Kildare continued their resurgence tonight at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park as they showed incredible character and resilience to secure a smash and grab late win over Longford in a pulsating encounter.
It wasn’t until the 69th minute that the Lilywhites earned their first lead of the game, through a punched point from Eoin Doyle. On a warm evening, Cian O’Neill trusted his bench, with five of his six subs seeing at least 20 minutes of action.
In contrast, it wasn’t until the 69th minute that Longford manager Denis Connerton chose to make an unenforced change, and it was no surprise then that Kildare were the ones who were full of running in those closing stages.
Kevin Feely, named to start in the team but left on the bench on account of his calf injury, kicked a majestic point to make it 0-15 to 0-13, forcing Longford to come out and chase a goal.
The same player was at the opposite end of the field to pick up a loose breaking ball and initiate the attack in the fourth minute of stoppage time that ended with fellow substitute Chris Healy palming in a decisive goal, crowning a 60 metre run that left his marker trailing in his wake.
Longford’s Robbie Smyth fired a low shot to the Kildare net in reply in the seventh minute of added time and referee Joe McQuillan allowed enough time for yet another attack, but it ended with a Paul Cribbin fisted point that secured Kildare’s passage to the third round of the qualifiers.
Any idea that Longford might carry a hangover from their chastising experience at the hands of Dublin in Croke Park in the Leinster semi-final was quickly blown out of the water as Robbie Smyth got them out to an early lead with two fine points, one from a free and the second sweetly-struck over with his left foot from a tight angle in the shadow of the terrace.
A black card for Kildare’s Niall Kelly added to the pressure on the Lily Whites but they too settled into the game promptly, with two Neil Flynn points drawing them level.
For most of the first half the sides traded scores in this fashion, usually following the pattern of Longford taking the lead and Kildare replying, but the style of the two approaches was very different.
Longford found holes along the centre of the Kildare defence time and again over the course of the game and ran right through the middle for the majority of their scores, and they also rattled the Kildare crossbar on two separate occasions.
After James Murray blocked down Robbie Smyth, Liam Connerton was able to pick up a rebound and slam it against the town end crossbar after 22 minutes, while Connerton turned provider ten minutes later when he played in Donal McElligott. The Longford captain also left some paint on the ball but at least saw it fly over the crossbar afterwards.
Kildare’s play was much more intricate and patient, with a series of handpasses needed to probe openings, but some superb kicks from Paddy Brophy from tough positions, not to mention points from Tommy Moolick and Daniel Flynn in heavy traffic, kept them right in touch, with just a point between the sides – 0-9 to 0-8 – at the interval.
The same pattern continued after half time, but Kildare’s tackling was improved and Longford’s scoring rate dried up. Kildare struggled to add points at the same rate as well, as seven second half wides (including five in the space of six scoring attempts) meant that they couldn’t find a way to get their noses in front.
When they did, through Eoin Doyle’s fisted effort, they made it count, and so will join tonight’s other winners and the victor in tomorrow’s Offaly vs Clare tie in Monday morning’s third round qualifier draw.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Peter Kelly, David Hyland (0-01), Mick O’Grady; James Murray, Eoin Doyle (0-01), Kevin Flynn; Tommy Moolick (0-02), Fergal Conway (0-01); Keith Cribbin, Paul Cribbin (0-02), Paddy Brophy (0-02); Niall Kelly, Daniel Flynn (0-01), Neil Flynn (0-05, 0-03 frees).
Subs: Eanna O’Connor for Kelly (4, black card), David Slattery for Keith Cribbin (44), Johnny Byrne for Murray (50), Chris Healy (1-00) for Moolick (52), Cathal McNally for O’Connor (56), Kevin Feely (0-01) for Fergal Conway (68, black card)
Longford: Paddy Collum (0-01, ’45); Patrick Fox, Padraig McCormack, Diarmuid Masterson; Michael Quinn, Donal McElligott (0-01), Barry McKeon; Darren Gallagher (0-02), Conor Berry (0-01); David McGivney (0-01, free), Dessie Reynolds, Daniel Mimnagh; Robbie Smyth (1-05, 0-04 frees), Seán McCormack (0-01), Liam Connerton (0-01).
Subs: Barry Gilleran for P McCormack (53, black card), Andrew Farrell for Berry (69), Darren Quinn for Mimnagh (70), Peter Foy for McKeon (70+6), Shane Kenny for McGivney (70+7), Mark Nally for Gallagher (78)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
