Late, late point ends Kildare's season of 2023

The 2023 inter-county season came to an end on Saturday for Kildare, losing out to Monaghan by the minimum of margins, in somewhat controversial circumstances to say the very least.

From the word go The Lilies coughed up possession, sat back allowing their opponents to recycle, recycle and recycle as Glenn Ryan's side showed incredible patience before breaking at pace on the counter-attack with good effect.

The problem, and in fairness probably the only real problem, from a Kildare point of view, was that when the goal opportunities arrived they were spurned with a combination of decent defending and some poor attempts at goal scoring along with ill-luck particularly midway through the second half when a goal bound shot from Darragh Kirwan blasted off the cross-bar and when the ball then fell to Daniel Flynn his attempted scoring attempt went right and wide from close range.

All that and a display of refereeing that was as poor as anything (and over the years we have seen plenty of that) we have witnessed at this, or any level, of inter county football.

Jack McCarron got the ball rolling after 58 seconds firing over from close range before Kildare's opening goal chance arrived on two.

Daniel Flynn gained possession, turned his man brilliantly, before seeing his goal attempt, blocked on the double, initially by a defender and then pushed out by keeper Rory Beggan for a 45 which was converted by Neil Flynn.

Ben McCormack found Alex Beirne and the Naas man had The Lilies in front on three minutes.

But that did not last too long as Monaghan cut open the Kildare defence with Stephen O'Hanlon putting Conor McCarthy in on goal.

The wing-back kept his effort low and to the right of the diving Mark Donnellan for a well taken goal; Donnellan was somewhat unfortunate he did not get a touch on it, the ball was well placed but with no pace and a slight touch would have kept it out.

Kildare responded well, Kevin Flynn found Neil Flynn who split the posts.

The Lilies were pushing up on the Monaghan kick-out but still failed to gain the inevitable breaking ball from the forced long kick-out.

Paddy McDermott made progress down the left wing; passed to Ben McCormack who cut inside two defenders before firing over and a minute later the Sarsfields man, repeated the dose, taking a pass from the industrious Neil Flynn to give The Lilies the lead, 0-5 to 1-1 after 11 minutes.

Monaghan leveled up through a Michael Bannigan free and the same player gave his side the lead after being set-up by Karl O'Connell and then put two between them with a converted free.

A free (very soft) awarded on Daniel Flynn was converted by Neil Flynn to tie it up again.

A brilliant kick-out by Mark Donnellan was fetched by Kevin Flynn who punted forward, caught by Ben McCormack, who called for the mark, converted and the sides were level on 25 minutes.

Eoin Doyle made an inspirational catch from a Rory Beggan kick-out but the resultant attack ended with a Daniel Flynn 'short.'

Beggan then converted a 40m free, Mick O'Grady picking up a yellow despite Daniel Flynn doing the fouling.

Five to go to the break and Kildare had a golden chance to find the net but Neil Flynn's shot was saved, the ball breaking to Ben McCormack who leveled up.

Monaghan continued to hold on to the ball; Kildare sitting back patiently before turning it over, Shea Ryan made strides down the wing, found Ben McCormack who fired over to give The Lilies the lead as the half-time whistle arrived the score board reading Kildare 0-9 Monaghan 1-5.

However the sight of Ben McCormack being helped to the dressing room after picking up an injury was a major worry for Kildare. However the Sarsfields man returned but only lasted seven minutes before being forced off with what looked like an ankle injury.

A Monaghan attack was broken up and Kildare charged down field with Daniel Flynn in possession; Kevin Flynn made a brilliant run before receiving the ball and the no. 6 stretched the Kildare lead to two.

Neil Flynn converted a free after Kevin Feely was fouled, the lead now out to three points on 41 minutes.

Darren Hughes reduced the lead with a free before goal opportunity no 3 arrived with Darragh Kirwan inside his blistering shot coming off the crossbar to Daniel Flynn but his effort went high and wide.

Jack McCarron left one between them with a top class score but Kildare hit back through Alex Beirne; two between them 51 gone.

Points from Garry Mohan (mark) and the leveler from Conor McCarthy on 62 minutes followed.

A few very controversial calls by the match official mystified both players and fans alike; a Neil Flynn free was changed to a hop-ball. However Flynn (Neil) made no mistake on 69 to regain the lead as we entered time added on, four minutes from the long whistle.

A needless free saw Jack McCarron level and then as the clock edged to the 75 minute Conor McCarthy (ball handled on the ground ignored) and the wing back split the posts to win it for Monaghan — 1-11 to 0-13.

Absolute heartbreak for The Lilies.

SCORERS

Monaghan: Conor McCarthy 1-2, Michael Bannigan 0-3 (2 frees), Jack McCarron 0-3 (1 free), Gary Mohan 0-1 (mark), Darren Hughes 0-1 (free), Rory Beggan 0-1 (free).

Kildare: Neil Flynn 0-5 (3 frees, 45), Ben McCormack 0-4 (1 mark), Alex Beirne 0-2, Darragh Kirwan 0-1, Kevin Flynn 0-1.

TEAMS

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan O'Toole, Kieran Duffy, Dessie Ward; Karl O Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy; Karl Gallagher, Killian Lavelle; Stephen O’Hanlon, Michael Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie; Jack McCarron, Gary Mohan, Darren Hughes. Subs: Shane Carey for Ryan McAnespie (ts 33 minutes); Conor McManus for Karl Gallagher (half-time); Ryan Wylie for Ryan O'Toole (58 minutes); Kieran Hughes for Killian Lavelle (ts 40-42); Colm Lennon for Karl O'Connell (ts 59-60); Sean Jones for Shane Carey (70 minutes).

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady; Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Kevin O'Callaghan, Kevin Feely ; Paddy McDermott, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne; Neil Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Daniel Flynn. Subs: Jack Robinson for Ben McCormack 42 minutes); Darragh Malone. for David Hyland (66 minutes).

REFEREE: Jerome Henry, Mayo.