Allianz Football League Division 2 – Kildare 1-14 Cork 1-8

Kildare defeated Cork by 1-14 to 1-8 in Round 2 of the Allianz Football League Division 2 on Sunday February 12th at Newbridge.

#AllianzLeagues Division Two triumph for @KildareGAA against @OfficialCorkGAAhttps://t.co/mSeTO3E1Ki

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 12, 2017

Allianz FL D2: Kildare maintain impressive start

Allianz Football League Division Two

KILDARE 1-14 CORK 1-8

Report by Brendan Coffey for GAA.ie

Kildare continued their fine start to the league with an impressive six-point win at home against a disappointing Cork side.

Behind by five at half-time, 8-3, Cork got back within two points with 15 minutes to go, but Kildare crushed any hopes of a comeback. In a stirring finish, they kicked five points to secure the win their performance deserved.

While Kevin Feely was the conductor for Cian O’Neill’s side in midfield, Ben McCormack was the star man in attack and netted a superb goal in the 51st minute to crown another superb individual display.

McCormack’s goal gave Kildare a seven-point cushion but Cork had their best spell in the next 10 minutes and when Luke Connolly’s long range effort deceived Mark Donnellan and dropped into the net, the Rebels had a lifeline.

Kildare’s response was telling and they reeled off three points on the trot to put the result beyond doubt, cementing their place at the top of the table.

On a bitterly cold afternoon in Newbridge, the home side gradually took control in the opening half and built a five-point cushion after 25 minutes in testing conditions.

The wind chill was as much of a factor as the strength of the breeze and it was no surprise that it took 15 minutes for this contest to come to life.The elements did favour Kildare in the opening half but it was never as simple as shooting from long range. Both sides were reluctant to take on shots from distance and with six wides apiece in the opening half, their caution was understandable.

Cork had the better of the early exchanges and held a strong defensive line across the middle. Although Kildare had the first score courtesy of Daniel Flynn, Cork moved ahead when Luke Connolly and Colm O’Neill pointed frees – O’Neill the instigator for both scores.

Once Kildare got to grips with their opponents in midfield, the game turned in their favour. Kevin Feely was the lynchpin, winning a succession of marks and directing the play like a quarterback. He also chipped in with two points from play as Kildare won the primary battle.

Corner forward Ben McCormack pointed his first effort of the game and he landed his second five minutes later. Feely’s brace gave Kildare a 7-2 lead after 25 minutes and at that stage, Cork had gone 15 minutes without a score.

They were not short of chances though and two separate occasions, Ian Maguire came through from midfield to threaten the Kildare goal. Each time he came away empty handed and Cork were left to chew on a five-point deficit at the break.

Kildare’s interval lead should have been greater and apart from six careless wides, Daniel Flynn was denied goal by a flying save from Ryan Price in the first minute.

Overall, Kildare could only be thrilled with the outcome as they dispatched one of the leading teams in this Division with some ease.

Scorers for Kildare: B McCormack 1-2, N Flynn 0-5 (3fs), K Feely 0-2, P Cribbin 0-2, D Flynn 0-1, T Moolick 0-1, C Healy 0-1 (f).

Scorers for Cork: L Connolly 1-3 (2fs, 145), C O’Neill 0-1 (f), T Clancy 0-1, P Kerrigan 0-1, B O’Driscoll 0-1, A Walsh 0-1,

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O’Grady, David Hyland, Ollie Lyons, Johnny Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Keith Cribbin; Kevin Feely, Tommy Moolick; Fergal Conway, Niall Kelly, Paul Cribbin; Neil Flynn, Daniel Flynn, Ben McCormack
Subs: Cathal McNally for Moolick (59); Chris Healy for Conway (63); David Slattery for McCormack (67); Peter Kelly for N Kelly (70); Shea Ryan for Feely, Black Card, (70); Conor Hartley for N Flynn (70).

CORK: Ryan Price; John McLoughlin, Tom Clancy, Kevin Crowley; Conor Dorman, James Loughrey, Tomas Clancy; Ruairi Deane, Ian Maguire; Aidan Walsh, Sean Powter, Mark Collins; Colm O’Neill, Luke Connolly, Paul Kerrigan
Subs: John O’Rourke for Powter (HT); Barry O’Driscoll for Dorman (51); Donncha O’Connor for Collins (52); John Mullins for Crowley (54); Donal Og Hodnett for Maguire (60); Brian O’Driscoll for O’Neill (68).

REFEREE: Cormac Reilly (Meath).

Kildare’s 100% Division 2 intact after win over Cork

Report by John Fogarty for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Kildare 1-14 Cork 1-8

Kildare overcame a disallowed second-half goal to maintain their 100% record in Division 2 with a deserved home win over Cork.

Daniel Flynn looked to have scored a superb virtuoso 44th minute goal only for referee Cormac Reilly to disallow it on the advice of linesman Maurice Deegan. Seemingly, the ball had been taken out of play in the build-up.

The score would have put Kildare six points up but they were soon seven to the good when Tommy Mollick pointed and Ben McCormack goaled in the 51st minute, following up a wild Paul Cribbin mishit.

Kildare could have put the game away in the 55th minute only for Tom Clancy saving from McCormack with Cork goalkeeper Ryan Price beaten. Seconds later, Cork made full advantage of the let-off when Luke Connolly’s shot from distance fooled Mark Donnellan, who was distracted by the presence of Ian Maguire.

Cork cut the margin to two but Neil Flynn hit back with two and despite a fine Donnellan block from Donncha O’Connor Kildare finished by far the stronger as each team lost players late to black cards.

In a forgettable first half, both teams amassed six wides and all three of Cork’s points came from placed balls. Connolly’s 29th minute 45 ended a 20-minute spell without a score after he and then Colm O’Neill posted early frees.

As Cork struggled to get the ball out of their half, Kildare hit them for six consecutive points. McCormack slotted over a quick brace, followed by long-range Kevin Feely efforts and Neil Flynn frees.

Cork had two goal chances late in the half but Maguire’s ground shot went wide. Maguire again was involved when his attempt at a fisted point fell short only for Connolly to fail to latch onto the ball by inches for what seemed a certain goal.

Connolly was to blame for the last point of the half from Paul Cribbin after Niall Kelly pounced on his slip and Kildare turned around 0-8 t o 0-3 to the good.

Scorers for Kildare: B. McCormack (1-2); N. Flynn (0-5, 3 frees); K. Feely, P. Cribbin (0-2 each); D. Flynn, T. Moolick, C. Healy (free) (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: L. Connolly (1-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45); C. O’Neill (free), P. Kerrigan, A. Walsh, Tomás Clancy, Barry O’Driscoll (0-1 each).

KILDARE: M. Donnellan; O. Lyons, M. O’Grady, D. Hyland; J. Byrne, E. Doyle (c), K. Cribbin; K. Feely, T. Moolick; F. Conway, N. Kelly, P. Cribbin; N. Flynn, D. Flynn, B. McCormack
Subs for Kildare: C. McNally for T. Moolick (59); C. Healy for F. Conway (64); D. Slattery for B. McCormack (67); P. Kelly for N. Kelly (70); S. Ryan for K. Feely (black, 70+2); C. Hartley for N. Flynn (70+4). Black card: K. Cribbin (70+5, not replaced).

CORK: R. Price; J. McLoughlin, Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), K. Crowley; Tomás Clancy (Fermoy), J. Loughrey, C. Dorman; A. Walsh, I. Maguire; M. Collins, S. Powter, R. Deane; P. Kerrigan (c), L. Connolly, C. O’Neill
Subs for Cork: J. O’Rourke for S. Powter (h-t); Barry O’Driscoll for C. Dorman (51); D. O’Connor for M. Collins (52); J. Mullins for K. Crowley (54); D. Hodnett for I. Maguire (60); N. Coakley for C. O’Neill (63). Black card: J. O’Rourke (70, not replaced).

Referee: C.Reilly (Meath).

Team News

Cork Senior Football team for Sunday's game has been announcedhttps://t.co/HdvIHmqACB

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) February 10, 2017

The Cork Senior Football team to play Kildare in the Allianz Football League next Sunday 12th February in St Conleth’s Park @ 2pm has been announced as follows

1. Ryan Price – (O Donovan Rossa)
2. John McLoughlin – (Kanturk)
3. Tom Clancy – (Clonakilty)
4. Kevin Crowley – (Millstreet)
5. Conor Dorman – Bishopstown)
6. James Loughrey – (Mallow)
7. Tomas Clancy – (Fermoy)
8. Aidan Walsh – (Kanturk)
9. Ian Maguire – (St Finbarr’s)
10. Ruairi Deane – (Bantry Blues)
11. Sean Powter – (Douglas)
12. Mark Collins – (Castlehaven)
13. Colm O Neill – (Ballyclough)
14. Luke Connolly – (Nemo Rangers)
15. Paul Kerrigan – (Nemo Rangers) Captain

Subs:

16. Ken O’Halloran – (Bishopstown)
17. Barry O Driscoll – (Nemo Rangers)
18. Brian O Driscoll – (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
19. Colm O Driscoll – (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
20. Donal Og Hodnett – (O Donovan Rossa)
21. Donncha O Connor – (Ballydesmond)
22. Gary Murphy – (Castletownbere)
23. John Mullins – (Eire Og)
24. John O Rourke – (Carbery Rangers)
25. Kevin Davis – (O Donovan Rossa)
26. Michael Shields – (St Finbarrs)

Cian O'Neill has named his team for this Sunday's NFL game against Cork. Best of luck to the team and management.#BeThereAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/9yzMwliVE0

— Kildare GAA (@KildareGAA) February 9, 2017

Kildare

1. Mark Donnellan (Maynooth)
2. Mick O’Grady (Celbridge)
3. David Hyland (Athy)
4. Ollie Lyons (Celbridge)
5. Johnny Byrne (Allenwood)
6. Eoin Doyle (Naas)
7. Keith Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)
8. Kevin Feely (Athy)
9. Tommy Moolick (Leixlip)
10. Fergal Conway (Celbridge)
11. Niall Kelly (Athy)
12. Paul Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)
13. Neil Flynn (Maynooth)
14. Daniel Flynn (Johnstownbridge)
15. Ben McCormack (Sarsfields)