Kildare hold nerve to beat brave Longford
KILDARE are alive but only just as they finished the stronger on an energy-sapping evening at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park to break Longford’s hearts. Cian O’Neill’s men did not lead until skipper Eoin Doyle fisted over in the 69th minute, after the teams had been level on 10 occasions.
Then Kevin Feely, who did not start due to a calf injury, but was introduced two minutes from the end of normal time for the black-carded Fergal Conway, kicked a fantastic point on the turn.
Eight minutes later, the Athy man picked up a break at the edge of his own square, and started off a move which ended with Kevin Flynn and Daniel Flynn giving Chris Healy the easiest task to palm to an empty net. That wasn’t that though and Robbie Smyth goaled at the other end to put two between them once more. The tireless Paul Cribbin had the final say, after a Feely mark, as an exhausted Longford could give no more.
This was evident as they failed to score a point after Darren Gallagher’s 56th minute effort and perhaps it was the depth of the Kildare squad that told in the conditions.
Longford will rue failing to goal when Kildare were so accommodating to their forwards. Denis Connerton’s men were unfortunate to lead by only a point at the break. Kildare had two massive let-offs in that period and had the crossbar to thank for not conceding a goal on each of those occasions.
The hosts were able to waltz through the Kildare defence at will, often beating their direct opponents in one-and-one situations and capitalising on very weak tackling. Smyth and David McGivney were gifted some easy opportunities from frees too by some ridiculous fouls.
Kildare were dealt an early blow when Niall Kelly had to be replaced after five minutes, having been shown a black card, although his replacement, Paddy Brophy weighed in with two points not long after his introduction. Longford were marginally better defensively but Kildare did look a threat up front, particularly Neil Flynn, who came on to good effect in the victory over Derry after enduring a nightmare couple of years with hamstring injuries.
Smyth converted two frees early on but following the trend of the game, Kildare were soon level thanks to a brace of scores from Flynn.
One of those was a super effort, as he shaped to shoot and sold a defender by chipping over his head into space, regathering possession and finishing with aplomb.
Longford’s midfield duo Gallagher and Conor Berry kicked some excellent points but had Liam Connerton and Donal McElligott found the net, the result would have been different, even though a pointed free came from the first effort while McElligott’s shot did go over.
Tommy Moolick and Daniel Flynn landed points at the other end and it was Longford leading by 0-9 to 0-8 at half time.
Kildare were marginally better defensively in the second half but it was still nip and tuck. Paddy Collum, whose short kickouts were a key part of the Longford strategy, stroked over a delightful 45 and Smyth punished the Kildare transgressions, but Moolick and a more-advanced David Hyland replied.
It was Conway who landed the final equaliser in the 63rd minute before the dramatic conclusion, which included a sending off for Peter Kelly right at the death, receiving his second yellow card for throwing the ball away.
Manager O’Neill will be maddened that Kildare conceded the Smyth goal when they had finally broken free but the most important thing was the result and the Lilywhites will be in the draw tomorrow morning.