Kildare take points, but Laois and Munnelly make a point
They certainly played well enough to merit at least a draw. A couple of things helped to sway this game for Kildare; firstly, they got a lucky break when a shot from James Kavanagh was well saved by Laois goalkeeper Michael Nolan but cannoned off corner-back Denis Booth into the net. The goal brought Kildare to within a point of Laois midway through the second half.
Secondly, Eoghan O’Flaherty kicked two very difficult frees at the death to give Kildare victory. They came about as a result of Kildare winningpossession from Laois kick-outs. The switching of Darryl Flynn from the full-forward line out to midfield was important in curbing the influence of Padraig Clancy, who had beenpreviously dominant.
Laois were the more impressive team and, as ever, had lots of pace but their conditioning also looks to have improved.
Ross Munnelly was the best forward on the pitch and scored five points from play, as well as setting up their goal. However, Michael John Tierney provided the day’s moment of class when he pointed a free off the ground from the left touchline into the breeze.
Alongside those two, Billy Sheehan was quiet and I would imagine Donie Kingston’s size and ability willcomplement Munnelly and Tierney as a really dangerous full-forward line come championship time.
The Newbridge pitch was very dead and slow for football, never mind the hurlers who had played beforehand, and with its small dimensions, it suited Kildare better.
Under Justin McNulty, Laois seem to be playing with that cockiness they had a few years ago when this team first emerged from the underage ranks. In the second half they played Niall Donoher as a sweeper against the breeze and although he was quiet in the first half, he played the role very well and Kildare struggled to counter this.
Wing-back Darren Strong is a weapon going forward and got two more points from play to bring his total to 0-8 from four games. With Padraig Clancy returning to form, Brendan Quigley set to return from suspension and the physically strong John O’Loughlin, Laois will have a big, physical presence around the middle.
At the moment you would say that Laois are very competitive and difficult to beat but would be placed third in Leinster behind Dublin and Kildare — you could not class them as genuine All-Ireland contenders. They did very little wrong yesterday but the main lesson for them was the value of winning their kick-outs when the game was up for grabs in those last five minutes.
Kildare on the other hand are genuine contenders — any team that has reached two quarter-finals and one semi-final in the last three years has to be. Throw in the motivation of the two calls that went against them in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final and that must give them huge incentive to at least reach the All-Ireland final this time round.
Yesterday they looked like a team that is training hard at present and, under Kieran McGeeney, their form suggests average league campaigns followed by extended championship runs. Indeed, McGeeney’s great Armagh team only won a single league title.
Football doesn’t come as naturally to some of their players as, say, some of the Laois players and Kildare need to be at their athletic best to win the big games.
Interestingly, they can be average in the league when they are doing heavy training but can be very good playing qualifiers every week in the summer.
They will be pleased with the will to win they showed in the last 10 minutes yesterday but without Johnny Doyle and Dermot Early it is difficult to identify who will give them inspiration and leadership. In fairness to both players they can be relied upon to perform when most needed.
Kildare’s championship team this year will be very similar to last. All-Star corner-back Peter Kelly is out with a cruciate ligament injury but Mick Foley at full-back looks a solid replacement and James Kavanagh, who came on yesterday, and Eamon Callaghan are important to them.
The other thing about Kildare is, with the exception of this year’s O’Byrne Cup, they haven’t won trophies in league or provincial competition.
So while they might get all the way to the All-Ireland, I don’t think they will win it.
