Gratifying start for Kildare

Kildare ... 0-12 Longford ... 1-06: The first of the season's titles was determined yesterday when Kildare lifted the O'Byrne Cup after a comfortable win over the home side at Pearse Park, Longford. Three points mightn't be a runaway margin, but from the moment the winners took the lead for the first time at the start of the second half they were always the more likely team. Seán Moran reports

The match was played in unseasonably mild and sunny conditions on a good surface for this time of year. A big attendance of 6,000 was treated to an entertaining match, which concluded despite the clear superiority of Kildare in a welter of excitement as Longford tried to force an equaliser with a close-in free and 45 in quick succession. Eventually referee Seamus McCormack - who must have been enjoying himself seeing that he conjured up almost five minutes of injury-time - brought it to an end.

Surprisingly this was Kildare's first O'Byrne Cup in over a decade since 1989 whereas their opponents won it as recently as 2000.

Longford began with a bang, swarming all over their opponents and putting together an enthusiastic short game at the back before hitting longer balls into their stripped-back forward line.

In the early stages it was very effective. Paul Barden switched into full forward at the start and used his pace to give Ronan Quinn a testing re-introduction to inter-county football.

After eight minutes Longford led by 1-1 to no score. Their first score, a second-minute point, should have been followed by a goal when almost directly from the kick-out Padraic Davis set up David Barden but he shot wide.

Six minutes later the goal came when Paul Barden was tumbled by Quinn and goalkeeper Christy Byrne after a characteristically searing run in from the left. Barden himself placed the penalty well after Davis had made a theatrical contribution by running from deep as if he were going to take the kick.

Kildare had their own chance when Eddie McCormack's shot in the 11th minute was well saved by Damien Sheridan. Their half backs began to get a grip on the game and cut out the space that Longford had been exploiting. Then the forwards started to combine more effectively. For much of the afternoon the football was a festival of hand passing and at times this led to a looseness that saw attacks break down.

But Kildare's ability to shoot quickly in tight situations gave them an advantage. Eddie McCormack demonstrated this with his team's first two points as did Tadhg Fennin who also weighed in with two from play.

With John Doyle and Derek McCormack also contributing, this ability to snap points in demanding situations was the difference between the teams. Padraic Davis kept Longford going with frees but wild shooting - particularly in the first half - prevented them from going closer.

In the second half, as Kildare painstakingly built a lead, Longford had some chances but didn't take them.

A couple of frees went a begging and Byrne saved miraculously from David Barden's 49th-minute attempt on a rebound after an initially misjudged ball had ricocheted around the goalmouth.

Longford stayed in touch but lacked the firepower to rescue the game. It was a gratifying start to the year for new Kildare manager Padraig Nolan but sterner trials await.

KILDARE: C Byrne; E Mulholland, R Quinn, E Callaghan; P Mullarkey, A Rainbow, D Hendy; D Earley, A McHugh; E McCormack (0-3), J Doyle (0-2), P Hurley; D McCormack (0-1), T Rossiter, T Fennin (0-4, one free). Subs: A McLoughlin for Mulholland (30 mins); P Murray (0-1) for Hurley (42 mins); G Ryan for Quinn (45 mins); P Brennan (0-1) for Rossiter (48 mins); K Brennan for McHugh (64 mins).

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, C Conefrey, D Ledwith; M Mulleady, E Ledwith, A O'Connor; L Keenan, J O'Callaghan; P Ross, P Shanley (0-2), D Barden; T Smullen, P Barden (1-0, a penalty), P Davis (0-4, all frees). Subs: R Clyne for Ross (half-time); N Sheridan for Clyne (58 mins); M Kenny for Keenan (71 mins); D Smyth for D Barden (71 mins).

Referee: S McCormack