How 14-man Kildare gained a valuable point in Omagh in their NFL opener

Passion, determination and refusing to give-way, fourteen-man Kildare came out of Healy Park, Omagh, on Saturday evening with a precious point in the bag in this, Allianz Football League Division 2, opening clash.

It was a game laced with lots of good football, two-pointers by the bucketful and an ending that sent the visiting fans home on the long journey in high spirits.

Few gave Kildare much of a chance in this one and with no less than six players making their league debuts and two more coming on, it was one of the most inexperienced sides ever to don the white shirt, well in this instance, the navy blue away attire of The Lilywhites.

And while Tyrone were relegated from Division 1 last season, they went on to capture the Ulster title while also making it to the All-Ireland semi-final, so no mean side by any manner of means.

On a pitch, understandably soft in places after all the rain, which continued on and off throughout the game. It was newcomer Ethan Jordan who opened for the home side with Eoin Cully leveling up a minute later.

Kildare had started off somewhat nervously though with corner back Ryan Burke in particular getting off to a very shaky start. However, the Caragh man eventually regained his composure going on to have a fine game as the action unfolded.
Jordan got the first of the two-pointers of the evening on five minutes, capitalising on a jersey pull by Callum Bolton.

Eoin Cully showed his skills, and his pace, firing over a point, this time with his right peg. while Ciarán Daly extended the Tyrone lead to two as we reached the eighth minute.

Alex Beirne set up Cully but a brilliant block denied the Carbury man. A minute later Brian McLoughlin opened his account to leave one in it.

Back came Tyrone with that man Ethan Jordan getting a second two-pointer and, when Ciarán Bogue added a point, the lead was out to four on 15 minutes.

Kevin Feely, operating in and out of the big square, hit a fabulous kick pass to Alex Beirne, the Naas man firing over. Brian McLoughlin missed a free, Kildare's fifth wide, followed by a similar effort from Beirne before the Naas man split the posts having been set up by Ben Loakman.

Tyrone were wasteful hitting four wides on the trot, a foul on Loakman, saw McLoughlin fire over and, when Kevin Feely capitalised on a terrible kick-out from Niall Morgan, the sides were level at 0-7 apiece.

It was one of many errors from the experienced Tyrone net-minder and he was very fortunate on more than one occasion not to have been punished as , as usual, he took up a roving role.

Tyrone regained the lead through a Michael Conroy free, his side's first score for 14 minutes but Brian McLoughlin tied it up again with a free of his own.

With half-time approaching another kick-out from Morgan went straight to Ben Loakman who advanced at goal, both Eoin Cully and Brian McLoughlin had shots blocked before Darragh Swords was on hand to boot to the net giving Kildare a half-time lead 1-8 to 0-8.

A great position for the visitors who had grown into the game with midfielders Brendan Gibbons and Callum Bolton getting a couple of mighty fetches and doing very well.

Second half
On the resumption the expected backlash from the home side did not take long to materialise and within a couple of minutes had the lead back to one.

Kildare responded with a brilliant Callum Bolton two-pointer.

Ronan Cassidy replied for Tyrone before the home side opened the Kildare defence with big midfielder Joe Oguz finishing to the net to regain the lead by one.

A minute later and Kildare were in big trouble when Brendan Gibbons was shown a second yellow and an early shower.
Tyrone though were now showing a lot more physicality and The Lilies looked in trouble and when Jordan hit a two-pointer free, the lead was out to three points.

However, Kildare were in no mood to capitulate, a two-pointer from Beirne cut back the lead to one; Jordan capitalised on a poor clearance to push it back to two on fifty minutes.

A wide and a short from the visitors and another wide, this time from Eoin Lawlor, who had an excellent game, before substitute Darragh Canavan hit two points inside a minute and Tyrone now led 1-16 to 1-12 with 56 minutes on the clock.
Alex Beirne converted a free, Callum Bolton a short, Beirne was fouled and he duly fired over to leave two in it on 60 minutes.

Despite playing with 14 men Kildare continued to gain a lot of possession, but both sides missed opportunities before Brian McLoughlin hit a brilliant two-pointer to level it at 1-16 apiece.

From the kick-out Tyrone came storming forward and that man Ethan Jordan gave Cian Burke no chance filling the Kildare net with 65 minutes on the clock and the home side leading now by three points.

Kildare refused to cave in, Brian McLoughlin left two between the sides before, and into time added on, the Clane man gained possession wide on the left, he landed a brilliant two pointer to tie it up again.

Both sides had opportunities to win it but in the end and probably the right result as the final whistle arrived with Kildare capturing what could be a very precious point on the game finished Tyrone 2-16 Kildare 1-19.

A game to remember and a mighty point gained!