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Allianz Football League Division I Semi-Final: Kildare 2-11 Tyrone 2-15
Tyrone are through to the Allianz Football League Division I final on April 28 after a four-point win over Kildare at Croke Park on Sunday.
Kildare led by 1-6 to 1-5 at the break, but Mark Donnelly’s goal shortly after the restart had Mickey Harte’s side in control for most of the second half until Paul Cribbin hit back with a goal for the Lilywhites nine minutes from the end.
Paddy Brophy then left just a point between the sides in the 67th minute, but Tyrone hit back clinically to seal a deserved win by scoring the final three points of the game, including two wonderful efforts from the boot of Stephen O’Neill.
Tyrone very nearly had a goal within a minute of the start of the game, but Martin Penrose dragged his shot wide after Kildare goalkeeper Mark Donnellan miss-placed his kick-out. After an untidy start to the game, Stephen O’Neill finally broke the deadlock after eight minutes with a trademark score from a tight angle. O’Neill then turned creator soon after, providing the pass for centre-back Mattie Donnelly to the hit the back of the net.
Pádraig O’Neill opened Kildare’s account after nine minutes, and the midfielder hit the Lilyhwites’ first three scores of the game, all excellent points from play. Eoghan O’Flaherty relieved his team-mate of that scoring burden, but Kildare had hit an alarming six wides by the 20th minute.
Four points without reply in the second quarter drew Kieran McGeeney’s side level in the 26th minute, Johnny Doyle landing his second free of the game to make it 0-6 to 1-3. Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan put Tyrone back into the lead briefly when he landed a long-range free but Kildare made a crucial breakthrough on the half hour mark.
After an excellent team move, Morgan made a block to keep out the initial shot from Daniel Flynn, but his U21 team-mate Paddy Brophy pounced to apply the finish, putting Kildare into a 1-6 to 1-4 lead. Seán Cavanagh pulled a point back from a free in added time to leave a point between the sides at the break.
Penrose’s point within seconds of the restart drew Tyrone level, and then they snaffled a second goal in the 37th minute, Mark Donnelly’s shot slipping under Donnellan’s reach to leave the Red Hands 2-6 to 1-6 clear.
Two quickfire scores from play from the boot of John Doyle reduced the arrears to a point, but Tyrone were a different team at the start of the second half, with Aidan Cassidy and half-time sub Conor McAlliskey adding their names to the scoresheet. Tyrone nearly struck for a third goal, but Penrose, who was bearing down on the Kildare goal, failed to get his shot away when Michael Foley denied him with a superb last-ditch tackle.
Still, Tyrone were well on top, and three points in quick succession between the 55th minute and the hour mark, when Cavanagh, O’Neill and the impressive McAlliskey all hit their second points of the game, moved them 2-12 to 1-10 ahead and seemingly in control.
However, Kildare hit back with a goal against the run of play. Wing-back Paul Cribbin was impressive throughout and he adorned his performance with a fine goal, exchanging passes with Eoghan O’Flaherty before slipping a low shot past Morgan to leave two between the sides with nine minutes left.
When Brophy knocked over a fine score with three minutes left, it looked like we were poised for a tense finish. However, Tyrone finished out the game clinically, with Stephen O’Neill knocking over two magic score from play, his fourth in added time sealing his side’s place in the final.
Kildare Scorers: P O’Neill 0-3, E O’Flaherty 0-1, J Doyle 0-6 (0-4f), P Brophy 1-1, P Cribbin 1-0.
Tyrone Scorers: Mattie Donnelly 1-2, S O’Neill 0-4, D McCurry 0-1 (0-1f), N Morgan 0-1 (0-1f), S Cavanagh 0-2 (0-2f), M Penrose 0-1, Mark Donnelly 1-1, A Cassidy 0-1, C McAlliskey 0-2,
KILDARE: M Donnellan; O Lyons, M Foley, H McGrillen; P Kelly, E Doyle, P Cribbin; S Hurley, P O’Neill; Daniel Flynn, E Bolton, E O’Flaherty; N Kelly, P Brophy, J Doyle. Subs:
TYRONE: N Morgan; PJ Quinn, C Clarke, C McCarron; D Carlin, M Donnelly, C Gormley; C Cavanagh, S Cavanagh; R McNamee, P Harte, M Donnelly; M Penrose, S O’Neill, D McCurry.
Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)
Photos by Damien McAnespie
