14-man Kildare have no answer to Offaly
Cathal McCabe sending off big turning point for The Lilies
In front of an attendance of 5,602 on a glorious sunny Sunday Offaly defeated Kildare at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, and with Dublin getting the better of Kilkenny, Offaly advance to the All-Ireland series, while for The Lilies it is the end of the season, end of the involvement in the Leinster Championship as they return to the Joe McDonagh Cup come 2027.
The turning point of the game came within two minutes of the restart when Cathal McCabe was given a straight red following an off-the-ball clash with Ciaran Burke, from that point on it was all Offaly as they strolled to a well-deserved 17 point victory.
The opening half was tight, hotly contested with both sides going at it hammer and tongs.
Kildare opened with points from Cathal McCabe and Jack Sheridan (free) before Offaly got off the mark through danger man Eoghan Cahill and while Muiris Curtin added a point for the home side, points from Daniel Burke and Cahill again had the sides level after eight minutes.
Jack Sheridan added a free, Daniel Burke replied before Paddy McKenna denied Ter Guinan a goal with a brilliant save.
Cian Boran and Eoghn Cahill exchanged points as the sides were level at 0-5 apiece after 15 minutes.
Offaly stepped it up and opened a three point lead but the home side responded with a Sheridan free and a brilliant effort from Cian Boran.
Offaly pushed on again with four points on the trot opening a five point lead but Kildare responded with Conan Boran and two Darragh Melville points to leave two in it and then just before the break that man Eoghan Cahill converted a free to leave the half-time score reading Offaly 0-13 Kildare 0-10.
Eoghan Cahill fired over on the resumption before Cathal McCabe got his marching orders and when Brian Duignan, fired to the Kildare net on 43 the game was all but done and dusted.
Kildare scored a mere five points in the second half while the visitors to Newbridge added an impressive 1-16 with a total of 12 players getting on the score sheet with corner forward Eoghan Cahill hitting an impressive 13 points.
Final score: Offaly 1-29 Kildare 0-15.
Scorers, Offaly: Eoghan Cahilll 0-13 (8 frees), Brian Duignan 1-2, Daniel Bourke 0-4, Colin Spain 0-2, Shane Rigney 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-1, Ter Guinan 0-1, Ciaran Burke 0-1, Adam Screeney 0-1, David Kelly 0-1, Ciaran Cleary 0-1.
Kildare: Jack Sheridan 0-5 (4 frees), Darragh Melville 0-2, Cian Boran 0-2, Conan Boran 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1, Muiris Curtin 0-1, Simon Leacy 0-1, Tim Ryan 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-1.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenny; Liam O’Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara; Conan Boran, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, Cathal McCabe; Jack Travers, Cathal Dowling, Gerry Keegan; Darragh Melville, Muiris Curtin, Jack Sheridan. Subs: Richie Hogan for Liam O’Reilly (40 minutes); Tim Ryan for Muiris Curtin (46 minutes); Paul Dolan for Cathal Dowling (46 minutes); Conn Kehoe for Richie Hogan (56 minutes); Evan O’Brfien for Jack Travers (63 minutes).
OFFALY: Liam Hoare; Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely, Patrick Taaffe; Ross Ravenhill, Killian Sampson, Ter Guinan; Colin Spain, Cathal King; Shane Rigney, Conor Doyle, Daniel Bourke; Eoghan Cahill, Brian Duignan. Subs: Oisin Kelly for Ter Guinan (23 minutes); David Nally for Adam Screeney (40-42 minutes); David Hally for Shane Rigney (60 minutes); James Mahon for Patrick Taaffe( 63 minutes); Eoin Burke for Adam Screeney (63 minutes): Ciaran Cleary for Brian Duiganan (68 minutes).
REFEREE: Michael Kennedy, Tipperary.