Killarney

Adam Moynihan reports from St Conleth&#8217;s Park



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National League: Division 1



Kildare 0-13 Kerry 1-10



HT: Kildare 0-6 Kerry 1-7



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A rousing second-half fightback saw Kildare snatch a point against Kerry in Newbridge this afternoon, and not even the most devout Kerry fan could deny that the hosts were worthy of their draw.



Two late points by the excellent Jimmy Hyland drew The Lilywhites level and although Kerry had a chance to win it at the death, Tom O’Sullivan was unable to drive his soccer-style snapshot through the posts.



It was an eventful return to Kildare for Kerry boss Jack O’Connor. There were some positives – particularly in the opening period – but ultimately he will be left frustrated by the fact that his new team only managed three points in the entirety of the second half.



VOCIFEROUS



Cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, Kildare burst into life right from the throw-in and early points by Paul Cribbin and Kevin Flynn gave them a 2-0 lead.



Kerry needed a settler and they got the perfect remedy in the sixth minute when Killian Spillane manufactured a shot from a tight space in front of goal. His effort rather trickled over the line but they’re all worth three, and Kerry were off the mark for the 2022 campaign.



Seán O’Shea, operating i lár na páirce in the absence of a number of midfield candidates, pointed a great effort from distance to make 1-1 to 0-2 in Kerry’s favour. The lively Hyland pulled one back for Kildare before O’Shea tagged on another point, this time from a free.



Paudie Clifford stretched Kerry’s lead out to three with a fabulous score and then Hyland and O’Shea exchanged another couple of frees. It was around this time that one would be expecting a water break but those days are gone, and it must be said that the fare was all the better for it.



Jack O’Connor’s men were beginning to shift through the gears now and Tom O’Sullivan and David Clifford both outfoxed their markers within a matter of seconds to score and make it a five-point game.



Hyland was the real bright spark for the hosts and he added two more to this tally to keep his side in contention.



Kerry were dealt a major blow in the 28th minute when Gavin White had to be helped from the field after being dragged down fairly unceremoniously, but the half ended on a positive note when Clifford floated over a typically sensational point.



In fact, it could have been far worse for Kildare; on the stroke of half-time, Clifford dragged an attempt on goal wide after being teed up by Dara Moynihan.



SCRAPPY



The second half was largely scrappy but Kildare deserve huge credit for fighting their way back into the contest. Apart from fine efforts by Paul Geaney, Paudie Clifford and substitute Tony Brosnan, Glen Ryan’s defence kept their illustrious counterparts quiet for most of the second 35.



At the other end, scores by Paddy Woodgate (three), Kevin Flynn and Paul Cribbin chipped away at Kerry’s lead.



Fittingly, it was left to Hyland to finish the job, and finish it he did. His 74th-minute free after a robust challenge by Adrian Spillane levelled matters for the first time, and Kerry’s last-ditch efforts to create an opening came to nought.



A point away from home is far from fatal from Kerry’s point of view, but an improved offensive display will be required if they are to give Dublin a rattle in Round 2.



KILDARE: M Donnellan; M O’Grady, S Ryan, R Houlihan; J Sargent, J Murray, T Archibald; K O’Callaghan, K Flynn (0-2); P Tuohy, P Cribbin (0-2), B McCormack; P Woodgate (0-3, 1f), D Flynn, J Hyland (0-7, 3f).



Subs: Feely for O’Callaghan, N Flynn for McCormack, McDermott for Tuohy.



KERRY: S Murphy; D O&#8217;Donoghue, J Foley, T O&#8217;Sullivan (0-1); P Murphy, T Morley, G White; S O&#8217;Shea (0-3, 2f), A Spillane; M Burns, P Clifford (0-2), D Moynihan; K Spillane (1-0), D Clifford (0-2), P Geaney (0-1).



Subs: Ó Beaglaoich for White, Savage for Burns, Brosnan (0-1) for K Spillane, Horan for Moynihan.



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Honours even in Newbridge as Kildare snatch deserved draw

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