Kildare lose to Fermanagh on another poor day

Fermanagh 2-10

Kildare 0-12

It was not what was in the script and that's for sure.

A 'home' game against Cavan and the first away outing to Fermanagh looked like a real opportunity for The Lilies to make a positive start.

However, despite what team manager Glenn Ryan said at the League preview “we don't want to get the start we had last year” that is exactly what has happened as after this second defeat in a row the boys in white are immediately on the back foot; immediately looking at the wrong end of the table and the conversation is more about relegation rather than promotion.

With Maynooth University through to the semi-final of the Sigerson Cup, a great achievement by any standards, and with a number of Kildare players heavily involved it could be looked as a positive.

The downside of course is that the county team has suffered as a result what with injuries, Darragh Kirwan picking up a hamstring injury last Wednesday and then the decision not to play most of that contingent, under-
standable and all as it is, it has certainly hit Kildare heavily.

Kildare scored just four points in the opening half — all from frees — while Fermanagh showed they have an array of players capable of raising flags of different colours , with the home side's defence hitting 1-3 in that half.
The writing was on the wall.

And while the sides were level three times in the opening eleven minutes that was as good as it got for Kildare as Fermanagh slowly but surely turned the screw helped with a goal that could only be described as a bit of a catastrophe.

Fermanagh corner back, Lee Cullen got the ball rolling for the boys in green while Mark Donnellan leveled up with a converted free.

A foul on Sean Cassidy saw Garvan Jones edge his side ahead but Kildare quickly replied with a similar score from Jimmy Hyland, the ball being brought forward for 'talking' by referee Seamus Mulhare after a foul on Alex Beirne.

Fermanagh were using goalkeeper Ross Bogue a lot in the opening half as an extra outfield player and Kildare did little or nothing to counteract his effectiveness.

A brilliant long range point from full back Ché Cullen regained the lead before Paddy Woodgate made a great tackle back on his own half-back line before a late tackle on Alex Beirne saw Woodgate level up matters at 0-3 apiece.

A great ball over the top to Alex Beirne saw the ball bounce away from the Naas man, another day and he was in on goal.
Kildare were continuing to hit some very poor passes that saw the Fermanagh defence gobble up at ease as Conor McShea saw his effort come off the upright before being cleared.

Fermanagh took the lead on 18 minutes, a lead they were never to lose when Sean Cassidy hit a brilliant effort from a very acute angle.

Disaster struck on 20 when a short kick-out to Brian Byrne saw the Naas man fail to control the ball, he then fouled his immediate opponent a free awarded, converted by Garvan Jones and Byrne was shown a black card, which in fairness looked a very harsh decision.

Kildare reduced the deficit, Jimmy Hyland converting a free but Fermanagh were gaining more and more possession and added points from Ronan McCaffrey, Declan McCusker (all along) as the home side led 0-7 to 0-4 on 25 minutes.

Mark Donnellan was down and needed attention but resumed before Fermanagh came storming down the left wing.
Wing back, Declan McCusker left Aaron O'Neill sprawling on the ground with a top class shoulder before going for a point.

A high ball was short of the target, Mark Donnellan looked in control gathering the ball but unfortunately and inexplicably the most reliable net-minder let the ball slip from his grasp and it landed over the line and into the net.

Brian Byrne returned and almost immediately Fermanagh were shown a black, this time Shane McGullion was given a ten minute break — again a decision that looked harsh.

Three poor wides on the trot did nothing for the Kildare cause; the returned Brian Byrne found Aaron O'Neill in a forward position, but he scuffed his attempt.

The half-time whistle arrived with Fermanagh leading 1-7 to 0-4 and Kildare looked in big trouble after a half that looked remarkably like what we had witnessed a week earlier in Carlow.

Kildare introduced Ryan Houlihan and Luke Killian at the start of the second half and they (Kildare) certainly upped their intensity with points from Paddy Woodgate, a lovely dummy from the Raheens man before he fired over and that was followed a minute later when Mark Donnellan converted a 45 with consummate ease to cut the lead back to four points with just 37 gone.

Two minutes later and disaster hit Kildare gain. Kevin Feely adjudged to have committed a foul but the experienced player had 'words' with the match official who duly flashed a black card.
A needless offence from the Athy man.

Ultán Kelm increased the lead before a dinky run by Alex Beirne saw the Naas man 'stopped' and while he was just outside one would have expected a yellow (or black) for the defender.

It was a decision that incensed Kildare coach Roli Sweeney on the line and he was duly shown a yellow for his troubles.
Jimmy Hyland converted the free but Fermanagh hit back with a point from Josh Largo Elis — the fourth home defender to score.

Kildare replied with points from Kevin O'Callaghan, Mick O'Grady and Ben McCormack (2) but in between Fermanagh added 1-1, the goal by Sean Cassidy after the Kildare defence was cut open.

Kildare did get a penalty in time added on after a Kevin Feely effort was foot-blocked ; the Athy man took the kick only to see his effort well saved by Ross Bogue.

In many respects it sums up Kildare, another poor display another defeat as the dark clouds gather.
And Armagh next up.

Scorers: Fermanagh: Declan McCusker 1-1, Sean Cassidy 1-1, Garvan Jones 0-2 (2 frees), Ultan Kelm 0-2 (1 free), Lee Cullen 0-1, Ché Cullen 0-1, Ronan McCaffrey 0-1, Josh Largo Elisl 0-1.

Kildare: Jimmy Hyland 0-4 (3 frees), Ben McCormack 0-2, Paddy Woodgate 0-2 (free), Mark Donnellan 0-2 (free, 45), Kevin O'Callaghan 0-1, Mick O'Grady 0-1.

Fermanagh: Ross Bogue; Lee Cullen, Ché Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Declan McCusker, Shane McGullion, Josh Largo Elis; Brandon Horan Joe McDade Conor McGee, Ronan McCaffrey, Conor McShea; Ultán Kelm, Garvan Jones, Sean Cassidy; Subs: Cian McManus for Declan McCusker (73 minutes); Killian Galligan for Conor O'Shea (73 minutes); Diarmuid King for Sean Cassidy (73 minutes).

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely, Kevin O'Callaghan; Alex Beirne, Ben McCormack, Aaron O'Neill; Paddy Woodgate, Shane O'Sullivan, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Luke Killian for Aaron O'Neill (half-time); Ryan Houlihan for Brian Byrne (half-time); Callum Bolton for Shane O'Sullivan (44 minutes); Aaron Masterson for Paddy Woodgate (67 minutes); Paddy McDermott for Eoin Doyle (67 minutes).

Referee Seamus Mulhare, Laois.