picking up the ball; something we have seen over and over again this season for some reason.

Wicklow midfielder Dean Healy a fine player who has enjoyed a great season to date then hit an inspiration point as the Wicklow fans found their voice.

Then Ben McCormack his one of his long-range trade mark points, something we have not seen often enough this season from the Sarsfields man but this was a beauty and Kildare had two to spare again.

Kildare came attacking down the right wing, Ben McCormack was using his pace to leave his marker for dead, passed inside to Darragh Kirwan; a goal looked on but Kirwan found the side-netting.

The lead was out to three on 29 minutes, with Ben McCormack firing over his second of the afternoon and while Wicklow keeper, Mark Jackson got the first of his two long range frees to reduce the game, Kildare were enjoying most of the possession and increased the lead back to three, Darragh Kirwan finding the range.

Two wides and a short followed from the men in white before another pick-up was spotted by the referee and Paddy Woodgate did the rest from the resultant free.

Kildare were winning a lot of the breaking ball, particularly the half-back line and it was centre-back Kevin Flynn who added the next point, the Celbridge man streaming forward before splitting the posts to leave the half-time score reading Kildare  0-10 Wicklow 0-5.

On the resumption Jack Robinson converted a free to stretch the lead but John Paul Hurley responded with a point of his own.

Another three wides from the boys in white plus Paddy Woodgate was penalised as he was about to knock over a free, presumably for 'encroaching' much to the annoyance of the Kildare fans who made their disapproval heard.

Wicklow carved out a half a goal chance but a cross squared ball was over-cooked and the chance quickly disappeared.

A full twelve minutes before the next score arrived and it was Kildare substitute, Paul Cribbin  who raised the white flag.

Wicklow then hit probably their best patch of the game, hitting three points on the trot, a free from Kevin Quinn and points from Jack Kirwan and Kevin Quinn long range effort reducing the gap to just three points.

Darragh Quinn missed the target from a mark before Kildare came forward with intent.

Paddy McDermott, who had a fine game when introduced began the move that saw Kevin Flynn, pass to Paddy Woodgate and the Raheens man blasted to the net with his right boot.

Woodgate added a quick free; Darragh Kirwan, set up by Paul Cribbing added another and while Mark Jackson added his second fee, Kildare were out the gate at this stage and emphasised that with points from Paul Cribbin, Neil Flynn and Cribbin again to clinch a semi-final spot on a final scorer line of Kildare 1-17 Wicklow 0-10.

Next up Dublin, Croke Park, this Sunday,  four bells.

SCORERS

Kildare, Paddy Woodgate 1-2 (2 frees), Jack Robinson 0-3 (1 free), Paul Cribbin 0-3, Ben McCormack 0-2, Alex Beirne 0-2, Darragh Kirwan 0-2, Kevin Flynn 0-1, Darragh Malone 0-1, Neil Flynn 0-1.

Wicklow, Eoin Darcy 0-2 (2 frees), Mark Jackson 0-2 (2 frees), Kevin Quinn 0-2 (1 free), Dean Healy 0-1, Mark Kenny 0-1, John Paul Hurley 0-1, Jack Kirwan 0-1.

TEAMS

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Eoin Doyle, Shea Ryan, Darragh Malone; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Arron Masterson, Kevin O'Callaghan; Barry Coffey, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne; Jack Robinson, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate. Subs: Paul Cribbin for Ben McCormack (48 minutes); Paddy McDermott for Barry Coffey (51 minutes); Daniel Flynn for Jack Robinson (51 minutes); Kevin Feely for Aaron Masterson (55 minutes); Neil Flynn for Paddy Woodgate (65 minutes);

Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Eoin Murtagh, Paul McLoughlin, Malachy Stone; Fintan O'Shea, Patrick O'Keane, Zach Cullen; Dean Healy, Padraig O'Toole; Cillian McDonald, John Paul Hurley, Jack Kirwan; Mark Kenny, Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy. Subs: Darragh Fitzgerald for Mark Kenny (49 minutes); Gearóid Murphy for Eoin Darcy (58 minutes); Joe Prendergast for Cillian McDonald (65 minutes); Jacques McCall for Zach Cullen (70 minutes).

REFEREE: Martin McNally, Monaghan.