NFL DIVISION TWO Kildare 2-13 Derry 2-8:KILDARE FINALLY got among the goals and Johnny Doyle showed that he is still a key cog in the Kildare machine as they pushed themselves into serious promotion contention with a hard-fought victory over Derry at St Conleth's Park yesterday.
But perhaps the most significant story from this tie was the introduction of Dermot Earley as a 68th-minute substitute to a tumultuous cheer.
The Sarsfields man has been absent for 19 months since suffering a serious cruciate knee ligament injury in the 2010 All-Ireland quarter-final but certainly didn’t mind himself in the four minutes of action he saw.
He even had time to kick a point in the first minute of injury time, set up for him by the irrepressible Doyle, who almost turned 180 degrees when in sight of goal to give his long-time colleague the opportunity.
Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney was delighted to be able to give Earley the late cameo and revealed that he was in genuine contention for a place in the panel from now.
“He played Friday night and we just wanted to get him back out,” said McGeeney. “We gave him five minutes but he’s gonna have to work for his minutes from now on.
“Both him and Mikey Conway have come back. I did it [the cruciate] once but to do it twice and be out of football two years and be able to walk out on the pitch is an incredible achievement. I don’t think people out there appreciate what Dermot, and especially Mikey did to get out on the field.”
With another of the cruciate crew, Hughie Lynch also playing in that game against Waterford on Friday, things are improving for Kildare and McGeeney.
They looked good again for much of yesterday, although the concession of two goals was a concern, even if they did manage to grab two of their own.
Seán Leo McGoldrick’s 54th-minute goal came just two minutes after Doyle had ended a 12-month drought for Kildare from the penalty spot, pushing Kildare seven points clear. The award was for a nudge on Tomás O’Connor and if that was a penalty, impressive Derry substitute Cailean O’Boyle must be wondering how he wasn’t given one late on.
When O’Boyle struck the net on the hour though, Kildare were again being asked a serious question, with the margin now down to one. For the second week in a row they came up with the answer.
Five minutes from time, the excellent Peter Kelly blocked Paddy Bradley, enabling Pádraig O’Neill release Eamonn Callaghan. The Naas man went on a strong run and exchanged passes with Tomás O’Connor before drawing Derry goalkeeper Barry Gillis. A quick transfer to Alan Smith and the sub hit the roof of the net to finish it.
“It’s great to show the character. I’d rather we didn’t have to dip into it as often. We were a wee bit flat today. Derry did their homework. It was frustrating at times but we definitely got the scores that counted and could have got a couple of more,” McGeeney said.
KILDARE: S Connolly; E Bolton, P Kelly, O Lyons; M O'Flaherty (0-1), M Foley, H McGrillen; D Flynn, P O'Neill (0-1); E Callaghan, E O'Flaherty 0-4 (two frees), J Doyle (1-3, 1-0 pen); M Conway (0-1 free), T O'Connor, J Kavanagh (0-2). Subs: A Smith (1-0) for Conway (55); D Earley (0-1) for O'Connor (69); K Ennis for Callaghan (70+1)
DERRY: B Gillis; B McCallion, C McKaigue, A McAlynn; PJ McCloskey, C Kielt, M Craig; M Friel, SL McGoldrick (1-0); N Forrester, B Gormley, B McGoldrick; E Lynn (0-1), P Bradley (0-3, one free), C Gilligan 0-4 (three frees). Subs: C O'Boyle (1-0) for Forrester (43 mins); Patsy Bradley for Gormley (49 mins); E McGuckian for Lynn (60 mins); E Scullion for Kielt (69 mins)
Referee: M Higgins(Fermanagh).
