GAA SFC SEMI-FINAL:THE BETTER team won on the day. Kildare will rightly feel aggrieved at a number of erroneous refereeing decisions and none more so than the blatant square-ball for Benny Coulter's goal, but Down's general performance levels were just that little bit higher and they merited their victory.

What concerned me slightly in the build-up to the match was the word emanating from Kildare of closed training sessions to the public and a blanket ban on players and management talking to the media.

I think that it creates an artificial environment that increases pressure rather than alleviating it. Certainly, from my experiences, I’d prefer a normal, natural routine going into a big match and I think it was a miscalculation to separate yesterday’s game and attach added importance instead of maintaining the regimen of previous games.

The four-week break wouldn’t have helped a team that had thrived in the regular cut and thrust of the qualifiers. The late decision on the fitness of Dermot Earley was in marked contrast to Down’s approach as their manager James McCartan talked quietly and confidently about young Peter Fitzpatrick, who proved to be a very able deputy for injured captain Ambrose Rogers.

Kildare did, though, make a very promising start to the match, but didn’t translate that dominance into an appropriate tally of points. There is no doubt that the Coulter goal was a seminal moment in the match. In one fell swoop it thrust Down back into the match, wresting the early momentum from Kildare.

Suddenly, the Ulster county began to dominate around the middle of the pitch, breaking ball into the waiting arms of Daniel Hughes, who had a magnificent game, using his pace and distribution skills to telling effect.

Down’s passing was quicker and slicker, while there was an unflagging desire to run and support the ball carrier.

Kevin McKernan’s two points from centre back offered a classic illustration of that commitment. Kildare relied too heavily on the long punt into their forward line, too often lacking accuracy.

They needed to mix up their play a little more to be less predictable and adopt a shorter passing approach at times to keep the Down defence guessing. Kildare were over reliant on James Kavanagh, Alan Smith and Johnny Doyle winning what amounted to be 50/50 contests for high ball and the trio ended up being pretty well marshalled.

It’s impossible to overstate the contribution of Martin Clarke, the game’s outstanding performer. His vision and array of passing is the best in the country at the moment.

His skill-set allows him to gather ball, weigh up the options and distribute possession before he’s even fully upright. His ability to kick scores and find team-mates was instrumental to Down’s success.

The other Down forwards act as satellites with Marty Clarke as the hub. Whoever persuaded him to come back from Australia performed a massive service for the county and there is no doubting that he came back a better player.

Down played to their strengths with short accurate passing into the space and getting numbers forward to support the attack – it’s heads-up football where very few passes are wasted. Coulter has been the mainstay of the Down attack for many years and even though he tried a little hard at times yesterday he realises that he doesn’t have to be the main contributor-in-chief.

In fairness to Kildare, they stuck manfully to the task right up until the end and could have snatched victory. They never buckled mentally. Operating with that amounted to a second-choice midfield – Hugh Lynch had a fine game – for most of the match they were obliged to play second fiddle in this sector, but somehow contrived to get enough possession to stay in the match.

Down manager James McCartan has developed his team shrewdly throughout the year, a disciple of the favoured system in Gaelic football at the present time of flooding the defence and then getting players to race forward and support the ball carrier.

In many respects, they resemble Tyrone, especially with that swarming defence and breaking at pace. The passing is sharp and precise and players work unselfishly to offer options going forward.

Kildare were, perhaps, a little guilty of a shoot-on-sight policy and would have been better off had they worked in one or two more passes to make the final shooting chance a great deal more straight forward.

They are certainly going in the right direction as a team – strong, athletic and a good footballing side, they need to add a little refinement to their patterns, primarily in the final third of the pitch, if they wish to kick on and win an All Ireland title.

Down have plenty of lessons to absorb from yesterday’s win if they are to beat Cork in

the final. The scope for improvement is appreciable and will be required to continue their run of success next month. Cork boast more traditional values in terms of style, whereas Down champion newer patterns.

It promises to be an intriguing clash.