Kildare V Tyrone QR3 20/07/13

[Dont Matter]

Expect that 7,500 to be revised upwards this week!

To 27,000 when it's moved to Portlaoise?

[laoislad]

Supermacs will be hoping it's in Portlaoise....

[Donnellys Hollow]

Expect that 7,500 to be revised upwards this week!

To 27,000 when it's moved to Portlaoise?

Great opportunity for the local dwellers to see some football.

[orangeman]

Expect that 7,500 to be revised upwards this week!

There'll be a ball of room. Load of empty seats.

[drici]

Tyrone tipple Kildare with second half performance
http://www.leinsterleader.ie/sport/tyrone-tipple-kildare-with-second-half-performance-1-1936923
 
Published on 05/08/2009

All Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter Final
Tyrone: 0-16  Kildare: 1-11

AND so it is. The end. Championship 2009 has drawn to a close for Kildare. It finished just like it did twelve months before - at the quarter final stage. It came to a conclusion with a morale victory over the All Ireland champions but such victories are for losers.

Kildare, by no means there just to make up the numbers, feel this was a game they should have won and that fact is correct and true. They could have and indeed should have booked their place in the last four but the important thing here is that they didn't. Tyrone came away with a two point victory after Kieran McGeeney's side could only muster up four points in the second half. That, coupled with some poor finishing and the concession of possession is what cost the Lilies a place in the penultimate round against Munster champions Cork.

Progress has most definitely been made but in the dressing room last Sunday evening that was scant consolation to a team that had ambitions to go all the way. Kildare might be a step or two off the pace at present but what 2009 has shown is that the Lilies are, once again, a force to be reckoned with, a young team, for the most part, with the talent and belief to contest for honours and no doubt they'll be back next year, back in the hunt again but for now these players must sit back and watch the rest battle it out for Sam.

Last Sunday in front of a 49,761 crowd at headquarters Kildare tore in to the holders during the first half and what a half they had. They led by four points (1-07 to 0-06) at the break after a crucial goal from Ronan Sweeney in the 14th minute and they had the holders on the back foot.

Tyrone's star men, none more so than Sean Cavanagh, were kept in check, Kildare fought like Trojans for each and every ball and when possession went forward they took their scores with aplomb. In short, the Lilies were on fire and were in control.

All year Dermot Earley has been earning plaudits for his performances but last Sunday his partner Daryl Flynn had an outstanding first half on Sean Cavanagh, the man considered by many as they best footballer in the country. Flynn didn't allow Cavanagh to get a grip on things in the middle, didn't allow him possession and run at the defence and although Flynn tired and was replaced in the second period, Cavanagh's influence on the game was minimal throughout.

In to the Kildare team came Gary White and he was another man to perform well, while Earley, Kavanagh, Doyle and Eamonn Callaghan, still quite obviously feeling the effects of his groin injury, all shone. In fact during that first half the whole Kildare XV were on song and they probably should have led more heading for the dressing room at the break.

If Tyrone hadn't been tested up until this point, then they most definitely have been now and indeed when Mikey Harte spoke to the waiting media at full time relief was the overriding emotion.

Kieran McGeeney said afterwards that this Tyrone team were one of, if not the best team of the last 30 years but Kildare paid scant regard to that right from the throw in. They went at the Ulster champions from the off and most certainly had them rattled. At one point, with 29 minutes on the clock to be exact, the Lilywhites led by five (1-6 to 0-4) and it was the stuff of dreams. If Kildare could keep up such intensity in the second period there was only going to be one outcome according to some at the break but they failed to do just that and paid the heavy price.

The Red Hand men enjoyed an excellent start to the final half and were back on level terms just five minutes in. Three minutes later they hit the front for the first time in the game but Kildare bounced back to lead by the minimum in the 53rd minute. However, Tyrone had the response but all Kildare could muster were a series of poor wides at the death and that was that. On the champions marched and Kildare headed home.

The Lilies didn't produce it over the 70 minutes and maybe Tyrone deserve credit for that but you can't help feeling, like the Leinster final, this is a game Kildare left behind. As aforementioned they hit some dreadful wides and on at least five occasions Tyrone scored points after Kildare needlessly gave away possession. In the first half McGeeney's men played excellent possession football, were patient in their build up but that trait went missing in the final half and more times than not they ended up conceding possession.

It's all academic now anyway. Tyrone are the favourites to go on and retain the Sam Maguire Cup but they will have to play decidedly better if they are to do it. For the Kildare players it's back to the clubs and on to the local championships and although bitterly disappointed, they can hold their heads high.

The might have finished up at the same stage, and finished up with nothing, but these players gave the county a real boost and they proved to everyone they are a free scoring, talented and determined side and no doubt they will be back next year more determined than ever. The experience of this year's championship will be of a huge benefit to the younger players who now know they are just as good as the likes of Sean Cavanagh, as Stephen O'Neill and the rest of the All Ireland medal holders. Kildare can compete with the best and make no mistake about that and if ever you wanted evidence cast your mind back to the first half of last Sunday's encounter.

Wearing green though not meeting with Napper Tandy and shooting in to the empty Hill 16 Kildare signalled their intent early and opened their account with three minutes on the clock when Johnny Doyle sent over a free after a foul on Daryl Flynn. That lead was doubled five minutes later when Doyle got inside his marker Davy Harte before firing over the bar from the left.

The holders pulled one back thanks to Stephen O'Neill after some sloppy marking from the Lilies, while they were soon back level when O'Neill grabbed a second, a superb point from a difficult angle on the right.

Kildare had the perfect response though. A goal, the game's only, from Ronan Sweeney gave McGeeney's side a three point cushion and they built on it from there to the interlude. A superb ball from substitute Andrew McLoughlin found James Kavanagh and instead of going for it himself the Ballymore man passed inside to Ronan Sweeney, who took the chance superbly when he finished in to the near corner to leave the score at 1-2 to 0-2.

With the goal came confidence and Kildare finished out the half on fire. Between the 25th and 29th minutes the Lilies hit three point without response to lead by five (1-6 to 0-4) and although Tyrone tagged on two before the break, Kildare had a 1-07 to 0-06 half time lead. Very satisfactory indeed.

One always expected a back lash from the champions and that's exactly what occurred after the turnaround. Mickey Harte's side registered six points without reply and Kildare had to wait until the 50th to open their second half account. That score came from a converted free from Doyle to pull the deficit back to one and two minutes later the Allenwood man levelled proceedings when he sent over another free.

Kildare might have been on the back foot but they showed superb spirit to weather the storm and on 53 minute they got their noses back in front once more when Doyle scored a peach of a point to leave the score at 1-10 to 0-12..

The side's then swapped points but thereafter Kildare failed to score again. Tyrone on the other hand fired over three to ensure victory and a semi final spot.

In parts it was a wonderful performance for Kildare, sometimes it was poor and perhaps experience carried Tyrone over the line but make no mistake about it Kildare had their chances to win this one.

Scorers: Tyrone - Stephen O'Neill 0-7 (2f), Owen Mulligan 0-4, Brian Dooher 0-2, Tommy McGuigan 0-1 (1f), Martin Penrose 0-1, Justin McMahon 0-1.

Kildare - Johnny Doyle 0-7 (4f, 1 line ball), Ronan Sweeney 1-0, Eamonn Callaghan 0-1, James Kavanagh 0-1, Alan Smith 0-1, Mick Foley 0-1.

Tyrone: Pascal McConnell; PJ Quinn, Justin McMahon, Ryan McMenamin; Davy Harte, Conor Gormley, Philip Jordan; Kevin Hughes, Sean Cavanagh; Brian Dooher, Tommy McGuigan, Joe McMahon; Martin Penrose, Stephen O'Neill, Owen Mulligan. Subs: Brian McGuigan replaced T McGuigan 43 mins, Sean O'Neill replaced PJ Quinn 56 mins.


Kildare: Tom Corley; Emmet Bolton, Hugh McGrillen, Mick Foley; Morgan O'Flaherty, Brian Flanagan, Gary White; Daryl Flynn, Dermot Earley; John Doyle, Padraig O'Neill, James Kavanagh, Alan Smith, Ronan Sweeney, Eamonn Callaghan. Subs: Andrew McLoughlin replaced E Bolton (inj) 11 mins, Ken Donnelly replaced P O'Neill 52 mins, Rob Kelly replaced R Sweeney 52 mins, Kevin O'Neill replaced D Flynn 61 mins, Willie Heffernan replaced E Callaghan 66 mins.


Referee: Gearoid O Conamha (Galway).

[Dont Matter]

Supermacs will be hoping it's in Portlaoise....

They have a huge order for extra chicken and chips on standby. Gotta have them shnack boxes at the ready for the lillies.

[God14]

Wonder will SON be available for this game? McCurry was a doubt as well

[Fuzzman]

Haven't heard anything about Stevie but I'd be hopeful he'd be OK.

Just checked there on wiki to see was that 2009 the only meeting we had with them in the qualifiers. For some reason I thought we beat them twice over the last 5 years or so.

I was reminded that Kildare beat Meath in the quarters back in 2010 - 2.17 to 1.12 and then lost to Down in the semi.

What's wrong with McCurry?

[God14]

Fuzz, McCurry was taken off the last day with an injury approx. 65th minute. Havnt heard anything since. Hopefully it was just a precaution etc

[God14]

Teamtalkmag reckon the game will be played in Tullamore?

[Dinny Breen]

Haven't heard anything about Stevie but I'd be hopeful he'd be OK.

Just checked there on wiki to see was that 2009 the only meeting we had with them in the qualifiers. For some reason I thought we beat them twice over the last 5 years or so.

I was reminded that Kildare beat Meath in the quarters back in 2010 - 2.17 to 1.12 and then lost to Down in the semi.

What's wrong with McCurry?

We've never met in the qualifiers that was AI quarter-final in 2009.

[J OGorman]

from that 2009 team above, whatever happened Tommy McGuigan?

[Fuzzman]

Got a recurring injury and withdrew from the squad.

[ONeill]

Just checked there on wiki to see was that 2009 the only meeting we had with them in the qualifiers. For some reason I thought we beat them twice over the last 5 years or so.

Was thinking the same. I suppose we've played each other a lot lately. Twice in the league in Croke last year. This'll be the third meeting this year.

[yellowcard]

Probably the draw neither team wanted but for the winner they will carry a lot of confidence into the 4th round. Can't imagine there will be much in it but being at home and with the distinct prospect that it could be McGeeneys last game in charge I have a feeling Kildare might edge it.