Tyrone make most of Kildare’s wayward shooting

Tyrone 1-13 Kildare 0-10

Having accounted for Dublin the previous week, Tyrone produced a dominant first-half display in Newbridge that saw them capitalise on an error-strewn Kildare effort in that period and lay the foundation for the success.

It was far from perfect by Tyrone as Kildare came at them with the wind in the second half. As Harte acknowledged, had the hosts managed to be more clinical — they racked up nine wides in the latter period and dropped six shots short — it would have been a tighter affair.

“We are happy with the outcome” he said. “Obviously we were quite good in parts of the game and in other parts Kildare really took over. I think they were very wayward with their shooting, particularly at the start of the second half, they had a number of chances and missed them and I think that cost them ultimately at the end of the game.

“We had a good cushion at half time and if we couldn’t protect that size of a lead then it would have been a very bad second half for us. But to protect that lead we had to get some scores and get them against the breeze.

“The fact we managed that early in the half was very important because that is a bit soul-destroying for the opposition.”

Mark Donnelly’s eighth-minute goal sent the visitors on their way and Stephen O’Neill was also magnificent as Tyrone led by 1-8 to 0-3 at the break.

The goal was a credit to Donnelly’s workrate but Emmet Bolton wouldn’t have been happy, as the corner-forward blocked his attempted clearance before having his initial shot saved by Mark Donnellan. He was quickest to react to toe-poke to the net.

Niall Morgan pointed two frees from around the 45m line, while O’Neill kicked three wonderful points.

Kildare were better after the resumption, gaining more possession and cutting down the turnovers.

Former AFL man Paul Cribbin had a big impact when introduced at half time for his first senior appearance. The Johnstownbridge man scored three points from play, while fellow U21 Seán Hurley also kicked an excellent score.

Tyrone only needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over given their interval advantage and points from Patrick McNiece, Aidan Cassidy and a great Connor McAliskey strike ensured they had enough breathing space to be comfortable up to the end.

Kieran McGeeney had rested other U21 stars Niall Kelly, Daniel Flynn and Paddy Brophy, who have been so impressive in the league to date, and so wasn’t too downhearted afterwards.

“It was encouraging from some points of view,” said the Kildare manager. “Apart from the shooting aspect of it, we tidied it up a lot. Seán and Paul made a big difference when they came on.

“There are a few more positives then negatives. Emmet knows himself he made a terrible mistake to give them a goal, it gave them that bit more of a cushion but we would have been disappointed with the first half for not getting more scores, more shots off but they knuckled down well in the second half and basically owned the ball.”

Scorers for Tyrone: N Morgan (3f), S O’Neill (1f) 0-3 each; M Donnelly 1-0; C McAliskey, P Harte 0-2 (1f) each; R McKenna, P McNiece, A Cassidy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: P Cribbin 0-3; S Johnston 0-2 (2f); A Smith, E Callaghan, E O’Flaherty, R Sweeney, S Hurley 0-1 each.

Subs for Tyrone: P Kane for Matthew Donnelly (ht); D McBride for Clarke (ht); M Penrose for Mark Donnelly (51); A Cassidy for C Cavanagh (62).

Subs for Kildare: S Hurley for Lynch (26); T O’Connor for Sweeney (ht); P Cribbin for M O’Flaherty (ht); R Kelly for Johnston (59).

Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo).