Kildare show their class against poor Leitrim side

Kildare 1-27

Leitrim 0-7

In the end there were all of twenty-three points separating Kildare and Leitrim in Sunday's Allianz Football League, Division 3, Round 3 game played at the picturesque Sean O'Heslin's Park, Ballinamore, Leitrim.

And in all fairness The Lilies were worth each and every one of that winning margin.

The visitors dominated the game from the throw-in, led by all of seventeen points at the break, the game effectively over with the home side rasing just one single white flag in that half and that did not arrive until the 27 minute, and when you add in two wides to that particular stat, well what can one say.

Can't ever remember a more one-sided game at this level of football in all the years covering football. And one must also not forget that Kildare were not at full strength for this one with four changes from the team named on Friday, James McGrath, Callum Bolton, Darragh Kirwan and Niall Kelly all missing out through a combination of action in the Sigerson Cup mid-week and a few injuries.

In came Jack McKevitt for his first start of this campaign, as did Aaron Masterson, Cathal Hagney and Ben McCormack.

Those missing players saw four new names on the match day panel, Dean O'Donoghue, Luke Killian, Adam Fanning and Mark Dempsey, the latter two coming in at half-time.

One could only feel for Leitrim, a very young team with manager Steven Poacher having to deal with something like sixteen or seventeen different personnel from the panel of 2024.

The difference in class was palpable and manifested itself time and time again, particularly in the opening half where Kildare dominated, winning kick-out after kick-out, picking up a monopoly of breaking ball, excuting turn-over after turn-over, spraying the ball around at will going down both wings with consumate ease with little or no resistence.

It was man of the match, Alex Beirne, who opened proceedings after Ryan Houlihan was fouled the Naas man made no mistake from the resultant free.

Cathal Hagney rasied the second white for Kildare, the Nurney man had a fine game ending up with four points which included one top class two-pointer.

Two more from Alex Beirne before Ryan Sinkey got his first, soon followed after a long ball into the danger area saw Kevin Feely make a brilliant fetch, the Athy man converting the close-in mark to make it 0-6 to 0-0 with a mere 13 minutes on the clock.

Leitrim had their first shot at a score on 14 minutes but that effort drifted wide as Kildare continued to gain possession.

Next up was a lovely left-footed effort from Brian McLoughlin, David Hyland and Ben McCormack got their names on the score sheet.

Tom Prior had a chance to open the Leitrim account but his free was short, caught by Aaron Masterson who cleared his lines.

Colm Dalton, and a lovely two-pointer from Cathal Hagney, saw the lead out to a dozen points with 24 minutes on the clock.

At that stage all six starting Kildare forward had scored and the sheer naivety of the Leitrim side was shown when the ball was brought forward after a 3x3 infringement by the boys in green and gold left Alex Beirne with a 20m tap over free. However with just two players on the goal line, the keeper and one defender, the Naas man took full advantage burying the ball in the back of the Leitrim net.

If that situation arose at underage level a manager would be pulling his hair out but at senior inter-county level, well it is simply inexcusable and no doubt manager Poacher had some harsh words for his players, remember Poacher's reputation is built on his defensive ideology but that particular incident certainly put a dent in that reputation and that's for sure.

On 27 minutes the opening, and only score for the home side, arrived with one of the stars of the mid-week Sigerson Cup success for DCU, and Ballinamore club man, Tom Prior, taking the bare look off the score board.

Leitrim should have added another but Paul Honeyman's free drifted wide of the post.

Kildare, for their part, added another four points before the break with Aaron Masterson hitting one of his trademark long-range points (now worth two), Alex Beirne and Ryan Houlihan added a couple more to leave the half-time score reading Kildare 1-17 Leitrim 0-1.

Game over. Ball burst.

But for Kildare that last point before the break, scored by Ryan Houlihan saw the Moorefield man being the recipient of a late tackle, unseen by the match official, but it forced him off with a quad injury nevertheless.

Kildare introduced Mark Dempsey, returned after taking a year out for study in 2024, and then picking up a hamstring injury but thankfully now back to full fitness, while Clane man, Adam Fanning also made an appearance in the second half.

It was a half that saw some improvement from the home side as they added six points to their first half total (one two-pointer) but Kildare, now in third gear at this stage, still managed to tack on ten second half points, including a Brian McLoughlin two-

pointer while Darragh Swords, a second half substitute, hit two points which brought the tally of Kildare players on the score sheet to a very impressive thirteen.

Tougher day to come, no doubt, starting this Saturday when neighbours Laois visit Newbridge in what should be a cracking game.

SCORERS

Kildare: Alex Beirne 1-6 (4 frees), Cathal Hagney 0-4 (1 two-pointer), Brian McLoughlin 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Ryan Sinkey 0-3, Aaron Masterson 0-2 (two-pointer), Darragh Swords 0-2, David Hyland 0-1, Ryan Houlihan 0-1, Kevin Feely 0-1 (mark), Colm Dalton 0-1, Ben McCormack 0-1, Didier Cordonnier 0-1 (45), Rian Teahan 0-1.

Leitrim: Tom Prior 0-2, Sean Harkin 0-2, Paul Honeyman 0-2 (two-pointer), Ben Guckian 0-1 (free).

TEAMS

Kildare: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Mick O'Grady, Brian Byrne; David Hyland, Jack McKevitt, Ryan Houlihan; Kevin Feely, Aaron Masterson; Brian McLoughlin, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Cathal Hagney, Ben McCormack. Subs: Rian Teahan for Colm Dalton (28 minutes); Tommy Gill for Ryan Houlihan (36 minutes); Adam Fanning for Ben McCormack (half-time); Mark Dempsey for Mick O'Grady (half-time); Darragh Swords for Kevin Feely (57 minutes).

Leitrim: Daire O'Shea; Eoin McLoughlin, James Rooney, Cathal McHugh; Seán Harkin, Mark Diffley, Eanna McNamara; Conor Quinn, Keith Keegan; Jack Flynn, David Feeney, Tom Prior; Paul Honeyman, Keith Beirne, Jack Foley. Subs: Diarmuid Kelleher for Keith Beirne (half-time); Ben McGuckian for Stephen McLoughlin (half-time); Conall McGovern for Conor Quinn (57 minutes); David Feeney for Jack Foley (70 minutes).

REFEREE: Niall Cullen, Fermanagh.