Gaelic Games

Kildare minors come up trumps against Mayo to reach semi-finals

The Leinster champions were full value for their six point win in Tullamore

Kildare produced the goods when their need was at its most acute to advance to the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship in Tullamore on Monday. Photo: Inpho
Kildare produced the goods when their need was at its most acute to advance to the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship in Tullamore on Monday. Photo: Inpho
Mon Aug 01 2016 - 16:15

Kildare 2-14 Mayo 2-8

Kildare produced the goods when their need was at its most acute to advance to the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship in Tullamore on Monday.

The Leinster champions were full value for their six point win but it was by no means clearcut as they were pushed all the way by a hard working Mayo side.

In a highly entertaining and occasionally fractious game, Kildare controlled much of the first half, even though they were against a strong wind. Man of the match – the brilliantly skilful and incisive Jack Robinson – gave them a dream start with a great individual goal in the third minute and while Mayo cancelled that out with a Ryan O’Donoghue goal, the winners were dominant.

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They were 1-4 to 1-1 ahead when a Paul Lambert goal against the run of play levelled it up in the 26th minute. A point from the outstanding Colm Moran gave Mayo a 2-2 to 1-4 interval lead and the half had an ugly end with a couple of flare ups before the break, with referee Niall Cullen struggling to keep control and showing black cards to Joe Mason and Jimmy Hyland.

Mayo went 2-4 to 1-5 ahead early in the second half but Kildare took control after this. They scored five points on the trot but Mayo hung in for dear life and with just seven minutes left, they were still within touching distance as they trailed by 1-12 to 2-7.

However, a 54th minute goal from Justin Healy wrapped it up for Kildare and they were able to ease home from here.

KILDARE: L Mullins; J O'Toole, M Dempsey, D Shaw; T Archold (0-1), J Gibbons, S Doran; D Marnell, A Masterson (0-1); J Robinson (1-5, 1f), B McLoughlin (1-0), K Foley (0-1); C Kelly (0-4, 2f and 1 sideline), C Costigan, J Hyland (0-2, 2f). Subs: D O'Sullivan for Doran (30m+2), P Woodgate for Hyland (Black card, 30m+5), D Kelly for Foley (55m), J Burke for McLoughlin (65m).

MAYO: A Byrne; S Kenny, D Cosgrove (0-1), J Cunnane; B O'Malley, M Macken, J Maughan; C Murphy, N Moran; P Lambert (1-0), C Stenson, O McLaughlin; C Moran (0-4), J Healy (0-1), R O'Donoghue (1-0). Subs: J Mason for Maughan (Black card, 12m), S McGreal (0-1) for Mason (Black card, 30m+5), L Kelly for Cunnane (Black card, 34m), C Diskin (0-1,'45') for Murphy (46m), R Egan for McLaughlin (52m), N McGhee for Healy (58m).

Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).