Kildare get into a groove

Kildare 0-16 Meath 0-10:WITH KARMIC inevitability, the Leinster football title so controversially claimed by Meath 11 months previously didn't survive its first defence at Croke Park yesterday. Kildare's powerful display shouldn't have brooked any argument but it managed to encompass drama of its own when the most controversial player present had a goal ruled out by a hotly-contested square-ball verdict.

Graham Geraghty, whose recall at 38 prompted the departure of selectors Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan, took the field on the hour and three minutes later, drifting in under Joe Sheridan’s dropping kick, got his fist to the ball and sent it into the net – his only touch during a 10-minute appearance.

A goal at that stage would have cut the margin to one, 1-9 to 0-13, but referee Syl Doyle appeared to make the countermanding call and communicated as much to the umpires, who for added melodrama happened to be his son and brother.

A definitive judgment didn’t emerge even from repeated viewing but it’s safe to say goals have been allowed in similar circumstances, although the only certainty anyone could take from the incident is it’s a daft rule (which the GAA in its wisdom decided to perpetuate at last year’s congress) and one which even a video official would have difficulty in adjudicating.

Meath had the grace afterwards not to complain too much about a referee overruling his umpires in respect of a contentious goal and in truth there was, on the evidence of the second half, little to suggest strongly that Kildare wouldn’t have gone on to win anyway.

Kieran McGeeney’s team were more relaxed and confident after half-time and smoothly out-stripped the two-point interval deficit, 0-5 to 0-7, to lead by four going into the last quarter – before Meath replied with their first point of the half, one of just three they managed in the second period.

Coincidentally, both of Meath’s championship matches since last year’s Leinster final have ended in defeat by Kildare. Yesterday the chase took longer than last year’s fire-balling when Meath had taken an early six-point lead but Kildare looked clearly superior by the end of 70 minutes.

Again, inaccuracies cost them the comfort of a representative victory margin but anxious shooting and handling as well as – to be fair – a feisty display by Meath’s much-questioned defence, where Kevin Reilly was commanding at full back, contributed to the failure to make possession count, reflected in 10 first-half wides.

Meath were able to crowd the central corridor and force their opponents to take shots from wide positions, few of which – apart from James Kavanagh’s 16th-minute effort from out on the right wing – found the target.

Meath were sharper around the middle and Sheridan won some good ball having started on the 40. The O’Rourke cousins, Paddy (a late tactical switch for Cian Ward) and Shane caused difficulties around goal but Graham Reilly, a star performer last year and usually a fruitful source of scores, was well marked by the excellent Emmet Bolton who was supported by fellow half-backs Morgan O’Flaherty and Gary White.

John Doyle as expected started at centrefield and although his shooting was at times wayward he still ended with three points from play and having played an increasingly influential role as the match progressed. He signalled his intent on the restart by taking the break from the throw-in and galloping down the field to kick his team’s sixth point.

With Kildare conspicuously raising their game, Meath needed to retain their intensity but if anything it dropped. Goalkeeper Brendan Murphy was reliable under the high ball but made a couple of errors in possession, which led to scores.

Among the most obvious signs of Kildare’s improvement was the form of Eamonn Callaghan, who razed Meath’s left-side defences with four points from play and even added a couple of wides near the end.

There could also have been goals. In the 53rd minute James Kavanagh fumbled his pick-up after being placed behind the defence with only the goalkeeper between him and the goal – although six minutes later that barrier proved sufficient when Kavanagh was able to go for goal and Murphy saved for a 45, converted by Eoghan O’Flaherty.

By that stage another controversy had taken place. While the crowd’s attentions were on Geraghty’s warm-up on the sideline, replacement Brian Farrell managed to get himself red carded for striking Bolton. Again, like the disallowed goal, it was a decision that appeared strictly justifiable in that Farrell raised his hand and made contact but the same action wouldn’t always end up in dismissal.

Paddy O’Rourke brought the margin back to three, 0-10 to 0-13, with five minutes left but Kildare efficiently killed the matter with three points from Kavanagh (another sideline conversion, this time off the post), an Eoghan O’Flaherty free and Rob Kelly.

KILDARE: 1 S Connolly; 2 A MacLochlainn, 3 M Foley, 4 H McGrillen; 7 E Bolton (0-1), 5 B White, 10 M O’Flaherty; 14 J Doyle (0-4, 0-1 free), 9 H Lynch; 12 E Callaghan (0-4), 11 E O’Flaherty (0-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 45), 6 B Flanagan; 15 J Kavanagh (0-2), 8 T O’Connor, 13 A Smith (0-1). Subs: 18 R Sweeney for Flanagan (26 mins), 25 R Kelly (0-1) for O’Connor (55 mins), 20 P O’Neill for Sweeney (57 mins), 19 M Scanlon for MacLochlainn (66 mins), 23 T O’Neill for White (71 mins). Yellow cards: Bolton (31 mins), O’Connor (52 mins), Foley (65 mins).

MEATH: 1 B Murphy; 2 G O’Brien, 3 K Reilly, 4 S McAnarney; 10 J Queeney, 6 B Menton, 7 C Lenehan; 8 N Crawford, 9 B Meade; 5 S Kenny, 14 J Sheridan (0-2), 12 G Reilly; 13 S Bray (0-1), 26 P O’Rourke (0-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 45), 14 S O’Rourke (0-3, 0-1 free). Subs: 22 M O’Sullivan for Lenehan (24 mins), 18 B Farrell (0-1) for Bray (41 mins), 23 M Ward for Crawford (41 mins), 17 P Gilsenan for Reilly (51 mins). Yellow cards: P O’Rourke (24 mins), Meade (70 mins). Red card: Farrell (56 mins).

Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).