Kildare County 3 Dundalk 2

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Thanks to our two returning stars, Danny boy O'Leary (MOTM) Rusellesque performance and Marc Kennys class.
Played worse than last week but won this time. Paul Curran must have been embarrassed to take that peno, even though he missed, he was Dundalk’s best player along with Ward and Lawless. Nice 3 points in a game we could have lost. Fair play to Shay Zellor he showed some bottle tonight to set up the wining goal after been flattened, getting a kick in the balls, a kick in the face and a whack in the shin.:D All deserved a yellow, only two given. That Baba should have been sent off, a real hacker
Get that man some ice.:p

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KILDARE COUNTY 3

DUNDALK 2

AN enthralling game in Station Road and three vital points as Kildare continue to chase Dublin City in the Division One title race.

Dundalk should have hit the front in the opening seconds after County failed to clear a Chris Lawless cross. The ball dropped to David Ward who forced Danny O'Leary into a brilliant save. It was a miss 'The reds' would rue as on four minutes Kildare had the lead. Barry O'Connor found Philip Hughes who dummied before firing past Andrew Bayliss.

O'Leary again denied Ward, this time from a close range free kick but the Dundalk winger had his just desserts on 32 minutes as he beat three defenders before finding the roof of the net.

County led at the interval thanks to Marc Kenny who looped a header over Bayliss nine minutes later.

It didn't take long after the restart for the County Louth side to draw level for the second time as Lawless coolly beat O'Leary after Gary Sliney's drive was partially blocked. They should have gone on to win it, but Ward was again denied by O'Leary while Simon Kelly and Anthony Reilly both went close. The clearest chance came from the penalty spot on 80 minutes. David Ward went down in controversial circumstances but justice was done as Paul Curran's effort rebounded off the upright.

But drama in the last seconds as substitute Alan Kelly turned home Zellor's cross. Kildare escaped with three points they didn't deserve.

Kildare County: O'Leary, Brennan, Cronin, Purdy, R Kenny, M Kenny, Scully, Zellor, Hughes, O'Connor (Ryan 84), McNevin (A Kelly 81).

Dundalk: Bayliss, Coburn, Sean Kelly, Curran, Isaaka, Sliney, Cunningham, Simon Kelly, Reilly, Lawless, Ward.

Referee: P Duddy.

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Thoroughbreds ride their luck

Kildare County 3 Dundalk 2
THERE is a website detailing some of the greatest escapes of all time. Houdini to Ronnie Biggs to Henri Charriere (better known as Papillon), they’re all there.

It is unlikely any sporting outfit will ever make it near the catalogue but Kildare County attempted to defy convention on Saturday night as they ridiculously snatched all three points, beating Dundalk at the death having been outplayed for the second period.


This was the first time I’ve been to Station Road since Eric Hannigan arrrived and there are already a few noticeable changes. Number one, County’s defence is now about as much use as the Maginot Line.


The manager can’t be blamed for the loss of Alan Keely through injury nor Ben Whelehan’s suspension, but his troops have now shipped six goals in four league matches since his arrival, in contrast with the two goals conceded in Dermot Keely’s last five.


There is a bigger worry, however, and that is the squad size. Keely last year cited this as the reason for the Thoroughbreds missing the play-offs. This season is far longer and the playing squad is now down to 17, including two goal-keepers.


But then there are the plusses. Kildare are still winning more often than not and entertaining, while Danny O’Leary’s return has meant that Wayne Russell’s departure is long forgotten. Time after time the new ‘keeper thwarted Dundalk on Saturday night.


The Louth team should have been in front on two minutes. Chris Lawless


was allowed to cross after Richie Purdy had given away possession. The ball eventually fell to the ever-impressive David Ward but he was thwarted by O’Leary.


Within two minutes Phillip Hughes had the ball in the net at the other end. The striker was fed by Barry O’Connor and dummied Sean Kelly before driving past Andrew Bayliss.


O’Connor nearly doubled the advantage on the quarter hour mark as he hit against the crossbar from 10 yards, and whilst that was unlucky, his headed effort from Marc Kenny’s cross was terrible.


At the other end O’Leary continued to frustrate Ward, beating a close range free away, but the Oriel Park winger would soon have his just deserves as he grabbed an equaliser just past the half hour mark, easily beating two defenders before cracking a shot to the roof of the net.


Yet County would still lead at the interval. Ray Scully’s pinpoint pass allowed Marc Kenny to loop a header over Bayliss and make it two-one at the break.


Dundalk dominated after the resumption and equalised on 50 minutes. Gary Sliney’s drive was half blocked before falling to Lawless who calmly restored parity for the second time.


He should have had a second minutes later but his attempted lob was poor. A Gareth Cronin slip gave Ward the chance to renew his duel with the man of the match but he again had to settle for second place, as did Ciaran Cunningham who saw his lengthy drive superbly parried. When Purdy lost his footing, O’Leary threw himself in front of Ward and it remained 2-2.


But the most clearcut opportunity came in the 78th minute. Ward got free and was contentiously awarded a penalty after tumbling over O’Leary. Up stepped Paul Curran and justice was done when the ball rebounded wide off the outside of the post.


Then, with time running out, a Shay Zeller break down the right turned into a devastating cross, which, substitute Alan Kelly, turned home.


The crowd was still celebrating the goal as the final whistle went. Eric Hannigan walked off the pitch, his impressive start continued.


“We were sloppy but a win is a win. They had three or four chances and could easily have finished us off. We went in at half time in the lead and thought we’d come out and win comfortably but it didn’t turn out like that.


“The second half we were poor and the football wasn’t pretty, we got very lethargic. We had to bring on the old head in John Ryan and then Alan Kelly to change things around. We got the win but I would-n’t like to see us in that position next week.


“ We played far better last week and came away with nothing but that’s the way things work out. At the end of the day we’re happy with the three points.”


The Maginot Line was breached, yet the French were still on the winning side. History has a habit of repeating itself!


Kildare County: Danny O’Leary, Damien Brennan, Gareth Cronin, Ritchie Purdy, Ray Kenny, Marc Kenny, Ray Scully, Shay Zeller, Phillip Hughes, Barry O’Connor (John Ryan 84), Alan McNevin (Alan Kelly 81).


Dundalk: Andrew Bayliss, Michael Coburn, Sean Kelly, Paul Curran, Baba Isaaka, Gary Sliney, Ciaran Cunningham, Simon Kelly, Anthony Reilly, Chris Lawless, David Ward.


Referee: Paul Duddy.