Kildare bridge 18 year gap to upset Meath

NINE minutes remained in this Church and General Division One League at Newbridge yesterday when the outstretched hands' of Kildare's Johnny McDonald defied his celebrated rivals. Then, from a short pass, colleague Noel Donlon judged a high, left footed kick to perfection, allowing the ball to drift on the crosswind, just inside the near upright. The home side were six points clear.

By that stage Meath centre half forward Trevor Giles had retreated in a desperate effort at shoring up a beleaguered defence. But it was too late to save the 1994 champions from their first defeat of the current campaign.

There was great delight about the strong Kildare support in an attendance of 7,500, few of whom would have remembered the county's last championship victory over Meath, in 1978. And League successes have been similarly rare. Small wonder that a clearly relieved Kildare manager, Dermot Earley, was prompted to remark afterwards "We showed we have the ability to compete and win, which is very pleasing."

Indeed there was much to be pleased about in a performance that has lifted Kildare clear of the relegation zone. Largely, it had to do with the accuracy of forwards who displayed an admirable level of skill the sort of control exemplified by Donlon for that memorable, second half score.

This, allied to the predictable grit and competitive qualities of the division leaders, made for a highly entertaining tussle in which there was never more than two points between the sides until the final quarter. During that period, Kildare's self belief eventually allowed them to, sweep to a thoroughly deserved victory.

It would have been a lot more convincing but for Ollie Murphy's last gasp goal for Meath. Granted, this was a finely executed effort, but by that stage, there had been so much to savour from Kildare that Meath's modest consolation did little to dilute the overall impact of a splendid home performance.

Solid place kicking is always an invaluable base on which to build a winning score. This was provided by Kildare midfielder Niall Buckley, whose contribution of six points, five from frees and one from a 45, came a vital stages of the match. Buckley's attractive and, highly effective kicking action allowed him to get much greater length into his efforts than his Meath counterpart, Giles, irrespective of the wind direction.

A particularly interesting aspect of a first half which ended with the teams level at 0-8, was the fact that Meath had not had even one wide. But they might have scored a fifth minute goal had Ollie Murphy found a way to slip, the ball past, rather than straight at, Kildare's advancing goalkeeper, Christy Byrne, from close range.

So, the teams effectively matched point for point while probing for weaknesses to be exploited later on. In this respect, Kildare were much more successful. The departure of right back Peter McConnon in the ninth minute was forced by injury but the tactical substitution of Paul McCormack for John Whelan at half time delivered a rich dividend.

With the attack conscious right half back Fergus Aspell lending fine support to Buckley and Martin Murray in midfield, Kildare surged forward with real purpose in the second half.

Indeed a pointed free by Giles was Meath's only response waves of fruitful Kildare attack which brought two points for Paul McCormack and from Tom Brennan, Buckley Donlon.

Three substitutions' by failed to stem the tide.

Indeed, entering the final quarter, their defence was hardly recognisable from the combination which had started the match, except for the tireless endeavours of centre half back John McDermott, whose tackling was a touch over robust at times.

Kildare's midfield, and certain of their forwards, unquestionably stole the honours. The switching. of centre half forward Donlon and left corner McDonald at half time was very effective, while the overall fluency of the line gave them plenty of scoring options.