Efficient Kildare cruise past understrength Leitrim for facile win

Kildare’s winning margin may have been the same 23 points that Laois registered just a week beforehand but the Lilywhites were much more impressive as they steamrolled an understrength Leitrim in round three of the Allianz NFL Division 3 clash in Ballinamore’s Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin on Sunday.

Laois’ victory was set up by three quick fire goals that took the wind out of Leitrim sails but Kildare simply ground the home side down, dominating the aerial battle in the middle of the park, winning almost every breaking ball in the first half and forcing turnover after turnover as a young Leitrim wilted in the face of the storm.

Without the considerable presence of Barry McNulty and further denied the services of Riordan O’Rourke, Kieran Clancy and Jordan Reynolds, Steven Poacher tried to keep the visitors at bay but the immense advantage Kildare enjoyed in the physical stakes saw them boss this game more or less as they wished.

The sight of Kildare’s Darragh Kirwin, who more or less was the difference between the sides in the Tailteann Cup last June, undertaking a fitness test seemed like a boost before the game, the Naas man not featuring at all but such is Kildare’s strength in depth, Brian Flanagan’s side didn’t seem to miss him at all.

Kildare’s immense workrate and ability to turn the ball over the tackle against a Leitrim side who tried desperately to hold out was stark and gives some indication of the task facing Poacher as his young team are being given a crash course on life in Division 3.

THE LAST POINT: SHELL-SHOCK AND DELIGHT IN 24 HOURS

If the 23 loss to Laois induced shock among Leitrim fans, the same margin against Kildare only evinced resignation among the paltry diehards who turned up to Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin to cheer on the Green & Gold, the home fans vastly outnumbered by the Lilywhites who made the journey to the north west.

Kildare opened the scoring after just a minute, Alex Beirne firing over a free as the tone of the game was set early. Cathal Hagney added a second on four minutes before Beirne struck for two inside 60 seconds, a turned over kickout leading to a quick Kildare counter and a fine point before Leitrim lost possession after the next kickout and Beirne applied the finish.

It wasn’t quite the start Laois managed a week before with three goals inside eight minutes but it was ominous as the visitors were adding a point every two minutes - Ryan Sinkey fired over on ten minutes after Keith Beirne lost the ball in a Leitrim attack and Eanna McNamara was unlucky with a lunging effort to intercept the final pass.

Kevin Feely plucked a high ball from the clouds to claim a mark before Leitrim had their first shot 14 minutes, Conor Quinn shooting wide. Kevin Beirne put a long range free wide two minutes later, just after a Brian McLoughlin point that came far too easily.

The scores were starting to flow as David Huland, Ben McCormack and Ryan Burke all fired over to keep the point every two minutes on track. Cathal Hagney got the game’s first two pointer a few minutes later and then came the game’s only goal, a score that won’t be pleasant viewing on Leitrim’s video review.

The Green & Gold were punished for a three man violation, the free on the 14 yard line but with only Mark Diffley joining Daire O’Shea on the goal-line, Alex Beirne cleverly spotted his opportunity and drilled a low shot to the net past a helpless Leitrim keeper.

As against Laois, Tom Prior opened the Leitrim account on his own pitch, a nice move and well finished after 26 minutes but Paul Honeyman put a free wide as Beirne tapped over a free, Aaron Masterson hit a two pointer, Beirne again on target after a quick counter before Ryan Houlihan tapped over on a break.

It wasn’t without cost for Kildare, however, as both Colm Dalton and Houlihan, injured in a tackle in the act of scoring, had to be replaced but they led by an insurmountable 1-17 to 0-1 at the break, the same 19 point gap Laois led by last week.

Thirty second into the second half, Masterson fired over to get Kildare’s scoring machine going again. Sean Harkin broke free five minutes in to score a fine point but Brian McLoughlin hoisted over the Lilywhites' third two pointer of the contest to stretch the lead to 21 points.

Tom Prior took off on a great run, breaking past a couple of defenders to fire over, his shot going over off the woodwork. Kildare keeper Didier Cordonnier had plenty of room to spare with a successful fifty before Ben Guckian, on at halftime, converted a free after a foul on Paul Honeyman. Another three-man violation saw Beirne add to his tally while Daire O’Shea did well to stop a shot from Brian McLoughlin.

HIGH PROFILE TRANSFERS ON THE LEITRIM CLUB SCENE PROMISES AN INTRIGUING 2025

Kildare’s strength in depth was amply illustrated when Darragh Swords scored a fine point with his first touch on the field before he added another point. Ryan Sinkey and sub Rian Teehan tapped over points before Sean Harkin got his second of the contest on 61 minutes.

Paul Honeyman scored Leitrim’s first ever League two pointer from a free but after Alex Beirne had a terrible wide from a close range effort, Kildare closed out the scoring with another from Sinkey to leave Kildare comfortable 23 point winners.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Tom Prior, Sean Harkin & Paul Honeyman (2Pf) 0-2 each; Ben Guckian 0-1, 1f

Team: Daire O'Shea; Eoin McLoughlin, James Rooney, Cathal McHugh; Sean Harkin, Mark Diffley, Eanna McNamara; Conor Quinn, Keith Keegan; Jack Flynn, Stephen McLoughlin, Tom Prior; Paul Honeyman, Keith Beirne, Jack Foley. Subs: Ben Guckian & Diarmuid Kelleher for Beirne & McLoughlin (HT); Conall McGovern for Quinn (58); David Feeney for Foley (69)

KILDARE

Scorers: Alex Beirne 1-6, 1-4f; Cathal Hagney 0-4, (1 2p); Ryan Sinkey & Aaron Masterson (2p) 0-3 each; Brian McLoughlin & Darragh Swords 0-2 each; Kevin Feely, David Hyland, Ben McCormack, Ryan Burke, Ryan Houlihan, Didier Cordonnier (50) & Rian Teehan 0-1 each

Team: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Mick O'Grady, Brian Byrne; David Hyland, James McKevitt, Ryan Houlihan; Kevin Feely, Aaron Masterson; Brian McLoughlin, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Cathal Hagney, Ben McCormack. Subs: Rian Teehan for Dalton (28); Tommy Gill for Houlihan (35); Adam Fanning & Mark Dempsey for McCormack & Masterson (HT); Darragh Swords for McGrath (58)

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)