AFL: Kildare fall to Cavan

Kildare got their 2024 Allianz Football League, Division 2, off too the worse possible start falling to a four point defeat to Cavan at Netwatch Cullen Park this evening.

Cavan were well worth their win against a Kildare side that started well, trailed at half-time and never really got to grips with Cavan who showed plenty of pace and capitalised on some very poor fouling by a Kildare.

Cavan dominated around the middle and had the capacity throughout the game to replay to any Kildare score ensuring that they always had that bit of a cushion.

Cavan certainly had the better of the opening half. They looked dangerous when in  possession and on the attack; Kildare on the other hand looked somewhat ponderous and while they hit two fine points from Ben McCormack and Darragh Kirwan it was the 'visitors' who led by three at the break (0-9 to 0-6) with six different scorers in that period, the main man being Paddy Lynch with four (three frees).

On 50 minutes there were however just two between the sides but Cavan responsed with a fine point from a Paddy Lynch free.

Shane O'Sullivan came off the bench to score two points for The Lilies but there was no denying Cavan with the aforementioned Paddy Lynch putting on an impressive performance with a fine tally of eight points which included six frees.

Final score: Cavan 0-16 Kildare 0-12.

Scorers: Cavan, Paddy Lynch 0-8 (6 frees), Dara McVeety 0-2, Killian Clarke 0-1, Oisin Kiernan 0-1, Gerard Smith 0-1, Ciaran Brady 0-1, Cormac O'Reilly 0-1, Oisin Brady 0-1.

Kildare, Darragh Kirwan 0-3, Jimmy Hyland 0-2 (1 free), Shane O'Sullivan 0-2, Ben McCormack 0-1, Kevin Flynn 0-1, Jack Sargent 0-1, Aaron O'Neill 0-1.

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Ryan Burke; Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely, Kevin O'Callaghan; Luke Killian, Ben McCormack, Paddy McDermott; Paddy Woodgate, Darragh Kirwan, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Shane O'Sullivan for Jimmy Hyland (49 minutes); Ryan Houlihan for Brian Byrne (55 minutes); Aaron O'Neill for Kevin Feely (59 minutes); Eoin Doyle for Luke Killian (67 minutes); Callum Bolton for Paddy Woodgate (68 minutes).

CAVAN: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Oisin Kiernan, Killian Brady; Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Oisin Kiernan; Killian Clarke, Ryan Donohoe; Ciarán Brady, Dara McVeety, Gerard Smithk; Paddy Lynch, Tiarnan Madden, Oisin Brady. Subs: Brian O'Connell for Oisin Kiernan (38 minutes); Ryan O'Neill for Ryan Donohoe (49 minutes); Caoimhin O'Reilly for Tiarnan Madden (61 minutes); Cormac McKeogh for Oisin Brady (65 minutes); Ryan Brady for Ciaran Brady (73 minutes).

REFEREE: Barry Tiernan, Dublin.