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Kildare win out in Triller

November 8, 2018

Kildare find extra gear in thrilling O’Byrne Cup decider

27 Jan 2013 | hill16.ie

KILDARE 1-16 DUBLIN 0-17

A Tomas O’Connor tour de force in the second period of extra-time inspired Kildare to victory in Saturday night’s pulsating Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup final at Parnell Park.

The crowds flocked to Donnycarney for this early season thriller which was decided by O’Connor’s 1-2 in the second half of extra-time as the Lilywhites came from three points in arrears (0-17 to 0-14) at half-time in the extra periods to edge out the Dubs.

Kildare struck for the decisive goal in the first minute of the second half of extra-time when a scramble in the square concluded with the powerful Clane man firing past Shane Supple from close range.

This turned the balance of power totally in favour of Kieran McGeeney’s experienced side who drove on to capture victory.

Dublin were also reduced to 14 minute very late in this evenly balanced contest when Denis Bastick was straight red-carded.

The Dubs had put themselves in a winning position by half-time in extra-time when points from Paul Hudson (two, one free) and Pat Burke had carved out a three-point advantage for the home side.

Kildare had also closed out the concluding moments of normal time on the up when points from John Doyle (free) and Padraig O’Neill forced extra-time.

In normal time Dubiln threatened early on but seemed obsessed with trying to work an early and goal as they squandered several simple point scoring opportunites.

After 25 minutes Dublin lead 0-5 to 0-2 in this high tempo tussle but the Lilywhites responded with points from two of their minors of last year Paddy Brophy and Niall Kelly (two) to lead 0-7 to 0-6 before the Dubs regained the advantage through points from Paddy Andrews and Paul Mannion just before half-time.

Immediately on the restart Mannion struck and fine individual point and Andrews quickly tagged on another to move 0-10 to 0-7 clear.

But typical of this game the pendulum swung back the other way with Kildare slotting the next three points to bring the sides level.

It was a portent of things to come as the sides battled to the end of normal time with Kildare deservedly grabbing the late scores to earn extra-time, 0-14 each, after they had also wasted several promising opportunities.

* A minute’s silence, which immediately became a minute’s applause, was observed before the game by the crowd of around 6,000 as well as both teams, in honour of former Dublin player and manager Kevin Hefferan who passed away last Friday.

SCORERS – Kildare: J Doyle 0-5 (0-2f), T O’Connor 1-2, P Brophy 0-3, N Kelly 0-2, E O’Flaherty, E Bolton, H McGrillen, P O’Neill 0-1 each. Dublin: P Mannion 0-4 (0-2f), MD Macauley, P Andrews, C Costello, P Hudson (0-1f) 0-2 each, K McManamon, P Quinn, B Brogan (0-1f), S Carthy, P Burke 0-1 each.
DUBLIN – S Supple; D Byrne, T Brady, D Nelson; C Guckian, D Daly, J McCaffrey; MD Macauley, D Bastick; P Quinn, P Andrews, E O Conghaile; P Mannion, B Brogan, K McManamon. Subs: C Costello for McManamon (42), S Carthy for Quinn (43), D O’Mahony for Bastick (44), P Hudson for Mannion (57), P Burke for Brogan (64); Extra-time E Lowndes for Guckian, Bastick for Macauley, Quinn for O Conghaile; G Sweeney for Quinn (80), Macauley for O’Mahony (86), R McCarthy for Hudson (89).
KILDARE – S Connolly; P Kelly, O Lyons, H McGrillen; E O’Flaherty, M Foley, E Bolton; G White, R Kelly; C McNally, N Kelly, B Flanagan; P Brophy, D Flynn, J Doyle. Subs: T O’Connor for R Kelly (ht), J Byrne for Flanagan (49), S Johnston for McNally (52), M Conway for O’Flaherty (62), P O’Neill for White (67); E Doyle for Bolton (78), R Sweeney for N Kelly (79).
REF: E Kinsella (Laois).
ATT: 6,000 (approx).