Kildare drawing on old habits

By Martin Breheny

Dublin 0-10, Kildare 0-10

If Kildare fail to win the Leinster quarterfinal replay in Croke Park a week from Sunday, they are likely to suffer from all sorts of mental hang-ups in future years. Yet again they had to be content with a draw in a game which seemed to be drifting their way for long periods at Croke Park last Sunday.

Last year, Meath drew with Kildare in the Leinster semifinal before delivering the knockout blow in the third game. Now Dublin have survived in circumstances which can charitably be described as lucky. That they earned a second chance despite having no more than 40 percent of the quality possession is a tribute to their resilience and an indictment of Kildare’s continued inability to sprint for the finishing line once it’s in sight.

An example. Leading 0-8 to 0-6 by the 42nd minute, Kildare had a whole series of chances to put the game beyond Dublin’s reach, only to be betrayed by attacking problems. Niall Buckley missed a free from a good scoring position, Eddie McCormack had an appeal for a penalty turned down and then McCormack galloped through only to drive his shot just wide of the Dublin goal. All that was followed by a Dublin surge downfield which gave Brian Stynes the chance to kick a point.

Dublin actually took the lead in the 53rd minute when Jason Sherlock, who rarely got the type of ball he required, kicked a point but Padraig Gravin and Eddie McCormack scored two Kildare points to restore the lead before Jim Gavin kicked the equalizer with five minutes remaining.

Overall, it was a strange type of game lacking the passion and intensity normally associated with Dublin-Kildare clashes. A near-capacity crowd of 60,058 generated a great atmosphere but the players didn’t respond. At times, it was more like a routine League game than a winner-take-all championship tie.

Dublin’s new look defense was in trouble early on with Brian Barnes and Paddy Christie struggling to cope with Kildare’s Martin Lynch and Karl O’Dwyer, son of team manager Mick O’Dwyer.

Karl’s selection wasn’t universally popular in Kildare but he justified himself with two great points in the first half. Kildare led by 0-4 to 0-1 after 15 minutes and with the wind behind them they appeared to be generating a match-winning momentum. Dublin dug in, however, and were back level by the 21st minute and were very happy with the situation at halftime when they trailed by just a point, 0-6 to 0-5.

Dublin may have made the mistake of believing that wind advantage would be enough to see them safely through the second half. It wasn’t. Kildare’s tidy, methodical game, plus the ball-winning talents of midfielders. Niall Buckley and Willie McCreery, played the Dubs out of the action for long periods. Sadly, for Kildare, they couldn’t exploit their dominance.

Kildare’s disappointment was articulated by corner-forward, Padraig Gravin who said afterward that they had let a glorious opportunity slip away. “We should have won but we didn’t put enough of our chances away. It’s as simple as that. Dublin made better use of fewer chances.”

Dublin’s manager, Tommy Carr, was more relieved than happy. He said that it was a below par experience by Dublin and he would be looking for a much better display in every sector on Sunday week.

So too will the followers of both sides who were left with the feeling that there is lots more to come from this particular tie.

Laois 1-15, Westmeath 0-15

This may have been classed as the curtain-raiser to the Dublin-Meath game but it actually produced a far higher level of quality football. A fluid, open game enthralled the crowd – partisan and neutral alike – before Laois finally made it to the Leinster semifinal, where they will meet the Dublin-Kildare winners.

Goals are generally decisive in championship games and this game was no exception. Laois made the vital break two minutes before halftime when Stephen Kelly got at the end of a good move to drive the ball to the Westmeath net. That goal put Laois on their way to a 1-6 to 0-7 lead.

Earlier it had looked as if Laois might actually blow Westmeath away. Despite playing with the wind, Westmeath made a shaky start and trailed by 0-5 to 0-2 after 25 minutes. Westmeath’s shooting had completely let them down – they kicked nine wides in the first half, but once they got the range they hauled Laois back to parity by the 31st minute.

Westmeath made a most impressive start to the second half, kicking three unanswered points to take the lead for the first and only time. Laois suddenly realized that they could not rely on the wind alone to whip up winning momentum and set to work with renewed vigor.

Tony Maher, Michael Lawlor, Colm Parkinson and Ian Fitzgerald led the onslaught and gradually the Westmeath defense were stretched to breaking point and beyond. Laois quickly regained the lead and while Westmeath hung on bravely, the gap widened to three points, which was fair reflection of the overall proceedings.

A feature of Laois’ win was their accuracy from long range, with Maher, Parkinson and Lawlor all scoring magnificent points from way out the field.

Laois’ manager, Michael Dempsey, said that he was delighted with the way the championship newcomers performed.

“People forget that seven our our lads were new to championship football so overall lit was a good performance. We’ll come on from that, I have no doubt,” he said.

Brendan Lowry, the former Offaly star who now manages Westmeath, blamed poor shooting for his side’s problems.

“You can’t shoot so many wides and expect to win a championship game – it’s as simple as that,” he said.

Waterford 0-21, Tipperary 2-12

Scenes of wild excitement and relief engulfed Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday when Waterford hurlers achieved their most significant win for 35 years. Victory over Tipperary in the Munster semi-final not only set Waterford up for a Munster title clash with Clare or Cork on July 12, it also guaranteed that, whatever the result of that game, Waterford will be back in Croke Park for championship action for the first time since 1963 when they reached the All-Ireland final, losing to Kilkenny.

The new championship system allows beaten Munster and Leinster finalists back into the All-Ireland quarterfinal and while few Waterford fans are thinking about losing the Munster final, it’s a comforting thought that the back door is still open should things go wrong on July 12.

The win over Tipperary was earned in circumstances which suggest that Waterford have a whole new attitude in 1998. It looked like much of the same old story when a Eugene O’Neill goal put Tipperary ahead by six points in the 33rd minute and while Waterford had cut the gap to five – 1-10 to 0-8 – by the break, things looked bleak. After all, Waterford’s record against Tipperary scarcely includes many dramatic comebacks but on Sunday Gerald McCarthy’s eager youngsters scripted a proud chapter on defiance and resilience.

They out-scored their vaunted rivals by 0-13 to 1-2 in the second half after holding them scoreless for a full 20 minutes by which time Waterford led by two points. A goal by Brian O’Meara brought Tipperary level with 10 minutes remaining and Waterford fans in the 30,822 crowd must have felt that painful history was about to repeat itself.

They need not have worried. Waterford ’98 lacks nothing in confidence or courage and in a rousing finish they posted four more points, countered only by an injury time point by Tommy Dunne from a free. Tipperary’s return from play in the second-half was a single goal, which underlines the degree to which the Waterford defense, anchored brilliantly by Brendan Landers, Stephen Frampton and Fergal Hartley, tied up the Tipperary attack.

If Waterford had stars in defense, they had heroes up front where Paul Flynn scored ten points (five from play) while Ken McGrath chipped in with four points. It was the third consecutive match in which Waterford failed to score a goal but it didn’t count on a day their supporters will long remember.

Cavan 0-13, Fermanagh 0-11

For the second time in 12 months, Cavan footballers got up on the post to short head Fermanagh out of the Ulster championship. Last year Cavan went on from there to win the Ulster title so their fans will be hoping that they chart a similar route this year after their side’s close call in Breffni Park last Sunday.

Dejected Fermanagh were left to reflect on another miserable championship exit after a game they dominated for long periods. They led by three points with 17 minutes remaining (they were a point clear 0-7 to 0-6 at the break) and seemed to be heading for a famous victory.

Cavan, with no fewer than six changes from last year’s title winning team, refused to capitulate, however, and fought back to draw level with four minutes remaining. In a tense, exciting finish, Fermanagh hit the front again through a Raymond Gallagher point in the 68th minutes but Cavan held their nerve and knocked over three points through Dermot McCabe, Mickey Graham and Ronan Carolan in the closing two minutes to earn a semifinal clash with Donegal.

It was heart-breaking for Fermanagh who had a great chance to go four points clear with 8 minutes remaining but Rory Gallagher failed to convert an easy free. Cavan saw that a sign that all was not lost and set about rescuing the situation. They just made it in the end but as team captain, Bernard Gallagher remarked afterward, Cavan played about seven minutes of decent football and still won. Timing is everything and Cavan got their run just right whereas Fermanagh wilted with finishing line in sight.