An Dun -v- Cill Dara AIQ R2

[knockitdown]

Down 0-10 Kildare 0-10

[Aristo 60]

Looks like a goal could do it?

[knockitdown]

Save by Cunningham. Kildare score the 45 to lead by a point. 15mins left

[knockitdown]

Down 0-11 Kildare 0-13

[Aristo 60]

Down 0-11 Kildare 0-13

Good work knock it down thanks

[knockitdown]

Down 0-11 Kildare 0-15.   7mins left

[Aristo 60]

Sounds like its all over for James and co

[knockitdown]

Down 0-11 Kildare 0-17.      3mins left.

[Aristo 60]

Shocking score line now.   Goodnight from aristo

[knockitdown]

Ft Down 0-11 Kildare 1.18

Kildare out scored down 1.08 to 0.01 in last 20mins. It had been all square at 0-10 a piece after 50mins

[Donnellys Hollow]

Much better display. Showed a bit of steel when Down were coming back at us. We might salvage a bit of pride from this year yet.

[thejuice]

Funny, Kildare probably played almost identical to their game against us, but it worked today. But what does it tell anyone going up against Kildare. The gameplan is pretty evident now.

[stew]

Always liked Kildare, well done and now I want the donkeys that are Down........................................ Oh wait 

[Donnellys Hollow]

Funny, Kildare probably played almost identical to their game against us, but it worked today. But what does it tell anyone going up against Kildare. The gameplan is pretty evident now.

Pretty much apart from one or two tweaks. We had Gary White sweeping in front of the full back line today but he was probably only free because Down had a sweeper themselves. Fitzpatrick did well and was an improvement on Mick Foley. Apart from that Kildare were pretty much as you were the last day against Meath.

Callaghan started where Brophy would normally be positioned but was black carded early on. Smith looked sharp enough when he replaced him. Emmet Bolton was very lucky to escape a second yellow card at one stage in the second half when the game was still tight. Had Coldrick shown him the line we would probably have seen a different result.

I suppose Kildare were possibly due a bit of good fortune against Down so we'll take it. Ollie Lyons, Podge Fogarty and Tommy Moolick were our best performers on the day as far as I'm concerned. Moolick kicked a great goal to cap off his display.

[Mourne Rover]

This was the sort of performance we produce every so often when our game plan does not work, there is little leadership on the field and our substitutions are largely ineffective. Apart from our purple patch just after half time, it was a dismal effort and the fact that, having amazingly got level, we were outscored by 1-8 to a point in the last 20 minutes despite a strong wind advantage, tells the tale.

Benny, possibly in his last game and even on his last legs, was really our only threat, and, regardless of who is in charge, there is now the prospect of a series of retirements which may weaken an already limited squad. The way in which we effectively threw in the towel after conceding a point which was admittedly two yards wide was alarming and indicated a general lack of belief.

Kildare should probably have won by a wider margin, as they had a large number of first half wides, although, if either of Benny's two goal chances had gone in, they might have found out more about themselves.

Cunningham made one excellent save but his kick-outs were often poor and his free and 45 were pretty dismal. Our entire defence struggled, with only the odd break from McKernan making a difference. Gordon took some fine catches in the middle but appeared to go over on his ankle before half time and had practically no mobility afterwards. Peter Turley lacks pace but would be disappointed that he was not even given to the break.

Poland has had a poor summer up front, with the captaincy not suiting him, while Laverty was well marked and only played in flashes. Maginn worked hard without ever hurting the opposition, while Madine and O'Hare were ineffective.

Our substitutions looked a little odd, with Toner not able to cope with the marking job he was asked to do on Kelly and Ryan Johnston sent on and then replaced by Dee Turley when his brother Jerome might have made more sense. If both Ambrose and Doyler were not fit for even a brief run, you have have to be pessimistic about their futures.

The only spark came when Benny moved to full forward, tortured the Kildare defence and forced their full back to be replaced, but he cannot work miracles on his own and we can only hope that he gives us another year. He would have graced any Down team in any era and it will be truly sad if he leaves without an Ulster medal. However, our last Anglo-Celt was 20 years ago this week and on today's form another one looks as far away as ever.