Allianz Football League Division 2

KILDARE 0-14 ARMAGH 1-11

By Ger McNally at St. Conleth's Park

Jimmy Hyland snatched a draw for Kildare with the last kick of the game in St Conleths Park this afternoon as Cian O’Neill’s team battled back from five points down in the last quarter to earn a share of the spoils.

Hyland, the star of Kildare’s Under 20 All-Ireland winning team, had kicked Kildare level in the 70th minute but it looked like Armagh would leave Newbridge with the win when Rory Grugan pointed a free in the third minute of injury time. There was time for one last attack though and Ben McCormack cleverly won the free which Hyland converted.

It meant a frustrating return to Newbridge for former Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney. His side had the better chances throughout the game and once Stefan Campbell scored the game’s only goal of the game in 49th to put Armagh four points clear, quickly following by a Niall Grimley point, they really should have went on to win the game.

Armagh had the wind in the first half and although they were unlucky to see a Connaire Mackin shot rattle the crossbar in the ninth minute, a succession of poor shots meant they couldn’t put the scores on the board and the teams were tied at 0-6 at the break.

Kildare’s use of the wind was equally poor early on in the second half and with Cambell’s goal helping Armagh into a 1-10 to 0-8 led, it looked O’Nell’s team were heading towards a tenth successive league defeat spread over three seasons.

However, they showed great character in the final quarter. McCormack started the comeback before Conor Hartley, Fergal Conway and Aaron Masterson – off the bench for his senior debut, scored to leave one point between the teams.

Joe McElroy had another great goalscoring chance for Armagh during this period but he scuffed his shot wide of the post from a good position in the 68th minute.

Hyland’s monster free from 45 metres put Kildare back level and it was anybody’s game as the match headed into five additional minutes before the late frees at either end left the game in a draw, pleasing Cian O’Neill more than Kieran McGeeney.

Scorers for Kildare: Jimmy Hyland 0-4 (3f), Conor Hartley, Fionn Dowling and Ben McCormack 0-2 each, Eoin Doyle, Adam Tyrrell (1f), Fergal Conway and Aaron Masterson 0-1 each.

Scorers for Armagh: Stefan Campbell 1-1, Jamie Clarke and Niall Grimley (2f) 0-3 each, Rory Grugan 0-2 (2f), Jemar Hall and Jarlath Og Burns 0-1 each.

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mark Dempsey, David Hyland, Mark Hyland; James Murray, Eoin Doyle, Keith Cribbin; Kevin Feely, Fergal Conway; Conor Hartley, Adam Tyrrell, Eoghan O’Flaherty; David Slattery, Ben McCormack, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Fionn Dowling for Feely (7 inj); Cian O’Donoghue for Murray (48 -53, B/S);  Aaron Masterson for O’Flaherty (53); Cian O’Donoghue for M Hyland (59); Jason Gibbons for Hartley (60); Padraig Nash for Tyrrell (68).

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Mark Shields, James Morgan, Aidan Forker; Greg McCabe, Aaron McKay, Connaire Mackin; Stephen Sheridan, Niall Grimley; Jemar Hall, Jarlath Og Burns, Ryan McShane; Rory Grugan, Jamie Clarke, Stefan Campbell. Subs: Rian O’Neill for Burns (48); Joe McElroy for Hall (60); Jason Duffy for McShane (65);
Declan Loye for Forker (70 + 3)

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).