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Allianz FL D2: Kildare finish strongly against Cork

Mick O'Grady of Kildare in action against Rúairí Deane of Cork during the Allianz Football League Division 2 Round 2 match between Cork and Kildare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. 

Mick O'Grady of Kildare in action against Rúairí Deane of Cork during the Allianz Football League Division 2 Round 2 match between Cork and Kildare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. 

Allianz Football League Division 2

KILDARE 1-10 CORK 0-10

By Denis Hurley at Páirc Ui Chaoimh

Substitute Neil Flynn scored three late points as Kildare got their first Division 2 victory of the season, overcoming Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Despite finishing with 13 men as Fergal Conway was sent off and Keith Cribbin received a late black card, Kildare claimed the points, with Kevin Feely’s first-half penalty goal the difference between the teams.

Cork had the first score, Michael Hurley on target inside a minute, but Kildare were soon level, Fionn Dowling on the end of a good passing move featuring Keith Cribbin and Fergal Conway.

Luke Connolly did put the Rebels back in front with a free, having missed two before that, but Kildare seized the lead as they won a penalty, Jimmy Hyland fouled by Ronan O’Toole as the ball dropped, with Kevin Feely slotting his spot-kick low beyond the dive of Mark White.

While Cork did draw level as Hurley got his second and Ruairí Deane profited from a mark after a good Connolly delivery, Kildare replied with three consecutive points from Adam Tyrrell, Ben McCormack and Jimmy Hyland, the latter after claiming a mark.

Though Cork were difficult to break down, by and large – one three-minute period saw Kildare string a long series of passes together without really getting beyond the Cork 45 – the home side had seven wides by half-time, in contrast to just two for the Lilywhites, who led by 1-4 to 0-5 at the break.

Tyrrell’s second free extended that advantage on the resumption but Cork fired back strongly. Connolly took a mark from Mark Collins’ pass and sent the ball over before Hurley scored his fourth and fifth points of the game to tie matters at 0-8 to 1-5 – the same final score in Cork’s trip to Fermanagh last week.

Kildare’s prospects were dented on 42 minutes as influential midfielder Fergal Conway was sent off, receiving a black card after being booked in the first half, but it didn’t matter on the scoreboard as Kevin Feely and Ben McCormack put them two in front. In between those scores, Cork might have goaled when Deane’s pass allowed wing-back Matthew Taylor a chance but Mark Donnellan saved well.

Sub Seán White finally ended 16 scoreless minutes for Cork but Kildare replacement Neil Flynn replied and then, after Donnellan had tipped Deane’s shot on to the crossbar, Flynn repeated the dose to once again open up a three-point advantage.

The announcement of five minutes of injury time gave Cork hope, but instead Kildare extended their advantage as Flynn sent over a 45. Mark Collins had a late point for Cork while Kildare finished with 13 men as Keith Cribbin was black-carded, but late pressure couldn’t yield the goal the hosts needed.

Scorers for Kildare: Kevin Feely 1-1 (1-0 penalty), Neil Flynn 0-3 (0-1 45), Ben McCormack, Adam Tyrrell (frees) 0-2 each, Jimmy Hyland (mark), Fionn Dowling 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Michael Hurley 0-5, Luke Connolly 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 mark), Ruairí Deane (mark), Mark Collins (free), Seán White 0-1 each.

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mark Dempsey, Mick O’Grady, David Hyland; James Murray, Eoin Doyle, Keith Cribbin; Kevin Feely, Fionn Dowling; Conor Hartley, Fergal Conway, David Slattery; Adam Tyrrell, Ben McCormack, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Aaron Masterson for Hartley (half-time), Neil Flynn for Dowling (45), Cian O’Donoghue for Murray (54), Eoghan O’Flaherty for Tyrrell (57), Jason Gibbons for Hyland (66).

CORK: Mark White; Kevin O’Donovan, Kevin Flahive, Conor Dennehy; James Loughrey, Stephen Cronin, Matthew Taylor; Ian Maguire, Ronan O’Toole; Tomás Clancy, Eoghan McSweeney, Mark Collins; Michael Hurley, Ruairí Deane, Luke Connolly. Subs: Paul Kerrigan for McSweeney (half-time), Seán White for O’Toole (48), Liam O’Donovan for Loughrey (54), Brian Hurley for Connolly (56), Killian O’Hanlon for Clancy (62).

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).