Gaelic Games

Kildare show ruthless streak from the start

Longford fail to put up challenge in O’Byrne Cup clash

Pádraig Fogarty: scored Kildare’s first goal in the fifth minute. Photograph: Inpho
Pádraig Fogarty: scored Kildare’s first goal in the fifth minute. Photograph: Inpho
Thu Jan 09 2014 - 01:00

Kildare 3-20 Longford 0-6

A ruthless Kildare side dismissed of a weak Longford challenge to all but seal their place in the semi-finals of the O’Bryrne Cup.

Kildare showed their intention from the start with their fast paced forwards giving the Longford defence a torrid time.

They found the back of the net with their first attack in the fifth minute; Paul Cribbin’s effort was half-blocked and the ball broke nicely to Pádraig Fogarty who shot home.

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Four points in a row followed that goal before Longford registered their first point through Paul McKeon. They did have chances to add to that score but kicked a number of balls into Shane Connolly's hands.

Goal chance
Kildare tagged on three more points to lead by nines points in the 15th minute before Longford created a goal chance – Brian Kavanagh's ball found McKeon but his fisted effort went wide.

Cian Mimnagh got their second point in the 30th minute but with Eoghan O’Flaherty in fantastic form Kildare went in at the break 12 points in front.

Kildare didn’t let up in the second half and added two more goals through two substitutes.

Mickey Conway goaled in the 49th minute and Darroch Mulhall completed the rout in the 67th minute.

A dismal Longford side fired over just four points after the break as they fell to a disappointing 23-point defeat.

KILDARE: S Connolly; M O'Grady, M Foley, J Kinahan; K Murnaghan, F Conway, P Cribbin; G White, T Moolick (0-2); C Canning, E O'Flaherty (0-7,two frees), C McNally (0-2); C Murphy (0-2), R Dunne (0-3), P Fogarty (1-2). Subs: C Tiernan for Cribbin, M Conway (1-1) for Murphy (46 mins), D Mulhall (1-1) for Dunne (57 mins), M Konstantin for Foley (61 mins), S Campbell for Kinahan (63 mins).
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Keogh, F Battrim, A Rowan; G Farrell, F Reilly, G Smith; K Diffley, J Keegan; B Farrell, D Cooney, P Gill (0-1); P McKeon (0-1), B Kavanagh (0-3, one free), C Mimnagh (0-1). Subs: C P. Smyth for Smith (21 mins), P Brady for G Farrell (half-time), S Doyle for Farrell, R McEntire for Gill (46 mins), S Kiernan for Diffley (49 mins), S Cox for Keogh (59 mins).
Referee: N Ward (Westmeath).