REPORT: Kildare forwards shine when it matters most as Lilies progress to Leinster semi-final

Kildare advanced to the Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-final after an excellent second half display against Laois in Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, on Sunday afternoon.

Minus many of their first team starters, through injury, and coming off a league campaign that saw them lose their last five games that resulted in relegation and taking on a Laois team that defeated Offaly in the preliminary round, it was certainly backs-to-the-wall stuff for Brian Flanagan’s side.

Played on a lovely afternoon for football, a big attendance were treated to an action-packed opening half, the sides level on no less than six times.

Laois hit two goals in that period, The Lilies replied with one and at the end of the half the sides went into the dressing rooms level Kildare 1-10 Laois 2-7.

Ben Loakman, playing in this first Leinster Championship game, opened with a free for the home side after three minutes while Daragh Galvin leveled them up two minutes later.

Laois danger man, Evan O’Carroll, had his side in front soon after.

Ten minutes on the clock Loakman drew the home side level but three minutes later the visitors edged in front again with a fine point from Kevin Swayne.

Darragh Kirwan opened his account on 14 minutes to tie the sides up again and two minutes later The Lilies saw a foul on Tommy Gill but the resultant free missed the target.

Callum Bolton set up Gill and the Carbury man made no mistake to put the home side a point ahead.

Then in a brilliant move, involving a number of players Darragh Kirwan put The Lilies two clear.

Back came Laois with a fine effort from the dangerous and experienced Paul Kingston.

From the resultant kick-out, a short effort went straight to Kingston, who said thank you very much as he buried the ball past Cian Burke and, after gaining the kick-out again, Kingston was on target to make it Laois 1-5 Kildare 0-5 with 22 minutes on the clock.

Eoin Cully, whose pace was evident throughout, punched over, Darragh Swords added another before Cully again showed his pace outstripping his marker to punch over and level up matters on 26 minutes – Kildare 0-8 Laois 1-5.

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The boys in blue and white came again a few minutes later when a shot from Daragh Galvin was saved by Cian Burke but the ball broke back to the full-forward who palmed to the net.

It was end-to-end stuff at this stage and Brian Flanagan’s side went on the attack again, from the kick-out Brian McLoughlin made a brilliant catch, sent in a beautiful kick pass to Eoin Cully whose effort crashed off the crossbar but came back to Loakman who found the net to level it up again.

Kildare then took the lead when a long range Darragh Kirwan effort hopped in front of Laois keeper Killian Roche for a mighty two-pointer and Kildare led 1-10 to 2-5, Laois hit back with two points from Evan O’Carroll and Paul Kingston. But there was more drama to come before the break.

Darragh Kirwan put Darragh Swords in who was fouled, penalty awarded, up stepped Ben Loakman whose effort crashed off the crossbar before being cleared.

The half-time hooter sounded but there was then a bit of handbags as the players made their way to the dressing room which resulted, before the second half resumed yellow cards for Laois ‘keeper Roche and Kildare’s Loakman. Half time Kildare 1-10 Laois 2-7.

The second half resumed with Kevin Feely coming in for Darragh Ryan while Laois brought in Pat Kirwan for Aaron McEvoy.

The Lilies started with intent, Cully, who tormented the Laois defence time and time again, fired over after both teams won, and lost possession, but Kildare were in front.,

Brendan Gibbons, having his best game of the season, made a brilliant catch as the home side went on the attack with Tommy Gill splitting the posts.

Soon after Laois were caught out on a 3x3 infringement, Brian McLoughlin elected to bring the ball outside the arc but his effort fell short.

On 45 minutes, Kevin Feely whose presence certainly gave his side a major boost, split the posts as he punched the air.

Eoin Cully was fouled, Darragh Kirwan converted and Darragh Swords made it 1-15 to 2-7 on 49 minutes, Laois yet to score in the second half.

That drought for the visitors came to an end when Patrick O’Sullivan hit over a fine point, quickly followed by a similar score from Evan O’Carroll as Kildare now led 1-15 to 2-9, on fifty minutes.

Enter Ben McCormack, who replaced his Sarsfields clubman Ben Loakman, and what a difference he made.

Within a minute he split the posts but Laois came back with substitute Rioghan Murphy in on goals but Cian Burke made a fine save pushing the ball out for a 45. Killian Roche’s effort went right and wide.

Eoin Cully continued to sparkle and he again outstripped the defence before punching over, Daragh Galvin replied before Ben McCormack got his second and while Ronan Coffey replied, Kildare now led 1-18 to 2-11 with 61 minutes on the clock.

Ryan Burke made a brilliant block as Kildare came gain, McCormack pushing the Kildare lead out to five.

A couple of minutes later and the game was all over, Colm Moran putting Darragh Kirwan in and the Naas man finished with aplomb; McCormack added a point and the lead was out to eight points.

Laois hit the final three points but it was not enough as Kildare advance to the semi-final – Kildare 2-20 Laois 2-15.

SCORERS:

Kildare: Darragh Kirwan 1-4 (1 two-pointer), Eoin Cully 0-5, Ben Loakman 1-2 (1 free), Ben McCormack 0-4, Darragh Swords 0-2, Tommy Gill 0-2, Kevin Feely 0-1.

Laois: Paul Kingston 1-3 (1 free), Daragh Galvin 1-2, Evan O’Carroll 0-3, Killian Roche 0-3 (1 two-pointer free, 45), Kevin Swayne 0-1, Ronan Coffey 0-1, Patrick O’Sullivan 0-1, Cian Nolan 0-1.

TEAMS: 

Kildare: Cian Burke; Brian Byrne, Mark Dempsey, Ryan Burke; James McGrath, Eoin Lawlor, Tommy Gill; Brian McLoughlin, Brendan Gibbons; Daragh Ryan, Darragh Swords, Callum Bolton; Ben Loakman, Darragh Kirwan, Eoin Cully. Subs: Colm Moran for Eoin Lawlor (TS 30-34); Kevin Feely for Daragh Ryan (half-time); Ben McCormack for Ben Loakman (50 minutes); Colm Moran for Brian McLoughlin (56 minutes); Neil Flynn for Callum Bolton (65 minutes); James Harris for James McGrath (72 minutes).

Laois: Killian Roche; Killian Roche; Jack Lacey, Trevor Collins, Alex Mohan; Paul Kingston, Aaron McEvoy, Robert Tyrrell; Ciaran Burke, Conor Heffernan; Kevin Swayne, Ronan Coffey, Patrick O'Sullivan, Brian Byrne, Daragh Galvin, Evan O'Carroll. Subs: Ben Dempsey for Jack Lacey (30 minutes); Pa Kirwan for Aaron McEvoy (half-time); Rioghan Murphy for Brian Byrne (49 minutes); Cian Nolan for Robert Tyrrell (65 minutes); Darren Brennan for Ronan Coffey (72 minutes).

REFEREE: Conor Lane, Cork.