Leinster MFC: Kildare and Longford share the points

Kildare drew with Longford in ther Electric Ireland Leinster Minor (U-17) Football Championship Group 2 - Round 1 on a final score line of Longford 0-14 Kildae 2-8.

Showing a lot of the same courage that landed the Leinster minor championship title last year, resilient  Longford came storming back to snatch a draw against Kildare in the difficult wet and windy conditions at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday.

Boosted by a couple of gift goals in the first half through Rory Thompson and Hugh Martin, the visitors came from five points down to lead by 2-6 to 0-8 at the break and appeared to be on course for their expected win when midfielder Ollie Deller fired over a cracking two-pointer (play) with eight minutes gone on the changeover.

But a succession of missed chances cost Kildare dearly as they failed to register another score during the remainder of the Round 1 clash and slowly but surely the gap was closed with a brilliantly struck ‘45’ from the boot of substitute keeper Ray McNally against the wind in the 56th minute giving Longford the belief to avoid defeat. 

A brace of stoppage time frees converted by key forwards Brendan Martin-Burns (the influential half-time replacement) and chief marksman Troy Tiernan (who registered a total of six points) earned the gutsy home side a deserved draw and next up in the group stage (top 3 to qualify) are Westmeath in Mullingar on Thursday April 10th with Meath also in this very tough section.

While wind assisted Longford dominated the first quarter of the conest against Kildare to established an impressie 0-5 to 0-0 advantage with the points oming from James Flynn (2), captain Billy Maguire (a tremendous effort from the centre-half-back, Liam Grene and Trop Tiernan (free) 

LONGFORD: Conan Rawle; Jack O’Farrell, Cathal Lynch, Alex Karytinos; Padraig Mulligan, Billy Maguire captain, 0-1), Aidan Kelly; Max Gallagher , Dylan Ledwith; Diarmuid Breslin, James Flynn (0-2, 1 free), Liam Greene (0-1); Troy Tiernan (0-6, 3 frees), Cormac Mulligan, Gavin Donohue. Subs: Brendan Martin-Burns (0-3, 2 frees) for J Flynn (half-time); Ray McNally (0-1, ‘45) for C Rawle (half-time); Niall O’Donnell  for D Ledwith (49 mins); Patrick Lynch for G Donohue (55 mins); Robert Rowan  for D Breslin (59 mins).  

KILDARE: Jamie Wall; Dan Sargent, Niall McAndrew, Senan Gallagher; Sean Gleeson, Aran Martin, TJ Donoghue; Calum Keaveny, Ollie Deller (0-2, two-pointer); Rian Curran, Hugh Martin (1-1), Mark Travers; Cillian Long (0-2, frees), Rory Thompson (1-3, 2 frees), Charlie Doran. Subs: Aidan Maddock for C Keaveny (43 mins); Eoghan Lyons for H Martin (47 mins); JJ Reilly for TJ Donoghue (55 mins); Nathan Dunne for O Deller (60 mins); Turlough Donnelly for C Doran (stoppage time).

Referee: Enda Kelly (Westmeath).