Down unable to contain Kildare

22 March 2017

DOWN’S bubble was well and truly burst by Kildare at Pairc Esler on Saturday night.

Victory for Down would have taken them level with Kildare at the head of the

table, but it wasn’t to be three in a row for the home side as Kildare finished the stronger.

This was a disappointing setback for Eamon Burns and Sunday’s game with Galway takes on even greater importance if Down are to avoid a relegation battle.

Kildare played with the aid of a strengthening breeze in the first half and at half-time they were 0-4 to 0-3 in front after both sides had squandered chances.

Two of Down’s scores came from Barry O’Hagan, but his influence on the game diminished as Kildare tightened their grip on the home forwards.

Kevin Feely knocked over a couple of frees for Kildare and goalkeeper Mark Donnellan opened their account from a ’45, having earlier prevented Ryan Johnston with a good save.

Kildare’s David Slattery off the bench at half-time and the Confey man scored two goals to seal a crucial win.

Kevin Feely was also massive for Kildare in midfield, winning primary possession repeatedly in a congested middle third, kicking five frees, and providing the assist for Slattery’s opening goal.

Slattery netted with his first contribution in the 37th minute, after Daniel Flynn and Feely created the

opening, before slotting home brilliantly again 20 minutes from time from Niall Kelly’s hand pass.

Down were up against it in the second half and their cause wasn’t helped when

substitute Alan Davidson, who replaced Ryan Johnston, was black carded shortly after being introduced into the game.

Caolan Mooney kept Down interested with two delightful points, but things went from bad to worse as Darren O’Hagan limped off before Jerome Johnston, who had replaced Davidson, picked up a black card of his own.

Down boss Burns admitted afterwards that his side didn’t deserve to win. “They finished the game stronger,” he said. “I thought, on the night, they deserved their win.

“Physically, they’re very strong and ran the ball quite well. We knew that was coming down the line at us.

“They got the scores at the crucial times and won the game.”

Down: M Cunningham, R McAleenan, B McArdle, D O’Hagan, D O’Hanlon (0-04f), C McGovern, C Mooney (0-2), A Carr, P Turley, K McKernan (0-1), C Maginn, J Murphy, S Millar, B O’Hagan (0-2), R Johnston. Subs: A Davidson for Johnston, N Donnelly for Carr, J Johnston (0-1) for Davidson, M Poland for Maginn, S Dornan for Millar, C Magee for Turley.

Kildare: M Donnellan (0-1), M O’Grady, D Hyland, O Lyons (0-1), J Byrne, E Doyle, K Cribbin, K Feely (0-5), T Moolick (0-1), F Conway, N Kelly, P Cribbin (0-1), C McNally, D Flynn, C Hartley. Subs: D Slattery (2-0) for McNally, F Dowling for Hartley, É Callaghan for Slattery, E Heavey for Moolick, S Ryan for Conway, L Healy for Doyle.

Down 0-10

Kildare 2-9

NFL DIVISION 2

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