Heroic Dubs See Off Kildare In Footballing Classic

Leinster Football Final
Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18

By Denis O'Brien

In the best football game all season 14-man Dublin overcame the odds with a brilliant second half display to oust worthy opponents Kildare to win their 5th Leinster title in a row in a classic final.

After a splendid first half, that unfortunately saw Dublin reduced to 14 after their centre back Ger Brennan got a straight red for punching Ken Donnelly, Kildare took a slender one point lead into the second period.

Earlier a Dublin blitz had seen Kildare fall six points behind but a fine point scoring exhibition from Kildare soon had the sides level.

After Brennan was withdrawn Kildare had Dublin on the back-foot and a 22nd minute point from Ronan Sweeney shot the Lillywhites into the lead for the first time in a game they now looked poised to control.

However, Dublin reminded the 74,572 in attendance that they weren't finished yet as Jason Sherlock executed a brilliant goal to spur on the sky-blues once more.

The second half saw a rejuvenated Dublin firm-up defense and midfield while upfront four early points saw them open a three point lead once more.

Dublin were playing as if they had 15 men for the second half with sub Bryan Cullen and Barry Cahill superb on the halfback while inside Paddy Andrews and David Henry had considerably tightened the full back line.

Any time that Kildare changed from hand-passing to longer kick passes they were spoilt repeatedly by the brilliant Dublin defense.

Still Kildare kept driving forward and had restored parity with 10 minutes left to play.

Dublin had many one could call a hero but it was stalwart Bernard Brogan who came to his side's rescue on more than once occasion in the closing stages.

He pushed Dublin two clear with a brace of points (1 free), his second was a masterful score. It was matched though by a beauty by Kildare talisman, John Doyle before Kevin Conway from way out the field tied the game once more with five left on the clock.

But it was the Dubs who pushed on in the final minutes with the brilliant Brogan once more coming good to sensationally land three points in a row and earn a deserving win for the Dubs in an absorbing contest.

Dublin had a whirlwind start to the game when racing into a 1-3 to no score lead after only four minutes of play. The goal came from Barry Cahill after he was left to coast through the Kildare defense to slot home to the far corner of the net.

But Kildare recovered well with points from Ken Donnelly, Alan Smith and Padraig O'Neill to narrow the margin to three.

Conal Keaney and Smith then swapped points before Kildare looking more dangerous with every attack added four unanswered points to now leave them just one point adrift.

In between, Brennan's departure had rocked Dublin and it was Kildare now who looked the more assured side.

But Sherlock's goal before half time pointed a finger to the Dublin resolve that would follow and they ran out deserving winners despite being down a man.

Kildare's full forward line was shut down in that second half and their inability to get near the Dublin goal was crucial as a Lillywhite goal might have sapped the sky-blues spirit and energy.

When the game was in the balance it was Dublin who were able to stifle the Kildare attack with Brogan the difference in the end.

Kildare put up a good performance and will learn from this hectic clash and we have not seen the last of them by any means!

Dublin seem a team possessed this season and if they can keep up this form they will surely be All Ireland contenders come September.

Teams & Scorers:
Dublin: S Cluxton; D Henry, D Bastick, P Andrews; P Griffin, G Brennan, B Cahill (1-1); R McConnell, D Magee; P Flynn, A Brogan (0-2), D Connolly; C Keaney (0-3, 2f), B Brogan (0-7 (2f), J Sherlock (1-1). Subs: B Cullen for Connolly (23 mins), C Whelan (0-1) for Magee (HT), T Quinn for Sherlock (50), S Ryan for McConnell (56), P Burke for Flynn (64)
Kildare: T Corley; H McGrillen, M Foley, E Bolton; M O'Flaherty, B Flanagan, M Conway (0-2); D Flynn, D Earley (0-1); J Kavanagh (0-2), P O'Neill (0-2), R Sweeney (0-2); A Smith (0-2), K Donnelly (0-3), J Doyle (0-2). Subs: A MacLochlainn for McGrillen (16 mins), R Kelly (0-1) for Flynn (48), E Callaghan (0-1) for Doyle (blood 46-55), G White for O'Flaherty (55), K Ennis for Kavanagh (63)
Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan)