1-Oct-2007

Replacements shine in win over '37

Kildare County   3  Limerick 37   0

Limerick 37 were no match for a Kildare side, that although missing key players Ian Malone and keeper Austin O’Neill through injury and Stephen Cooling, Darren Stapleton and Keith McCrossan who were all suspended having accumulated four yellow cards, played some of their best football of the season to brush aside the one time title chasers challange  at Station Road last (Saturday) night

Philip Gorman netted twice and turned in an excellent individual performance but there were plenty of heroes for Kildare on a good night for the Thoroughbreds including that of young Owen Kavanagh in midfield, who was replacing Stephen Cooling, and pushed Gorman all the way for the man of the match accolade .

The Thoroughbreds showed their intent from the start and after four minutes they came close to taking the lead. Philip Gorman made his way to the end line and whipped in an excellent low cross, which Paul Rigney just failed to connect with under pressure from Whyte.

It was the industrious Gorman who opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 26 minutes when he sent David Ryan the wrong way after Derek McCarthy was shown a red card for handling Gorman's initial goal-bound header on the line.

The normally dependable central defensive pairing of Paul Finucane and Pat Purcell were given a torrid time by Gorman and the Kildare striker's perseverance led to the second goal two minutes before half-time. Gorman blocked down Finucane's clearance, then attempted to go around Ryan but the Limerick goalkeeper saved brilliantly with his foot. However the ball fell to Cathal Brady who superbly chipped the ball over Finucane and Ryan from 25 yards.

Kildare were the far better side throughout and they had the ball in the visitors net again within a minute of the start of the second half but Gorman's effort was ruled out for offside. Gorman had the ball in the net again just after the hour mark and this time there was no offside flag to save Limerick. Finucane's back pass put Ryan under pressure and his clearance rebounded off the Brownstown mans back and into the net for his 11th goal of the season.

With youngsters Eoin Kavanagh and Eoghan Carew controlling midfield, Kildare always looked likely to add to their tally and Gorman almost took the match ball home with him when a 25-yard free-kick was deflected just wide of the post.

Alan Byrne cleared a late effort from John Tierney off the line but Limerick's night ended on a sour note when substitute Bobby Gregg was shown two yellow cards for fouls on Barry Clancy within seven minutes of coming on for his debut. Manager John Ryan declared himself very happy with the result and the fact that his side kept a clean sheet, despite having to defend a late flurry of corners by the Shannonsiders No doubt he will be faced with a number of selection headaches on the return of his injured and suspended players ahead of the long  trip to face title chasing Cobh at St Colman’s Park this weekend.  

Kildare County: Cassidy; McArdle, Donnelly, P Byrne, A Byrne, Clancy; Brady (Hanaphy 88), Kavanagh (Mooney 90), Carew, P Rigney (Barrett 78); Gorman.

Limerick 37: Ryan; Whyte (Gregg 79), Finucane, Purcell (Danaher 54), Molan; Colbert (Clarke 65), Barrett, Hayes, Waters; Tierney, McCarthy.

Referee: P Sutton (Clare).

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