Kildare cough up victory chance in major setback against Sligo

Darragh Kirwan of Kildare reacts after being shown a red card during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship, Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

placeholder image — Darragh Kirwan of Kildare reacts after being shown a red card during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship, Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

All-Ireland series Group 3 Round 1

Sligo 0-14

Kildare 0-14

There is something about Kildare when they are installed, expected, call it what you like, to beat the opposition comfortably and we saw it once again at Markievicz Park on Sunday when The Lilies had the game practically in the bag but allowed Sligo to fire over the final three points of the game to get a deserved draw.

Disappointment is probably not strong enough word to describe the outcome with Sligo celebration the draw while for Kildare it really felt like a defeat.

And that is the difference between the sides.

Kildare though never even came close to reaching what was expected of them.

No pace, no penetration and an awful tendency to cross the ball from side to side over and over again, few willing to break the line; few willing to take a shot, to take responsibility, leadership and grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

Paddy Woodgate converted a free on four, after Kevin Flynn was fouled before dangerman, Niall Murphy leveled up three minutes after.

It was obvious from an early stage this was going to be a slow burner and while Kevin Feely, from a David Hyland ball in, called for and converted the mark to regain the lead, Sligo quickly hit back with Murphy converting a free after a foul on Patrick O'Connor.

Eoin Doyle made a great interception to set up point no. 3 which saw Kevin Flynn, one of the few players who constantly tried to break the line, fire over after 13 minutes.

The sides were level again on 16, a Sean Carrabine point leveled before Niall Murphy edged Sligo ahead from a free.

Kevin O'Callaghan, who looked somewhat restricted with a knee bandage, set up Alex Beirne and the Naas made no mistake but almost immediately Sligo retook the lead again, this time Finnian Cawley raising the Sligo white flag to leave it 0-5 to 0-4 on 22 minutes.

Kevin Feely combined with Paddy Woodgate before the Raheens man tied the game up for the fifth time and while Kevin Flynn hit an excellent point, followed by a similar score from Darragh Kirwan to put the visitors two clear for the first time, Sligo hit back with Finnian Cawley getting his second to leave the half-time score reading Kildare 0-7 Sligo 0-6 but with Kildare having had the benefit of a stiffish breeze, it was obvious Kildare had a real battle on their hands.

Three points inside the opening five minutes (Carrabine, two, and one from Darragh Cummins) saw Sligo go two clear and it should have been three with Niall Murphy failing to convert a mark from a relatively close distance.

Kildare replied with points from Alex Beirne and a an excellent 45 from Woodgate to level up the home side had their noses in front again when Patrick O'Connor set up Niall Murphy for a fine point.

Kildare then picked up three yellows in a few minutes, Paul Cribbin, Darragh Kirwan and Jack Sargent before Darragh Kirwan and Paddy Woodgate (free) had Kildare back in front on 56 minutes.

Again Sligo leveled through Sean Carrabine but an excellent point from Aaron Masterson saw Kildare back in front; Daragh Kirwan stretched it to two before Jack Robinson (free) had The Lilies three clear on 67 minutes; Sligo's Sean Carrabine picking up a second yellow which resulted in that free.

So three clear, three minutes of normal time remaining and Sligo down to 14 it all looked rosey for Kildare at that stage but Sligo, in fairness, refused to go away.

Niall Murphy hit a beauty; Kevin O'Callaghan picked up a black; Murphy reduced the deficit to one; Pat Spillane missed a great chance to level; Alex Beirne hit a very poor wide; Darragh Kirwan picked up a second yellow (you couldn't make it up) before

Sligo got the leveler on 77 minutes when substitute David Quinn found space on the right wing to fire over the leveler much to the delight of the home players and fans as the long whistle arrived the boys in black celebrating big time while at the same

Kildare players looking shell shocked having coughed up a great opportunity of a win.

Final score: Sligo 0-14 Kildare 0-14.

SCORERS

Kildare, Paddy Woodgate 0-4 (2 frees, 45), Darragh Kirwan 0-3, Kevin Flynn 0-2, Alex Beirne 0-2, Kevin Feely 0-1 (mark), Aaron Masteson 0-1, Jack Robinson 0-1.

Sligo, Niall Murphy 0-6 (2 frees), Patrick Carrabine 0-4, Finnian Cawley 0-2, David Quinn 0-1, Darragh Cummins 0-1.

TEAMS

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Kevin O'Callaghan, Aaron Masterson; Paddy McDermott, Kevin Feely, Alex Beirne; Paul Cribbin, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate. Subs: Jack Robinson for Kevin Feely (45 minutes); Darragh Malone for Paul Cribbin (53 minutes); Tony Archbold for Paddy McDermott (58 minutes); Ryan Houlihan for Jack Sargent (71 minutes).

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Nathan Mullen; Paul McNamara, Brian Cox, Luke Towey; Cian Lally, Paul Kilcoyne; Finnian Cawley, Sean Carrabine, Darragh Cummins; Alan Reilly, Patrick O'Connor, Niall Murphy. Subs: Pat Spillane for Patrick O'Connor (55 minutes); Mikey Gordon for Finnian Cawley (61 minutes); David Quinn for Cian Lally (65 minutes); Darragh Cummins (65 minutes); Mark Walsh for Alan Reilly (74 minutes).

REFEREE: Joe McQuillan, Cavan