Kildare hit rock bottom as Geezer's Armagh dominate

Armagh 2-16

Kildare 0-8

This third round game in the 2024 Allianz Football League (Division 2) was always going to be tough one on Kildare with Kieran McGeeney bringing his unbeaten Armagh side to Netwatch Cullen Park.

And that it certainly proved to be.

Out-played, out-fought, out-thought The Lilies simply had no answer to the power, the pace and the physicality of Armagh who had this one wrapped up so early in the opening half that the second half felt like it was never going to come to an end.

While four points in each half was never going to be enough to win this (or any) game it was at the opposite end of the pitch that the problems really showed up, conceding two goals in each half, along with eight points in each half says it all.

The result leaves Kildare at the bottom of the table with zero points and this Sunday travel to Pairc Tailteann in Navan to take on Colm O'Rourke's boys who have one win and one draw to their credit, three points and a superior scoring average to Kildare -10 compared to -22.

So another big, big game for Kildare and really a must win to have any chance of surviving at this stage.
But back to Sunday and it was Kildare who gained possession from the throw-in with Aaron Masterson fisting the ball forward and what followed was a multitude of hand passes that came to an end when Ben McCormack deemed to have over-carried.

Armagh responded and with their first attack of the day saw Oisin Conaty firing over the first of his four opening half points, all from play.

Full forward Conor Turbitt who had a top class game throughout converted a free before an attack that involved Rory Grugan, Greg McCabe and Conor Turbitt saw the full forward slip inside before hitting a lovely effort to the corner of the net.
Armagh 1-2 Kildare 0-0 with a mere eight minutes on the clock.

It was exactly the start Glenn Ryan's boys simply did not want to happen and with confidence at a very low ebb coming into the contest, it was soon on the floor.

Ten minutes in and Kildare opened their account, Kevin Feely, lining out t full forward, converted a free.

Armagh continued to threaten and looked dangerous once in possession and a fine run from Joe McElroy saw the no. 12 cut through before punching over the bar.

A foul on Eoin Doyle, who was making his 100 appearance in a white shirt, a great achievement for the Naas man, saw Feely knock over the free and when Alex Beirne added another point Kildare had the deficit back to just three points with 16 minutes on the clock.

Armagh stepped up their game again. Rory Grugan converted a free before goal no 2 arrived on 19 minutes and with it any hope Kildare had went out the window.

A brilliant kick-out by Blaine Hughes saw Andrew Murnin gain possession, a quick pass to Rory Grugan, bang, goal; Armagh 2-4 Kildare 0-2.

Two Oisin Conaty points followed by a Conor Turbitt mark and another Conaty saw the lead pushed out to eleven points and while Kevin Feely added his third of the game, this time from open play, it left Armagh in absolute control at the break leading 2-8 to 0-4.

Kildare made two changes at the break, having introduced Ryan Burke on 26 minutes now brought in Daniel Flynn and Luke Killian.

Midfielder Stefan Campbell added an Armagh point before Darragh Kirwan, who couldn't buy a point in the opening half finally found the range but Armagh continued to dominate against a Kildare side that collectively looked like they wanted to be anywhere bar Cullen Park.

Conor Turbitt added a point before a brilliant fetch by Connaire Mackin saw the no. 17 find Stefan Campbell and he added an excellent point from play.

Barry Kelly, making his league debut, certainly gave it his all; the Athy man did just what he does in his Athy shirt, worked his socks off, running harrying and chasing.

Brother Niall, just on two minutes added a point for The Lilies before Luke Killian was put through but the Sallins man was just gobbled up by the Armagh defence and not a Kildare man to be seen.

Turbitt added a beauty; Kevin Feely replied with a free and while Kevin Flynn added another point for Kildare, in between Armagh tacked on another three points from Campbell, his third of the half, Mackin and a late one from Jarly Óg Burns.

Another blow for Kildare before the long whistle saw Kevin O'Callaghan receive for a high tackle on Joe McElroy as the final whistle arrived with the score board reading Armagh 2-16 Kildare 0-8.

Another terrible day for Kildare albeit against an Armagh side that certainly showed their intent or regaining a place back in Division 1.

Scorers: Armagh, Conor Turbitt 1-5 (3 frees, mark), Rory Grugan 1-1 (free), Oising Conaty 0-4, Stefan Campbell 0-3, Joe McElroy 0-1, Connaire Mackin 0-1, Jarly Óg Burns 0-1.

Kildare, Kevin Feely 0-4 (3 frees), Alex Beirne 0-1, Kevin Flynn 0-1, Darragh Kirwan 0-1, Niall Kelly 0-1.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Connaire Mackin, Peter McGrane; Greg McCabe, Aidan Forker cpt, Ciaran Mackin; Aaron McKay, Stefan Campbell; Andrew Murnin, Rory Grugan, Joe McElroy; Cian McConville, Conor Turbitt, Oisin Conaty. Subs: Conor O'Neill for Paddy Burns (blood sub 6-16 minutes); Tiernan Kelly for Rory Grugan (half-time); Jarly Óg Burns for Cian McConville (48 minutes); Barry McCambridge for Paddy Burns (54 minutes); Oisin O'Neill for Andrew Murnin (57 minutes); Jason Duffy for Oisin Conaty (62 minutes); Ross McQuillan for Conor Turbitt (62 minutes).

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; Jack Sargent, Kevin Flynn, Paddy McDermott; Kevin Feely, Kevin O'Callaghan; Aaron Masterson, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne; Paddy Woodgate, Darragh Kirwan, Barry Kelly. Subs: Ryan Burke for Shea Ryan (26 minutes); Daniel Flynn for Paddy Woodgate (half time); Luke Killian for Aaron Masterson (half-time); Niall Kelly for Ben McCormack (46 minutes); Shane Farrell for Alex Beirne (52 minutes).

REFEREE: David Coldrick, Meath.