14-man Derry fight back to defeat Kildare in AFL thriller

Derry defeated Kildare by three points in an incredible game of football at Cedral St Conelth's Park, Newbridge, in Round 3 of the AFL Division 2.

In deplorable conditions the visitors played for part of the opening half with 12 players, but despite playing against the wind in the second half, came back from a four-point deficit at half-time to take honours.

Two goals inside a minute at the start of the second half were the vital scores but Kildare battled back to get within a point of the visitors before finally giving way 3-15 to 1-18.

Playing with the wind, sleet and rain in the opening half Derry opened a quick three-point lead before Kildare replied through Brian McLoughlin. However on the kick-out Derry's captain Conor Glass was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball foul on Callum Bolton, after just six minutes.

Kildare hit three points through McLoughlin, Loakman and Cully to take the lead.

Derry hit back with a Lachlan Murray point and a brilliant two-point free from Shane McGuigan to go two clear and McGuigan quickly added a goal to put Derry in front 1-6 to 0-5 on 15 minutes but that was to be the visitors last score of the half.

Ben Loakman point was followed by a black for Niall Loughlin; Loakman came with another point before Alex Beirne was shown a red and Derry's Conor Doherty a black as tempers flared.

Kildare were now dominant, hit three points on the trot before a Brian McLoughlin free some 25m deceived Shea McGuckin and ended in the net to make it 1-0 to 1-6 at half-time as Derry's two black carded players re-appeared.

Kildare scored the opening point of the second half but goals from Paul Cassidy and Lachlan Murray put them in the driving seat.

As conditions deteriorated Kildare fought back but in fairness Derry worked so hard with 14 men and in the end deservedly took the honours on a final score line for Derry 3-15 Kildare 1-18.

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Scorers: Derry, Shane McGuigan 1-5 (1 two-pointer, 1 free), Lachlan Murray 1-3, Paul Cassidy 1-0, Niall Loughlin 0-3, Conor Doherty 0-3 (one two-pointer), Matthew Downey 0-1.

Kildare, Ben Loakman 0-10 (2 two-pointers, 2 frees), Brian McLoughlin 1-2, Callum Bolton 0-2, Eoin Cully 0-2, Colm Moran 0-1, Neil Flynn 0-1.

KILDARE: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Padraic Spillane, Ryan Burke; James Harris, Eoin Lawlor, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely cpt., Brendan Gibbons; Brian McLoughlin, Callum Bolton, Colm Moran; Ben Loakman, Alex Beirne, Eoin Cully. Subs: Darragh Kirwan for Colm Moran (44 minutes); Jack McKevitt for James Harris (44 minutes); Sam Doran for Kevin Feely (59 minutes); Neil Flynn for Brian McLoughlin (64 minutes); James McGrath for Harry O'Neill (74 minutes).

DERRY: Shea McGuckin; Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Sean Young; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Shea Downey, Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray. Subs: Matthew Downey for Sean Young (half-time); Niall Toner for Shea Downey (59 minutes); Conor McAteer for Niall Loughlin (74 minutes).

REFREE: David Gough, Meath.

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