County set the early pace

By Ewan MacKenna
Eircom League Division 1
Kildare County 2 (O'Connor 12, Harte 14) Cobh Ramblers 1 (Brosnan 45)
KILDARE County sit at the head of the First Division after three matches against sides that will do well to escape the bottom four.

A much truer reflection of this side will be gauged in the weeks ahead.

The Thoroughbred will face stiffer tests than Saturday night's, but manager, Eric Hannigan expressed himself satisfied with the win.

"The score probably didn't reflect the game itself. We got two wonderful goals but they came at a time when it was touch and go between the two teams. I was pleased with the performance though. "It's a pity 'bout the clean sheet, we were hoping to make it three-in-a-row to start the season off but other than that it's great tot be top of the table, even if it doesn't mean anything at this stage. "We should have killed the game off well before the finish and we had the chances. We did everything but score in that second period but these things happen.

"As regards the league overall, everybody is beating everybody and it's a matter of what you do on the night. You might say we've had an easy start but Limerick will beat teams, Monaghan certainly will and so will Cobh."

If they start like they did against Ramblers, with two goals inside 14 minutes, they will have little problem with any side. The first arrived on 12 minutes but there had already been signs of creaking in the Cobh defence. The opener was set up by Martin Reilly, who found himself wide on the right and an inch perfect cross saw Barry O'Connor loop a header past Peter Cuthbert. Minutes later the Cobh custodian was again left as spectator as Shane Harte put his name in the pot for goal of the season. Picking the ball up over 25 yards out he unleashed a furious drive to the top left hand corner. Alan McNevin tried to outdo his midfield counterpart, putting an audacious 30-yard volley just inches wide but there were moments of alarm too. Danny O'Leary did well to block a Kieran O'Reilly effort and substitute Darren Murphy failed to hit the target from 10 yards. Alarm bells were sounding but Kildare failed to take heed. With the sanctuary of the dressing room awaiting Tony Tynan's cut back was drilled home by Robert Brosnan.

From the restart Cobh were at it again. Anthony Wolfe found himself free on the 'D' but couldn't test O'Leary. It was to be the Cork men's last clearcut chance. The fantastic home support roared on Kildare as they sought to make things more comfortable. The town end goal line lived a charmed life. Alan Byrne had a header brilliantly taken off the line by Tynan and Cuthbert was equally impressive in denying Reilly from six yards during the same scramble. On 67 minutes it was Gareth Cronin's turn to come within inches. The wing-back ghosted inside two defenders before placing a chip onto the crossbar. It would have been one of the great Thoroughbred goals. Alan Kelly's cross hit Reilly on the line and even referee Tony Kelly got in on the act denying Reilly the most blatant penalty imaginable. In the end it would cost Kildare no more than a better goal difference.

"We're looking forward to the Dundalk game now" Hannigan said. "I don't fear any team, especially if we do our job. It's important this year we win our home games."

Kildare County: Danny O'Leary, Ger O'Brien, Gareth Cronin, Ray Kenny, Phillip Byrne, Alan Byrne, Shane Harte, Robbie Griffin, Martin Reilly, Barry O'Connor, Alan McNevin (Alan Kelly 69).

Cobh Ramblers: Peter Cuthbert, Anthony Wolfe, John Meade, John Andrews, Emmet O'Donovan, Dave Moore (Darren Murphy 25), Tony Tynan, Steve Yelverton (James Cummings 73), Kieran O'Reilly, Eoin Conlon (Chris O'Shea 73), Robert Brosnan. Referee: Tony Kelly.


It was Barry O'Connor who was man handled to the ground for the peno, while just being about to shoot, not Martin.