GAA/Longford 0-9 Kildare 0-7:In a classic example of early-season scrambling football, Luke Dempsey's Division Three Longford side just about deserved to win their opening tie against Kieran McGeeney's Kildare at an overcast Newbridge yesterday.
The whole exercise was a bit like a boring tennis match - lots of unforced errors and almost relentless deuce-advantage situations. Nobody was prepared to blame the Central Council's decision to ban challenge matches before Christmas.
"It's the same for everybody," said McGeeney, who fielded a largely experimental side for his debut as manager. "We had four Saturdays together before Christmas and that was about it."
McGeeney could have learned very little from a stop-start encounter. There were far too many frees, the scoring basically resulted from placed balls and the gaps between scores had everybody feeling a little impatient.
In fairness to Kildare, they dominated for quite a long time without a strong presence in midfield.
"We performed as though we were a little ring-rusty; at least I hope that was the case," added McGeeney.
The Armagh man had to admit that a tally of seven points for 70 minutes was "extremely poor, for a Division One team at least".
It would seem the former intercounty star has a huge task ahead of him if Kildare are to win a Leinster championship match for the first time in three years.
Luke Dempsey was happy with his team's performance, and especially that of his captain and midfielder, Liam Keenan.
"I'm very pleased. It's very early and of course our target is to survive this hotbed of frustration to be endured in Division Three where two counties will be eliminated from competing in the qualifiers.
"It's a very tough league for us this year with the likes of Wexford and Louth in the division."
Dempsey had reason to be pleased with his team's strong finish for it was during the closing minutes his resolute players opened a gap of three points.
It had been a ridiculously low-scoring first half, the sides managing only four points apiece.
It was only fitting that Longford full forward Brian Kavanagh and corner forward Francis McGee were involved in the strong finish, hitting what proved to be match-winning points.
McGeeney placed much importance on playing a two-man front line (Andrew Smith and Dermot Earley) and packing his defence by pulling back Gary (Chalkie) White as a seventh defender.
The Kildare midfield had a tough task throughout, with Keenan getting excellent support from Enda Farrell, one of three brothers in the Longford line-up.
But the place-kicking skills of McGee and Kavanagh in the Longford set-up were the major features of an otherwise dull game.
LONGFORD:D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, N Farrell; S Mulligan, A O'Connor, E Williams; L Keenan, E Farrell (0-1);S Doyle, D Mitchell, G Murphy (0-1);D Farrell, B Kavanagh (0-3, frees), F McGee (0-4, three frees, 45). Sub:C Flynn for Mitchell.
KILDARE:E Murphy; E Callaghan, A McLoughlin, M O'Flaherty; M Scanlon, A Rainbow, B Flanagan; P Mullarkey, M Foley; G White, M Conway (0-2 frees), C Ennis (0-1); M Harnett (0-1),D Earley, A Smith (0-1). Subs: J Doyle (0-1)for Smith; T Rossiter (0-1)for Ennis.
Referee: D Greene(Wicklow).
