Brave Wee County stand tall for victory

ONE can imagine the pundits dismissing this game as a carnival showpiece, such was the freedom afforded to the forwards on both sides, but you’d have to be a real crank not to have been entertained by this stupefying game.

Everything about it was astonishing. Louth’s half-time tally of 14 points. Their final tally. Kildare’s inability to defend with even a semblance of authority. The class they showed in short bursts when looking like finally imposing themselves. The fact that Louth were able to repel their more vaunted opponents three times to claim victory.

This was the type of open game we don’t get to see that often and if the analysts are critical of some of the dour encounters that are more common in the contemporary game, they can’t have it every way.

There is no doubt that both teams were defensively flawed. The final tally of 40 scores was far in excess of what is the norm in football, and eight more than what hurling superpowers, Cork and Tipperary, produced in Thurles the previous Sunday.

Afterwards, Louth manager, Peter Fitzpatrick accused Kildare of paying his side no respect.

Whether or not there was any complacency within the ranks, the Lilywhites were certainly second best for most of the game, despite producing tantalising glimpses of what they were capable of.

But with Brian White and Paddy Keenan dominant at midfield, ably supported by a sea of red snaffling up the breaks around them, Louth laid waste to their opponents’ defensive set-up, which was in tatters long before the final whistle.

Fitzpatrick’s men were far from sound at the back themselves but with the majority of possession, Shane Lennon, JP Rooney and the pacy Andy McDonnell were able to enjoy themselves far more than an inter-county forward should expect at this level.

Louth started brightly with a point after 17 seconds from Lennon, who was afforded a remarkable amount of space. Rooney followed up soon after and that duo continued to cause the Kildare full-back line huge trouble, sharing six points from play in the first half.

Although John Doyle got Kildare off the mark with a point from a fifth minute free, Louth continued to play with energy, dominating midfield where only David Whyte offered any resistance, and delivering quickly to the danger men inside.

White kicked two points, one from a free, and Rooney bagged his second and Louth were full value for their four-point lead.

Remarkably, Kildare were in front three minutes later. Pádraig O’Neill fisted a point after taking a pass from James Kavanagh and the same combination ended with O’Neill firing a low shot to the corner of the net in the 13th minute.

A minute later, Sweeney opted to chip a point with a goal on offer but not for the last time, Louth showed their resolve, kicking seven points without reply.

White, Lennon, Mark Brennan, Colm Judge and McDonnell all found the mark and Kildare were floundering.

By that stage Kildare had made two substitutions, including the arrival of Dermot Earley, although the All-Star midfielder’s introduction for O’Neill was hugely surprising.

Louth led by 0-14 to 1-6 at half time but Kildare resumed with serious intent, Daryl Flynn, Whyte and Kavanagh all launching points from distance.

Then came what was probably the game’s most crucial moment, as a quick 39th-minute free from Mark Brennan found Louth wing-back, Ray Finnegan lurking around the Kildare area. The St Patrick’s defender shrugged off a retreating defender before sending a rasping left-foot drive beyond the helpless Shane McCormack.

Soon, Louth were seven points ahead again and it might have been more but for the inexplicable decision of referee Michael Duffy to award them a free when Brennan had slipped inside with only McCormack to beat.

But with Kavanagh and especially Doyle showing tremendous leadership, Kildare had the deficit down to two with 16 minutes still remaining.

Doyle scored five points in that period, two from play and his left-footed effort, just before another fine Kavanagh score, had the Kildare faithful on their feet.

But again Louth responded in style, putting the foot on the accelerator one more time for what proved the decisive surge.

Five consecutive points from Adrian Reid, Lennon, Judge and McDonnell (two) put the issue beyond Kildare.

Scorers for Louth: B White 0-7(6fs); S Lennon 0-4; C Judge (fs), JP Rooney, A McDonnell 0-3 each; R Finnegan 1-0; M Brennan, A Reid 0-1 each.

Scores for Kildare: J Doyle 0-9(7fs); P O’Neill 1-1; J Kavanagh 0-2; D Flynn, D Whyte, R Sweeney, A Smith 0-1 each.

Subs for Louth: D Byrne for Keenan (38-39); Byrne for McAuly (67); A Hoey for Reid (68); D Clarke for Rooney (70+3); S Fitpatrick for Finnegan (70+3).

Scorers for Kildare: A Mac Lochlainn for Bolton (19); D Earley for O’Neill (29); T O’Connor for Callaghan (ht); D Hendy for Cribbin (45); Callaghan for Sweeney (60).