'Extremely poor' Kildare must improve ahead of crucial Meath clash

Kildare suffered a real hammer blow to their league ambitions on Sunday in Kingspan Breffni, losing out to Cavan by three points in Round 4 of the Allianz Football League, Division 2.

The home side were seeking their first win in this year's campaign while a win for the visitors would have practically secured their divisional status, but now Brian Flanagan's side are sucked into a relegation dog-fight.

Missing the suspended Alex Beirne and with Kevin Feely missing out through injury, the absence of both certainly made Kildare's chances a lot tougher.

The opening half was probably the most boring 35 minutes plus game we have witnessed in many a day.

Both teams found it difficult to get to grips with the conditions and an absolute downpour in the second quarter certainly did nothing to enhance what was on view.

An early opportunity for Kildare went abegging when Brian McLoughlin hit a lovely ball inside to Eoin Cully, but the Carbury man never got control of the ball and the chance was gone.

Brendan Gibbons got a vital touch, pushing the ball out for a 45, which came to nothing.

As the rain began to pour down it was Cavan who finally opened the scoring, the impressive Patrick Lynch converting a free, with Darragh Kirwan replying soon after.

That was to be the pattern of this extremely poor opening half. Lynch hit a fine two-pointer; Cavan escaped a 3x3 breach before Calum Bolton found the range, that after two Kildare efforts had fallen short.

Darragh Kirwan levelled up before a clear foul on James Harris went undetected, much to the anger of the visiting fans. However, on 27 minutes Brian McLoughlin had the sides level at 0-4 apiece.

Cavan should have regained the lead but a close-in free saw Tiarnan Madden hit the post and the ball cleared.

A short and a wide followed before Gerard Smith edged Cavan ahead but a fine effort from Colm Moran, set up by Callum Bolton, saw the sides go to the dressing rooms level at 0-5 apiece.

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It was a half that was reminiscent of the way football was played before the new rules, horrendous from both sides with mistake after mistake, balls being dropped, missed-place passes, the order of the day.

As the players arrived back out so did the sun and it was Kildare who opened brightly. James Harris, with a pass from Brian McLoughlin, had Kildare in front for the first time before Ben Loakman converted an excellent two-point free and suddenly the visitors had opened a three point game with just 37 minutes gone.

However, they were not to score again until the 45th minute as Cavan took complete control around the middle, winning every breaking ball that they did not make a clean catch from. Kildare simply could not get possession as Cavan suddenly grew in confidence.

Patrick Smith knocked over a two-pointer free before Oisin Brady leveled up on 34 minutes.
Kildare hit back with a fine point from Colm Moran the ball being moved quickly and accurately inside. Eoin Cully picked up a yellow as Cavan continued to dominate.

Brady again pointing before Dara McVeety gave his side the lead on 50 minutes.

An off-the-ball skirmish saw play being stopped and, after Padraic Spillane received extensive treatment, it was Kildare's Brian Byrne who was shown a yellow as Kildare fans showed their displeasure with the referee's decision.
And to add insult to injury play resuming with a free which was expertly converted by Patrick Lynch and when Gearoid McKiernan added a single and Ryan Brady another single, the home side now led 0-14 to 0-9 with 60 on the clock.
Brendan Gibbons made a fine catch but like many moves before that, the resultant attack simply broke down.

To add to the occasion the scoreboard decided it had enough and switched off, another big delay as one wondered could anything else possibly go wrong in this crazy game.

Ben Loakman fired over and followed up with another but Patrick Lynch replied to leave it 0-15 to 0-11 on 70 minutes but a lot of time had been wasted through stoppages and officially still some eight or nine minute to play.

Ben Loakman reduced the lead to three and James Harris cut it back to two as Kildare finally began to play the type of football we know they are capable of.

Patrick Lynch converted a free before Padraic Spillane was shown a black card, as the long whistle finally arrived with the home side picking up their first points of this campaign giving them a huge boost in avoiding the drop.

For Kildare, it was a day to forget; bad enough losing this one but it was the absolute dire performance that had fans heading back to the Shortgrass wondering what lay ahead with Meath in Newbridge on Saturday.

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SCORERS

Cavan: Cavan, Patrick Lynch 0-9 (1 two-pointer, 1 free, 2 two-pointers), Oisin Brady 0-2, Dara McVeety 0-2, Tiernan Madden 0-1 (1 free), Gerard Smith 0-1, Gearoid McKiernan 0-1.

Kildare: Ben Loakman 0-5 (1 two-pointer), Darragh Kirwan 0-2, James Harris 0-2, Colm Moran 0-2. Brian McLoughlin 0-1, Callum Bolton 0-1.

TEAMS

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Paddy Meade, Brian O’Connell; Oisin Brady, Niall Carolan, Gerard Smith; Eoin Clarke, Conor Brady; Ciarán Brady, Tiarnan Madden, Peter Corrigan; Cian Shekleton , Patrick Lynch, Dara McVeety. Subs: Gearoid McKiernan for Niall Carolan (34 minutes); Ryan Brady for Cian Shekleton (54 minutes).

Kildare: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Pauric Spillane, James McGrath ; James Harris, Eoin Lawler, Brian Byrne; Callum Bolton, Brendan Gibbons; Brian McLoughlin, Darragh Kirwan cpt., Colm Moran; Ben Loakman, Darragh Swords, Eoin Cully. Subs: Tommy Gill for Darragh Swords (half-time); Neil Flynn for Eoin Cully (46 minutes); Jack McKevitt for Colm Moran (60 minutes); Caoimhan McGovern for Tiernan Madden (60 minutes); Sam Doran for James McGrath (69 minutes).

Referee Barry Judge, Sligo.