Kildare's relegation confirmed as they give way to Donegal
The Lillies suffer their sixth defeat in their sixth game in Division 2
Donegal 0-17
Kildare 1-8
One team promoted, one time relegated; joy for Donegal, despair for Kildare.
Round 6 of the Allianz Football League (Division 2) at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday and what has been feared for a fair few weeks at this stage eventually came to pass.
Kildare will plying their football trade in 2025 in Division 3.
And we can only hope now that the slide is halted prior to the start of the Leinster Championship in a mere three weeks time when Glenn Ryan's team take on the winners of Wicklow and Westmeath.
The main aim from here on in is to avoid the Tailteann Cup, something that can only be avoided by reaching the Leinster final.
And while that looked very achievable earlier in the season where we stand today that is far from a given.
But back to Saturday on a wet and miserable evening and the clash with Donegal and Jim McGuinness.
Always a big ask, no doubt, but certainly in the opening half the 'home' side looked well in it having held their own.
Early on Donegal had a real goal chance when Ciaran Thompson got in but Mark Donnellan made a fine save to avoid an early concession.
Three minutes in and the same player, Thompson, opened the scoring with a fine point.
Niall Kelly hit an excellent ball into the danger area where Kevin Feely made an brilliant fetch, took the mark and fired over.
Kelly and Feely combined again a minute later with the Athy pair getting in behind the Donegal defence only to see Feely push his goal attempt right and wide of the post.
Peadar Mogan got the first of his impressive 'handful' of scores but again The Lilies came back with Alex Beirne finding Barry Kelly who was fouled and Feely did the rest to tie it up at 0-2 apiece with eight minutes on the clock.
A top class long-range effort from midfielder Michael Langan edged the visitors ahead; Kildare missed a free after Beirne found Barry Kelly who was high challenged but Kevin Feely's effort missed went right and wide.
At times there were up to 27 players behind the ball (at both ends) with Kildare in particular working their socks off in the defence; Eoin Doyle leading the way with a brilliant dispossession of Ciaran Thompson.
Caolan McGonagle soloed through the Kildare defence before firing over as Daniel Flynn was coming in for a fair bit of attention being double marked every time he got within a whisper of the ball.
A quick ball from Ryan Houlihan to Daniel Flynn, back to Houlihan who found Flynn again, who was fouled and Feely popped it over.
Aaron Doherty had Donegal two clear but The Lilies hit back again after a foul on Kevin Feely saw him take a quick free to Alex Beirne and the Naas man split the posts.
Michael Langan sold Kevin O'Callaghan a dummy before finding the range and when Ciaran Thompson did something similar with a top class long-range effort there was now three between the sides with 26 on the clock.
A high challenge on Barry Kelly saw Michael Langan pick up the first yellow of the day but Mark Donnellan hit the resultant free (46m) left and wide.
Aaron Masterson won made an excellent fetch, off-loaded to Paddy McDermott but his effort schewed off his boot right and wide.
Jack Sargent made a timely intervention but the possession was quickly lost before Shane Farrell, having his best game todate hit an excellent long range effort to leave it 0-7 to 0-5 on 32 minutes.
Another top-class long range effort from Peadar Mogan was replied to by Alex Beirne as the sides went in at the break Donegal leading 0-8 to 0-6.
Still all to play for and while trailing one felt Kildare were still in there with a chance to cause an upset.
However on the resumption it was Donegal who took the game by the scruff of the neck with three points in the opening five minutes from Daire O'Baoill, Patrick McBrearty and Michael Langan, to open a five point lead.
Alex Beirne and Kevin Feely (free) reduced the lead back to a manageable three but that man Peadar Mogan replied and Daire O'Baoill had it back to five again.
Things looked to be on the slide from Kildare at this stage but a brilliant goal got them right back in it after Daniel Flynn made one of his dazzling runs through the Donegal defence before passing to Alex Beirne and the Naas man palmed the ball to the back of the net — Donegal 0-13 Kildare 1-8 with 48 minutes on the clock.
That however was as good as it got for The Lilies, incredibly they failed to raise another flag while Donegal hit four points from Odhran Doherty, Peadar Mogan, Oisin Gallen (free) and man of the match Peadar Mogan firing over his fifth of the game as Donegal confirmed their promotion; Kildare their relegation, on a final score line of Donegal 0-17 Kildare 1-8.
Another defeat for The Lilies, their sixth on the trot but the damage has been done starting with the two opening defeats against Cavan and Fermanagh.
A tough time ahead with the Leinster Championship just around the corner, hopefully some of the walking wounded will return to put their shoulder to the wheel.
SCORERS
Donegal: Peadar Mogan 0-5, Michael Langan 0-3, Ciaran Thompson 0-2, Daire O'Baoill 0-2, Carolan McGonagle 0-1, Odhran Doherty 0-1, Patrick McBrearty 0-1, Oisin Gallen 0-1 (free), Aaron Doherty 0-1.
Kildare: Alex Beirne 1-3, Kevin Feely 0-4 (3 frees, mark), Shane Farrell 0-1.
TEAMS
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Ciaran Moore, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Odhrán Doherty; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Shane O’Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Aaron Doherty; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Dáire Ó Baoill. Subs: Jamie Brennan for Hugh McFadden (half time); Jeaic McKelvey for Odhran Doherty (53 minutes); Niall O'Donnell for Aaron Doherty (55 minutes); Luke McGlynn for Daire O'Baoill (67 minutes); Ronan Gallagher for Ciaran Thompson (67 minutes).
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Ryan Houlihan, Mick O'Grady cpt., Ryan Burke; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle, Jack Sargent; Aaron Masterson, Kevin O'Callaghan; Alex Beirne, Barry Kelly, Shane Farrell; Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn, Niall Kelly. Subs: Luke Killian for Kevin O'Callaghan (52 minutes); Paddy Woodgate for Barry Kelly (54 minutes); Shane O'Sullivan for Niall Kelly (58 minutes); Brian Byrne for Jack Sargent (59 minutes); Tony Archbold for Jack Sargent (69 minutes).
Referee: Paul Faloon, Down.
MAIN MAN
Peadar Mogan (Donegal)
The Donegal no. 7 had an outstadning game firing over five points, all from play.
For Kildare Kevin Feely, Alex Beirne and the Kelly boys (Niall and Barry) all did well, as did Eoin Doyle and Aaron Masterson, while Shane Farrell had an excellent opening half.
TURNING POINT
The half-time break. Kildare were well in it up to the break, albeit trailing by two points but Donegal hit three points in the opening five minutes of the second half and while Kildare got it back to two with an excellent Alex Beirne goal, that was as good as it got.
TALKING POINT
Only one talking point. Six games, six defeats, relegation to Division 3 with a final round of games to come this Saturday. Hugely disappointing for one and all.
WHAT NOW?
Back to Carlow on Saturday with Louth the visitors who need to win to avoid relegation; another tough day for Kildare expected.