ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIER ROUND FOUR: Kildare 1-15 Monaghan 1-11:KILDARE PROGRESSED to a third successive All-Ireland quarter-final under the guidance of Kieran McGeeney but they cannot be considered serious contenders for the main prize just yet. They just need to beat one from the elite tier.
It took them until half-time to realise Monaghan, like all the provincial runners-up this past weekend, were lacking the inner resolve to recover from a devastating Ulster final defeat to Tyrone. McGeeney conveyed this message to his men but, as he pointed out, the players realised it for themselves. It just took them 20-odd minutes to do so. This is their Achilles’ heel.
James Kavanagh was not concerned by any of this. He was in that beautiful place the sports world calls “The Zone”. The Kildare wing forward, quite simply, had a dream day at Croke Park.
Johnny Doyle was also having a dream day in the big house but of the opposite variety as his left and right foot malfunctioned from placed balls. When he tried to compensate with something inspirational in open field the result was a rash of ugly wides. It quickly became Doyle watch: six wides in 30 minutes.
At that stage McGeeney sent on Eoghan O’Flaherty for Ken Donnelly and not Doyle (the Kildare captain although stripped of his super powers became a regular hard-working footballer – that says something about the man’s selfless character). Possession came O’Flaherty’s way within seconds and he pointed to make it 0-3 to Monaghan’s 0-5. Something then clicked in the Kildare psyche.
Monaghan had powered into the contest, keen to prove last week’s shocking defeat to Tyrone had been shelved. It hadn’t. They were still carrying that pain. Maybe not in their legs but Monaghan have always been a team that needs momentum. This was Kildare’s companion on Saturday.
They also have fundamental flaws that were highlighted by the contributions of the Kildare bench. This is now a 20-man game as O’Flaherty and Ronan Sweeney proved by combining for 1-3.
Monaghan were denied the core of their defence by injuries to captain Vinnie Corey and full back JP Mone. Also, they had nothing in reserve to inspire a scoring revival once it was confirmed Tomás Freeman’s form is a shadow of the brilliance he has showcased in previous campaigns.
Kildare, through Doyle and others, showed us their resolve. Not many teams can stall, mid-game and take a good look at themselves like they did when trailing 0-4 to 0-1.
“They seemed to be waiting for somebody to go do something rather than individuals trying to do it themselves,” said McGeeney.
Kavanagh was that individual, finishing with five points that included an exquisite outside of the boot free after taking the reins from Doyle.
“The way I think about things,” continued McGeeney, “it is your mental state of mind. Sometimes people over-think things, over-cook it. I believe your first thought is the right one. I said to the lads at half-time: if you want to be great, it’s out there you want to be great at it.”
Ironically, Doyle blasted over a simple free to give Kildare a hardly deserved 0-6 to 0-5 interval lead.
Monaghan folded soon after, with Kavanagh’s best point coming on 41 minutes to make it 0-9 to 0-5. The dying kick came from a Paul Finlay point. Many hoped it would jolt a Monaghan revival. It didn’t. Kildare assumed complete control, with the hammer blow a Ronan Sweeney goal after a run down the end line by, who else but, Kavanagh. Doyle took back the free-taking duties and landed his second point.
It must also be noted leadership issues were evident – Kildare had them, Monaghan did not. Eamonn Callaghan was a model of consistency for Kildare, floating from half back to attack. Dermot Earley took heavy knocks, Owen Lennon contributed here, but ploughed on for 57 minutes. They need Earley to recover for next week.
The last 15 minutes was painful viewing, with Monaghan making the scoreline respectable with a Hugh McElroy goal. Even the normally bullish Séamus McEnaney conceded the sideline perch to McGeeney. Kildare are slowly coming but six games in six weeks may prove too great an ask.
KILDARE: 1 S McCormack; 2 P Kelly, 3 H McGrillen, 4 A Mac Lochlainn; 15 E Callaghan (0-2), 6 E Bolton (0-1), 7 B Flanagan; 8 D Flynn (0-1), 9 D Earley; 10 J Kavanagh (0-5, 0-1 free), 11 P O'Neill, 5 M O'Flaherty; 13 J Doyle (0-2, both frees, capt), 20 A Smith (0-1), 26 K Donnelly. Subs: 12 E O'Flaherty (0-2)for K Donnelly (28 mins), 14 R Sweeney (1-1)for P O'Neill (half-time), 17 G White for D Earley (57 mins), 18 K Cribben for E Bolton (60 mins), 22 D Whyte for M O'Flaherty (62 mins).
Yellow cards: P O'Neill (24 mins), K Donnelly (25 mins), M O'Flaherty (48 mins), E Bolton (58 mins), A Smith (69 mins).
MONAGHAN: 16 P McBennett; 2 D McArdle, 19 D Mone, 4 C Walshe; 5 D Freeman (0-1), 6 D Hughes (0-1), 7 G McQuaid; 8 O Lennon (0-1), 9 D Clerkin; 10 K Hughes (0-1), 11 P Finlay (0-3, 0-1 free), 22 C Hanratty (0-1); 13 R Woods, 14 C McManus (0-1, free), 15 T Freeman (0-1). Subs: 12 S Gollogly (0-1)for C Hanratty (40 mins), 27 K Duffy for D Hughes (46 mins), 21 H McElroy (1-0)for C Walshe (50 mins), 17 F Caulfield for D Clerkin (57 mins), 18 M McElroy for C McManus (62 mins).
Yellow cards: D Freeman (35 mins), K Hughes (45 mins), R Woods (50 mins), D Mone (52 mins), K Duffy (69 mins).
Referee: J White(Donegal).
