Four-goal Fogarty inspires Kildare

The pre-season just keeps getting better for Kildare manager Jason Ryan.

After a flying start, his side stumbled midway through the first-half against a strong UCD team, but two goals from an inspired Pádraig Fogarty just before half-time set up an O’Byrne Cup final clash with Meath. Fogarty, who starred on the county’s Leinster-winning U21 side last season, finished the game with 4-3 in a highly entertaining game at Newbridge.

“He’s a talented young man,” said Ryan of his match-winning corner-forward. “He’s worked incredibly hard with Barry Solan and Alan Kenny and the other strength and conditioning guys to drop a little bit of excess baggage and he’s moving really, really well.”

Kildare have yet to lose since Ryan took over and after four successive wins in the O’Byrne Cup, they now have the chance to retain their title at home against old rivals, Meath, this weekend.

“You know it’s going to be a tough game so it’s ideal preparation [for the league],” said Ryan of the Royals’ visit next Sunday. “The games have been getting a little bit more difficult as we’re going along.”

Reading the final scoreline, it was hard to believe Kildare were tested by the visiting students. Yet there was only four points between the sides at half-time. John Divilly’s UCD side found the net after just eight minutes courtesy of Westmeath’s John Heslin, but Kildare hit back immediately when Cathal McNally scored his side’s opening goal. A second UCD goal from Ryan Basquel put them two clear after 24 minutes but Fogarty netted twice before the break to give Kildare a 3-8 to 2-7 advantage.

UCD, with Dublin’s Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion in their ranks, ran out of steam after the interval, while Fogarty continued to run riot, netting two more goals in the last 15 minutes. The visitors finished the game with 14 players when defender Andrew English was shown a black card in the 68th minute. Already on a yellow, English was then shown a red.

With 15 points to spare at the finish, Kildare have now racked up 13-72 in four games, but Jason Ryan’s focus is still on the training field.

“We’ve a lot of work still to do,” he said. “This week ahead is our last heavy week of training. It’s pleasing at this stage of the year that they look someway fresh and there’s a bit of a spring in their step. Everybody will be grounded and that is going to be important for the next few weeks.”

Scorers for Kildare: P Fogarty (4-3), E O’Flaherty (0-5, 3fs) D Mulhall (0-4, 3fs), C McNally (1-0), S Hurley, G White, J Gately, P Brophy, P Cribbin (0-1 each).

Scorers for UCD: J Heslin (1-5, 2fs), R Basquel (1-0), M Hughes (0-2), P Mannion (f), L Commerton, J ~McCaffrey, B Fenton (0-1 each).

KILDARE: S Connolly; M O’Grady, M Foley, H McGrillen; D Hyland, E Bolton, P Cribbin; T Moolick, G White; S Hurley, E O’Flaherty, C McNally; P Brophy, D Mulhall, P Fogarty.

Subs: J Gately for McNally (57), K Murnaghan for Bolton (59), R Dunne for Mulhall (65), C Tiernan for Hurley (67), D Flynn for White (68), W Groome for Brophy (70).

UCD: E Keogh; P Reilly, R Tierney, A English; C Lenehan, P Harnan,A Ó Murchú; B Fenton, M O’Hanlon; J McCaffrey, J Heslin, L Connerton; P Mannion, R Basquel, M Hughes.

Subs: S McEntee for Connerton (ht), C Downey for O’Hanlon (ht), R Bergin for Basquel (49).

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).