Dublin stay calm as Kildare fail to capitalise

Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18MAYBE it was a transformative afternoon for the entire GAA football championship or maybe it was just further evidence of the province's capacity for attractive play, somewhat lacking in gravitas, but yesterday's Leinster final provided a big crowd with as dramatic a contest as anyone could have imagined.

Dublin became champions for the fifth year on the spin and suggested that under the management of Pat Gilroy they have at last turned up the volume on their further ambitions. Kildare, in the county’s first final in six years, did well enough to be bitterly disappointed to have lost a match that they had in full control at half-time.

A display of top-class finishing from Bernard Brogan, an unanswerable representation of his credentials by Bryan Cullen and a terrific focus having being reduced to 14 men for three quarters of the match were the headlines on a day when the champions had a good alibi for losing but chose not to plead it. There were critical sign posts along what became an epic journey. Dublin’s scintillating start overshadowed even their blitzkrieg opening against Westmeath. Unlike in the semi-final, however, Kildare did not accept defeat when trailing 1-3 to no score in the fourth minute. Instead they built a way back into the match.

By the end of the first quarter the margin was down to one, 1-4 to 0-6, when the road plunged down a different direction. Dublin’s Ger Brennan, apparently unreformed by his lucky disciplinary escape against Meath in the quarter-finals, incautiously clocked Ken Donnelly in full view of a linesman.

Referee Pat McEnaney might have a reputation for letting the game flow but he is intolerant of nonsense and Brennan was red carded on the spot: one quarter gone and Dublin’s title was slipping away.

Kildare’s domination until half-time was sufficient to chalk up a greater lead than one point and but for Jason Sherlock’s slickly taken goal in the 26th minute – at a stage when Kildare had just moved in front – it would have been very hard for the champions’ challenge to get to the break intact.

But there they were – a point and a man down and apparently doomed. Here’s why: Kildare had overcome the calamitous start to make their advantages tell. Dermot Earley didn’t play his conventional air harvesting role but worked tirelessly, at one moment helping the defence and the next popping up in attack to provide continuity or take a score. His roaming game didn’t surrender centrefield to Dublin and both Darren Magee and Ross McConnell were unable to establish a grip, as Kildare’s big men crowded out the middle and did conspicuously better on the breaks.

This reduced the opportunities for an attack that worked well on the day but particularly early on when the fast movement and predatory finishing constructed the lead that ultimately proved enough of a down payment to secure the title.

Nonetheless the first goal came from a defender when Barry Cahill hared down the right and as Kildare stood off him, kept going before finishing expertly to the net. It was a tribute to Kieran McGeeney and his management’s work with Kildare that the team never panicked but kept playing their physical, athletic game and using the wide spaces to create chances. All 18 of the challengers’ points total came from play and all of the forwards scored, including a couple of replacements.

Alan Smith persecuted Denis Bastic for two points from play, late replacement Ken Donnelly helped himself to three and John Doyle, while having a subdued day in general kicked a couple of points including a great effort in the second half from the right sideline.

Constant pressure was exposing Dublin’s defence. Kildare also used the extra man expertly. Mikey Conway was on the ball frequently and the team was always able to find a free colleague. The side’s precise, short passing game from the back is made for an extra man and they looked well capable of exploiting the opportunity.

So here’s why they didn’t. For starters Gilroy threw in Cullen as a replacement for Brennan – Diarmuid Connolly making way – and the former captain played commandingly well, winning ball, making himself available and moving possession unfussily up the field.

Sherlock’s goal – its origins in a great steal by Paul Griffin and a well-judged kicked pass from Alan Brogan – stopped Kildare getting top dollar for their best period and immediately after the break when McGeeney’s men needed to keep the anxiety buzzing in Dublin’s heads, they instead conceded four points in a row and with them the initiative. Although Conway continued to do well as a spare man, Kildare strangely didn’t press Dublin’s defenders and this allowed Stephen Cluxton the opportunity to practise one of his specialities, finding unmarked men with a short pass and enabling attacks to build from the back.

Kildare weren’t alert to the quick counter and three times conceded points within a minute or so of scoring.

They drew level three times but couldn’t shut out the champions.

Dublin’s experienced replacements did their bit as well. Ciarán Whelan, on from an early stage, fought hard to stop centrefield remaining part of opposition territory and his energy really required Earley back at the ranch rather than roaming the range.

But most of all Dublin won because their forwards are calmer and more predatory.

Paul Flynn got in huge amounts of constructive work winning ball and moving it on, Alan Brogan has made a great success of his play-making role and farther up, brother Bernard was outstanding.

Five points from play and another couple from frees (the second of which was questioned by Kildare) was the statistical evidence but his importance could also be seen in the way his colleagues looked for him, held up the ball and supplied him.

So 30 years after their father Bernard secured another famous Leinster final win for the county – also after a St Vincent’s man had been sent off – the Brogan brothers helped make history repeat itself.