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All-Ireland SFC: Spoils divided at Markievicz Park

Finnian Cawley, Sligo, and Kevin O'Callaghan, Kildare, in action at Markievicz Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Finnian Cawley, Sligo, and Kevin O'Callaghan, Kildare, in action at Markievicz Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

All-Ireland SFC Group Three

Sligo 0-14 Kildare 0-14

By Liam Maloney at Markievicz Park

Substitute David Quinn earned Sligo a merited draw in their Group Three opener with Kildare at Markievicz Park.

Quinn’s well-taken point in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time brought 14-man Sligo level, 0-14 to 0-14, against a Kildare side that finished with 13 players.

Kildare never bossed this fixture at any stage and will be disappointed that they let a three-point lead slip in the closing stages.

The hosts, losers by 14 points to Galway in last month’s provincial final, were clear underdogs for this game against a Kildare side that pushed Dublin close in the Leinster semi-final – only losing by two points.

Furthermore, Kildare were playing two levels higher than Sligo in this year’s Allianz Football League although Sligo’s Division Four success and their subsequent reaching of the Connacht final represented a nine-game winning streak for Tony McEntee’s men.

The obvious incentive for the Glenn Ryan-managed Kildare would be to win here and, barring an unlikely sequence of Sligo results, secure their place in the competition’s preliminary quarter-final.

Sligo, with goalkeeper Aidan Devaney making his first competitive start after recovering a knee injury, were very much in proceedings from the outset and Alan Reilly was close with a fine goal shot after four minutes after Niall Murphy and Sean Carrabine opened the door.

Paddy Woodgate put the visitors on the scoreboard first with a pointed free.

Kildare had a third point by the 13th minute when centre-back Kevin Flynn found the target in style, but Sligo were keeping pace and had two scores of their own through two points by Niall Murphy – a classy effort from play and a converted free.

Sligo were twice ahead in opening period, 0-4 to 0-3 and then 0-5 to 0-4, as Sean Carrabine, Niall Murphy and Finnian Cawley pointed to show that the Division Four champions weren’t overawed.

But Kildare were still a threat, especially in smart transitions following Sligo turnovers, and twice might have broken through for goals – there was a half-chance for Paddy McDermott and a shot lashed over by Paddy Woodgate.

Still, the interval scoreline, 0-7 to 0-6 in favour of Kildare, was a fair reflection of the opening period where Sligo’s energy and enthusiasm matched that of their opponents.

Sligo made a brilliant start to the second-half and three points without reply, including a brace from Sean Carrabine, put them back in front, 0-9 to 0-7, within five minutes of the restart.

A nice point from Alex Beirne and then a converted ‘45’ from Paddy Woodgate had Kildare level, 0-9 each.

Niall Murphy pointed again – to restore Sligo’s advantage, 0-10 to 0-9, in this intense, tit for tat affair, but then it was Kildare’s turn to take over.

For a period Kildare were impressive – Kevin Flynn and Darragh Kirwan were among their better performers – and they led 0-14 to 0-11 when Kirwan pointed and then Jack Robinson landed a free.

Sligo were then reduced to 14 players when Sean Carrabine picked up a second booking.

But the hosts kept their composure – Niall Murphy landed two points, the second of which was a mighty effort from distance, and substitute David Quinn popped up with the equalising point in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Prior to the game’s incredible finish Kildare were down to 13 players because of a black card for midfielder Kevin O’Callaghan and then a second booking for Darragh Kirwan.

Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 0-6 (2fs), Sean Carrabine 0-4, Finnian Cawley 0-2, Darragh Cummins 0-1, David Quinn 0-1.

Scorers for Kildare: Paddy Woodgate 0-4 (2fs, 1 ‘45’), Darragh Kirwan 0-3, Kevin Flynn 0-2, Alex Beirne 0-2, Aaron Masterson 0-1, Ben McCormack 0-1 (1 ‘mark’), Jack Robinson 0-1 (1f).

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Nathan Mullen; Paul McNamara, Brian Cox, Luke Towey; Cian Lally, Paul Kilcoyne; Finnian Cawley, Sean Carrabine, Darragh Cummins; Alan Reilly, Patrick O’Connor, Niall Murphy

Subs: Pat Spillane for Patrick O’Connor 55, Mikey Gordon for Finnian Cawley 62, Keelan Cawley for Darragh Cummins 65, David Quinn for Cian Lally 66, Mark Walsh for Alan O’Reilly 70+4.

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Kevin O’Callaghan, Aaron Masterson; Paddy McDermott, Kevin Feely, Alex Beirne; Paul Cribbin, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate.

Subs: Jack Robinson for Kevin Feely 45 Darragh Malone for Paul Cribbin 53, Tony Archbold for Paddy McDermott 58, Ryan Houlihan for Jack Sargent 70+1

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).