KILDARE seem incapable, these days, of Causing any annoyance for supporters who have known frustration as a constant companion for far too long. Mick O'Dwyer's young team yesterday took an unaccustomed place, after three games, at the top of the National Football League Division One table with this win in Newbridge.
O'Dwyer himself can find little fault with his unbeaten team at this stage and remained unflinching in his support of his men even when reminded of the side's vulnerability during two defining phases of play in the second half.
The Kildare manager was dismissive, in a good-humoured way, when commenting on Gerard Cavlan's failure to net a penalty chance for Tyrone 12 minutes into the second half, after Ciaran McBride had been pulled down by Ken Doyle.
Cavlan's shot was well wide of the target. "Christy (Byrne) would have saved it anyway," suggested O'Dwyer. The Kildare goalkeeper saved a penalty against Cavan in the previous round.
O'Dwyer's explanation for his steam's fade-out in the last 10 minutes was similarly indulgent. "Yes, we were a bit ragged at the end. But we had done so much running by that stage that our earlier effort had taken its toll."
Glen Ryan, the Kildare captain elicited high praise from O'Dwyer. "Glen has been the best centre back in the country for years. Of that I have no doubt.
Ryan was involved in almost every Kildare attack, often after being the central figure in cutting off some ominous-looking Tyrone raids, sporadic though they were.
Apart from a brief spell in the third quarter, Cavlan was given a roasting by the Kildare skipper. With big things expected of Cavlan on his return to the side, Ryan's performance was all the more significant.
Anthony Rainbow, officially listed at corner-back, turned in an industrious display, repeatedly popping up far from base to lay off the astute pass. One of these led to the Kildare goal four minutes after Cavlan's abortive penalty effort. Showing superb vision, Rainbow spotted highly-effective midfielder John Whelan running l6ose on the right wing 30 yards from the Tyrone posts.
Whelan's beautifully-measured centre presented Paul McCormack with the opportunity to volley the ball under Plunkett McCallan's crossbar and into the net. The score gave Kildare a 1-8 to 1-4 lead.
Tom Harris, who was a late call-up for the game, was given a wing back place and matched his teammates in defence in helping to curb a Tyrone attack that cried out for the sort of inspiration that the absent Peter Canavan might have provided.
Wexford referee Bran White was not exactly the most popular man ink the Tyrone dressingroom after the game. Some of his decisions did not seem right, but Tyrone hardly lost the match because of this.
The northerners could not have asked for a better ending to the first half. They had struggled to put three points on the board, all scored during the opening seven minutes and were trailing by 0-7 to 0-3 in the 31st minute when McBride who may well have picked the ball off the ground after his initial shot was blocked by Harris, shot to the far corner of the net for a fine goal.
Adrian Cush, following three early second half Tyrone wides, equalised seven minutes into the second half. McCormack managed to restore the Kildare lead three minutes later but by this stage Tyrone's growing confidence had become very evident.
Cavlan's missed penalty lowered the Ulster champions' morale, but only momentarily, and the Kildare defence had to recruit the services of Martin Lynch, who moved from full-forward to help avert obvious a danger.
McCormack's goal, which gave Kildare a four-point lead, came against the run of play. It added to the absorbing nature of the contest as a whole and not least to the delight of the home followers in the 8,000 crowd to see Kildare regroup sufficiently well to put their opponents on the back foot.
The Tyrone defence was suddenly subjected to sustained pressure It was a heart-warming phase of play by Kildare that should, however have yielded more than a point by Declan Kerrigan in the 51st minute.
