Kildare hold off Sligo rally to advance to Tailteann Cup quarter-final

Kildare 4-19

Sligo 1-24

It's a bit like the Celbridge bus, as they say in the north of the county, once one comes others quickly follow and that was certainly the way at the quaintly named King & Moffat Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon, on Sunday as warm favourites Kildare, hit not one, not two, not three but no less than four goals as they booked their place in the quarter-final of the Tailteann Cup following this four point win over Sligo.

On top of the four goals, the boys in white also hit an impressive total of nineteen points — 4-19 would win practically any game but then again so would Sligo's tally of 1-24, yet at the end of the day there was a mere four points separating these sides in a game that Kildare led at one stage by fifteen points.

And to add to the intrigue it was Brian Flanagan's side who were more than happy to hear referee's whistle as they had to withstand a mighty come-back from Sligo.

In fairness, like many games last weekend, this game was dominated by an extremely strong wind that was blowing into the cemetery end of the ground.

Kildare had the benefit of that near gale in the opening half and while Ryan Sinkey punched over the opening score, Sligo hit back immediately when a fine move saw the Kildare defence opened up with alarming ease with Cian Lally firing past Cian Burke.

With four minutes on the clock the second goal of the game arrived when a brilliant long ball in from David Hyland saw Daniel Flynn gather with only Sligo keeper Aidan Devaney in the way of the Johnstownbridge man gaining his third goal in two games and while he (rightly) attempted to go round the custodian, the ball broke lose, but kindly for the man in white, who blasted to the net to make it 1-1 to 1-0.

Alan McLoughlin (free) had the sides level soon after as goal no. 3 arrived with eight minutes on the clock.

This time it was wing-back James McGrath who combined with Conor Dalton before coolly firing low to the Sligo net; Tommy Gill added a point, Conor Dalton punched over to leave it 2-3 to 1-1 with a mere ten minutes on the clock.

Kildare had already lost Ben McCormack to a hamstring that seemed to have occurred just before the throw-in but Kildare's efforts to replace him before the start failed and the Sarsfields man then lasted a mere two minutes before being replaced by Jimmy Hyland.

The Ballyteague man, in turn, only lasted 25 minutes as one of the most unluckiest players in recent years was also forced off in what looked like an achilles problem.

Sligo reduced the lead with two points but the Kildare goal machine was cranking up big time and on 16 minutes after Brendan Gibbons fetched a Sligo kick-out, found Daniel Flynn who in turn sent the ball to Alex Beirne and the Naas man added a goal to his season's total of 2-28 before this game.

Patrick O'Connor and Beirne exchanged points, with the Naas man added another after Sligo fell foul to the new 4x3 rule, and tapped over.

Still, at times, Kildare looked very lose at the back and the time (and room) given to Patrick O'Connor saw the Sligo midfielder fire over with ease.

Sligo again opened up Kildare, after the Lilies were turned-over but Colm Dalton made a brilliant tackle as Cian Burke's net looked in big danger of being filled.

Jimmy Hyland departed at this stage, replaced Niall Kelly as Kildare continued to look very dangerous when on the attack as they landed four more points before the break from the boot of Colm Dalton (two-pointer), Tommy Gill, right footed effort having already used his left peg for his first score), and Niall Kelly made it 3-10 to 1-5.

Alex Beirne added another for The Lilies, Sligo responded with one as Kildare led at the break 3-11 to 1-7 as Beirne picked up a silly yellow card after remonstrating with a linesman having been fouled but not awarded a free, however the referee, didn't take too kindly to the Naas man's actions and was carded him.

And so Kildare went into the break ten clear but still one wondered if that would be enough such was the ferocity of the wind.

Quick points from Callum Bolton (half-time substitute) and Daniel Flynn stretched the lead to a dozen as Sligo hit three wides before Niall Murphy finally nailed one.

On 43 minutes, and just like the Celbridge bus, goal no. four arrived with Callum Bolton making a break towards goal, off-loaded to Daniel Flynn who finished with aplomb, the same player added a punched point and Kildare now led by no less than 15 points on 45 minutes.

Niall Murphy and Brian McLoughlin exchanged points before the Sligo come-back began to materialise.

A Niall Murphy point followed by a two-pointer free from the same player and two more from the full forward, had the lead cut to ten and while the alarm bells were not exactly ringing at this stage, few believed the game was done and dusted.

A brilliant ball from Alex Beirne saw that man, Daniel Flynn punch over, a goal on but it was probably the right decision.

Sligo responded with a two-pointer from Canice Milligan and a single from substitute Pat Spillane; Niall Murphy added a point after Kildare had been turned-over and then two excellent two-pointers from the Kerry man with the famous name and incredibly the gap was down to three as the Sligo fans were roaring their team on.

Back came the boys in black again with danger man, Niall Murphy leaving a mere two points between the sides, 66 minutes on the clock and Kildare, under immense pressure particularly in midfield, a pair of fresh legs one would have thought were badly needed at this stage.

However Kildare then got a big, big break as Sligo were, for the second time, caught with a lack of numbers, breaking the 4x3 rule and Alex Beirne tapped over to leave three in it — that was a score that broke the Sligo momentum.

Mark Dempsey made a brilliant and timely intervention as Sligo were looking for a goal, they did have a couple more wides; Canice Mulligan was black carded, before Ryan Sinkey, who got the opening point of the game, also punched over the final point as Kildare were more than happy to hear the long whistle as they booked their place in the quarter-

final, Kildare 4-19 Sligo 1-24.

An enthralling game, no shortage of scores, testament to the new rules, but also to two teams who in turn used the elements in their favour.

One concern for Kildare were the injuries picked up with Callum Bolton, just back from injury, was also forced off with a recurring injury; hopefully they will be all fit in two weeks time.

SCORERS

Kildare: Daniel Flynn 2-3, Alex Beirne 1-6 (one two-pointer free, one free, one 45); James McGrath 1-0, Colm Dalton 0-3 (one two-pointer), Tommy Gill 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-2, Niall Kelly 0-1, Callm Bolton 0-1, Brian McLoughlin 0-1.

Sligo: Alan McLoughlin 0-10 (4 frees, one two-pointer), Pat Spillane 0-5 (two two-pointers), Patrick O'Connor 0-3, David Quinn 0-2, Cian Lally 1-0, Alan McLoughlin 0-2 (2 frees), Canice Mulligan 0-2 (two-pointer).

TEAMS

Kildare: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Mark Dempsey, Brian Byrne; Tommy Gill, David Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely cpt, Brendan Gibbons; Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Daniel Flynn, Brian McLoughlin. Subs: Jimmy Hyland for Ben McCormack (2 minutes); Niall Kelly for Jimmy Hyland (27 minutes); Callum Bolton for Brendan Gibbons (half-time); Kevin Flynn for Callum Bolton (49 minutes); Kevin Flynn for Tommy Gill (65 minutes).

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Jack Lavin; Canice Mulligan; Patrick O'Connor; Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Cian Lally; Alan McLoughlin; Niall Murphy cpt, Shane Deignan. Subs: Luke Towey for Paul McNamara (half-time); Ross Doherty for Jack Lavin (42 minutes); Donal Conlon for Shane Deignan (48 minutes); Pat Spillane for Alan Reilly (48 minutes); Lee Deignan for Darragh Cummins (65 minutes).

REFEREE: Paddy Neilan, Roscommon.

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