Decisions leave McGeeney seething

Kildare 1-11 DCU 0-9:KIERAN McGEENEY praised the referee yesterday but the Kildare manager had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek when offering kudos to Pat Fox for making this game exciting by giving DCU a host of scoreable frees.

Donie Shine supplied all bar one of DCU’s scores, seven from frees, with his county colleague Cathal Cregg providing their only point from play in the 29th minute.

“In the second half we were very sloppy with our shooting but in fairness to Pat Fox I thought he made a good game of it and gave Donie plenty of practice,” said McGeeney afterwards. “I think we got one free kick inside the 50. I thought Pat Fox made it an exciting game in the second half.”

DCU might have been the favourites but they were second best for most of this tie at Newbridge. A first-half midfield dominance was at the heart of Kildare’s success and with the defence keeping DCU’s much-vaunted attack in check, they were comfortable from the time Fionn Dowling punched to the roof of the DCU net in the 14th minute. That put them five points clear, even though Shine had given DCU the lead with the opening score.

Kildare had eight scorers, seven of whom scored from play including defender Eamonn Callaghan and midfielders Pádraig O’Neill and Hugh Lynch, while also shooting 16 wides.

McGeeney’s men led by 1-8 to 0-4 at the break but Shine converted three frees on the trot as DCU began to get on top after the resumption. Rookie Kildare goalkeeper Shane Connolly made two excellent saves and then at the death denied Conor Rafferty from the penalty spot twice as referee Fox deemed him to have come off his line the first time.

By that stage the game was up, Mark O’Sullivan bringing his tally to three with two snappy finishes, and there was only time for Shine to loft over the resultant 45.

KILDARE: S Connolly; C Fitzpatrick, M Foley, O Lyons; E Callaghan (0-1), M Scanlon, D Whyte; H Lynch (0-1), P O’Neill (0-2); M O’Sullivan (0-3), E O’Flaherty (0-1), T Moolick (0-2); K Ennis (0-1), W Heffernan, F Dowling (1-0). Subs: H McGrillen for Foley (half-time), A Smith for Ennis (46 mins), K Cribbin for Fitzpatrick (46 mins), R Walsh for Dowling (57 mins), E Bolton for Lyons (70 mins).

DCU: M Boyle; N Collins, K Gavin, S Ormsby; J McCarthy, B Cullen, N Adam); M McElhinney, D Shine 0-8 (seven frees, one 45); P Andrews, D O’Gara , C Cregg (0-1); D Kelly, M Murphy, C McGuinness. Subs: C Lillis for McCarthy (8 mins), C Rafferty for Murphy (28 mins), F O’Shea for McElhinney (half-time), R Quinlivan for Cregg (50 mins), C Hughes for Lillis (51 mins).

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).

Sunday – O’Byrne Cup SF semi-finals: Westmeath v Kildare, TBC; UCD v Louth, TBC

O’Byrne Cup Shield SF semi-finals: Dublin v Offaly, TBC; Meath v Laois, Páirc Tailteann, TBC