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Kildare 0-19 Offaly 0-6
Few surprises in Portlaoise as Kildare were too big, too strong, too fast and too good for their neighbours. Offaly started well and gave it a rattle for 10 minutes but they couldn’t compete with their opponents and the second half was a mere procession. Tougher tests await Kieran McGeeney’s side with Meath next up. As for Offaly, they again fail to win a Leinster championship match for the fifth consecutive year and they’ll be in tomorrow’s qualifier draw striking fear into no one.
Apologies for delay folks, some technical issues in Portlaoise but we are just up and running at the same time as the game is up and running.
2 minutes, Kildare 0-0 Offaly 0-1: Offaly needed a bright start and they get it through Anton Sullivan. Couple of bits of team news as well, Eoin Doyle and Rob Kelly replace Aindriu MacLochlainn and Alan Smith on the Kildare team while Derek Kelly is in for Daniel Currams on the Offaly side.
6 minutes, Kildare 0-1 Offaly 0-2: Very bright start from Offaly against all expectations, with Niall Smith doubling their lead. They are lumping everything in long and early while it’s more controlled from Kildare. They get on the board too through Padraig O’Neill.
9 minutes, Kildare 0-1 Offaly 0-3: Little spats breaking out here and there as Kildare fail to capitalise on a great Tomas O’Connor catch in the small square. Offaly will take this as Ken Casey sends one over from distance. Very positive from the underdogs who aren’t lying down.
11 minutes, Kildare 0-2 Offaly 0-3: Mikey Conway keeps Kildare close with a free from distance but any thoughts of them steamrolling this physically have been put to one side for the moment. Good intensity and a good game.
13 minutes, Kildare 0-3 Offaly 0-3: Another Conway free has Kildare level but Offaly doing well under breaking ball and they need too, because they look unsure of whether Kildare will lump it long into Tomas O’Connor or go for the more measured approach when they don’t have possession.
18 minutes, Kildare 0-3 Offaly 0-3: Kildare’s shooting a little of their more traditional variety as Conway kicks their latest wide. Offaly sitting deep in numbers, Kildare prodding and probing but no way through as of yet.
20 minutes, Kildare 0-4 Offaly 0-3: It’s taken over a quarter of the game but Kildare hit the front through John Doyle. They are beginning to settle, their backs are getting on top and they look the more composed. We expected that, we just didn’t think it would take so long. Interesting to see the Offaly response.
25 minutes, Kildare 0-5 Offaly 0-3: Two wides from Mikey Conway in this game but a third free there. Little bit of edge being brought to this by Offaly and it could bubble over. Back to playing matters and Emmet Bolton thumps the crossbar.
27 minutes, Kildare 0-6 Offaly 0-3: Eoghan O’Flaherty gets his first of the day. Kieran McGeeney’s side turning the screw here with their backs are well in top, they are dominating possession, they just need to find their shooting boots as another ball sails wide. Big crowd here by the way, confirmed as being 16,178.
30 minutes, Kildare 0-7 Offaly 0-3: Tomas O’Connor winning every ball that comes his way, he’s giving Shane Sullivan a horrible time of it. He lays the ball off to John Doyle and it’s an easy score. It’s becoming an easy game for Kildare too.
34 minutes, Kildare 0-7 Offaly 0-3: Niall McNamee is introduced for Derek Kelly as we head for two minutes of additional time. Steam beginning to be knocked out of Offaly though. Legs look heavy and they could do with a score and the half-time whistle.
Half-time, Kildare 0-8 Offaly 0-3: James Kavanagh ends the scoring for the half with a and Kildare look happy heading for the dressing room. Rightly so, after a slow start they are dominating in every single sector and Offaly already look tired. Physicality was always going to be a big feature of this game and Kildare look bigger, stronger, fitter and faster. We’ll be back after the break
36 minutes, Kildare 0-9 Offaly 0-3: Kildare pick up where they left off, great score from Rob Kelly but little pressure. Offaly need a big start to the half, that’s quite the opposite though. Close to being game over.
40 mins, Kildare 0-10 Offaly 0-4: Offaly’s first score in close to a half hour comes from Alan McNamee but it’s cancelled out straight away by Ollie Lyons.
43 mins, Kildare 0-11 Offaly 0-5: Ken Casey makes it double scores but only after Eoghan O’Flaherty is hauled down for a certain penalty at the other end but it’s not given. Change on the Kildare team too, Eoin Doyle replaced by Alan Smith while Mikey Conway slots over a simple free. Threatened to heat up for a minute there but Kildare staying cool.
48 mins, Kildare 0-12 Offaly 0-5: Peter Cunningham comes on for Graham Guilfoyle but Kildare are coming in waves, and only a fine stop by Alan Mulhall denies Padraig O’Neill what looked a certain goal. Mikey Conway sends over the resulting 45 though.
49 mins, Kildare 0-13 Offaly 0-5: Eoghan O’Flaherty extends the gap. Game gone dead as is Offaly’s challenge.
53 mins, Kildare 0-16 Offaly 0-5: John Doyle with one, Alan Smith with another one, Emmet Bolton with another one. It’s a massacre. Rob Kelly is replaced by Daryl Flynn.
58 mins, Kildare 0-17 Offaly 0-5: James Kavanagh comes off, Padraig Fogarty who came off the bench and was key when beating Tyrone in the Division Two final, is on. John Doyle’s fourth shot results in his forth point. Meanwhile John Moloney is taken off, David Hanlon is on for Offaly, and the biggest roar of the day is for Dermot Earley who comes on for John Doyle.
58 mins, Kildare 0-17 Offaly 0-5: James Kavanagh comes off, Padraig Fogarty who came off the bench and was key when beating Tyrone in the Division Two final, is on. John Doyle’s fourth shot results in his forth point. Meanwhile John Moloney is taken off, David Hanlon is on for Offaly, and the biggest roar of the day is for Dermot Earley who comes on for John Doyle.
63 mins, Kildare 0-17 Offaly 0-6: Ken Casey gets one back but Offaly will only affect handicap betting at this stage.
64 mins, Kildare 0-18 Offaly 0-6: Great score from Padraig Fogarty, his first championship point, but it won’t be in last. He has a big future.
And what about Danny Graham for pushing McClean or the abuse that Sunderland fans shouted at McClean throughout the game? What’s the fines or warnings for them?
Funny thing was Lee Cattermore of all people lecturing!!
And if you know your history!!!
knob
My personal opinion is Sunderland were the club that gave him his chance and paycheque outside the loi. He should be a big enough man to get on with it and not infuriate them. There’s only one thing worse than a bad loser and that’s a bad winner. Suck it up princess.
did you read his personal opinion where he said he felt that Sunderland hung him out to dry…? and after getting dogs abuse for 90mins would you not want to show them some defiance? I know I would… fair play to the man for sticking up for what he believes in!
so because a club pays your wage you should act like an indentured slave and not question anything?
No I didn’t read his opinion. He has lots of opinions on lots of things. I don’t see how he could be hung out to dry. Football is a business. A business where cry babies like him earn in s day what some people earn in a year.
Absolute Tit
I think his poppy stance is honorable but this kind of crap doesn’t help his case