Gaelic Games

Four-goal Fogarty finishes off UCD

Kildare manager Jason Ryan was pleased side maintained winning, high- scoring run

Kildare’s Pádraig Fogarty scores one of his four goal, despite a tackle by Rob Tierney of UCD, during the O’Byrne Cup semi-final in Newbridge yesterday. Photograph: Inpho/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Kildare’s Pádraig Fogarty scores one of his four goal, despite a tackle by Rob Tierney of UCD, during the O’Byrne Cup semi-final in Newbridge yesterday. Photograph: Inpho/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Mon Jan 20 2014 - 01:00

Kildare 5-17 UCD 2-11

Jason Ryan wasn't entirely satisfied, but he was glowing in his praise of Kildare's four-goal hero, Pádraig Fogarty, as the champions progressed to a second consecutive O'Byrne Cup final by virtue of this win in Newbridge.

Fogarty added three points to his tally in a powerful performance, as Kildare continued their high-scoring pre-season.

No one is expecting the Lilywhites to maintain that rate when the competitive stuff begins but as Ryan indicated, it will certainly do no harm for confidence. And that is certainly true of Fogarty.

“He’s a talented young man. He’s worked extremely hard with Barry Solan and Alan Kenny and the rest of our strength and conditioning coaches to drop a little bit of excess baggage. He is moving really, really well and he is a really good kicker.”

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Ryan was pleased his side maintained their winning, high- scoring run but was aware stiffer tests lie around the corner.

“Of course it was great [to win] but I was disappointed with some of the scores we conceded” said the Kildare boss.

“There is a lot of work still to do. This week ahead is our last week of heavy training so it is pleasing at this stage of the year that they look some way fresh and there is a bit of a spring in their step.”

Kildare produced a superb attacking display to see off UCD. The opening period had been an extraordinary affair, with the sides racking up five goals between them in a feast of attacking football.

Westmeath’s John Heslin was the first to raise the green flag after Kildare had taken an early three-point advantage. Heslin’s goal and a Paul Mannion point edged UCD into the lead, but that stung Kildare into action and they quickly exerted their superiority.

Cathal McNally punched the ball to the net from close range following clever work by Paddy Brophy and a brace of points from Darroch Mulhall, allied to scores from Seán Hurley and Fogarty, gave the home side a six-point lead by the end of the opening quarter.

UCD came storming back with a wonderful goal from Ryan Basquel, but Fogarty struck for his first two goals to leave four points between them at the break.

Kildare reeled off the first three points after the resumption to stretch the margin to seven, and although Heslin replied for the students, Mulhall responded with another point.

Mark Hughes and Conor Downey pointed to cut the deficit but Kildare controlled the final quarter, with Fogarty notching his hat-trick in the 56th minute before completing the scoring with his fourth in injury time.

KILDARE: S Connolly; M O'Grady, M Foley, H McGrillen; D Hyland, E Bolton, P Cribbin (0-1); T Moolick, G White (0-1); C McNally (1-0), E O'Flaherty (0-4, two frees) S Hurley (0-1); P Brophy (0-1), D Mulhall (0-4, three frees), P Fogarty (4-3). Subs: J Gately (0-1)for McNally (56 mins); K Murnaghan for Bolton (59 mins); R Dunne for Mulhall (64 mins); C Tierney for Hurley (66 mins); D Flynn for White (69 mins); W Groome for Brophy (70 mins).
UCD: E Keane; P Reilly, R Tierney, A English; C Lenehan, P O'Harnan, A Ó Murchú; M O'Hanlon, B Fenton (0-1); J McCaffrey (0-1), J Heslin (1-5, 0-2 frees), L Connerton (0-1); P Mannion (0-1, free), R Basquel (1-0), M Hughes (0-1). Subs: C Downey (0-1) for O'Hanlon (half-time); S McEntee for Connerton (ht); R Bergin for Basquel (44 mins); S Flanagan for Reilly (59 mins); S Cadden for Fenton (59 mins).
Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow)