TIME AFTER time, Kildare defy logic. When so much is expected of them, they produce so little when so little is anticipated, so much is delivered. Yesterday's performance at Croke Park in the Leinster Senior Championship, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, was perhaps the craziest and most illogical of all as Kildare, stunningly, overcame the loss of two men before anyone had time to break sweat, to record a deserved four points win over Laois in an intoxicating first round match.
Kildare were reduced to 13 men when deprived of their attacking inspirations Johnny McDonald and Martin Lynch in the ninth minute. McDonald was sent-off for an off-the-ball altercation with his marker Colm Burke; Lynch was dismissed for an incident under the umpire's nose half a minute later, at the same time as referee Pat Casserly was ordering his colleague to the tunnel.
It was all a touch bizarre. But, then, so too was Kildare's response. Not only did they play like men inspired, they did so with intelligence and conviction.
In contrast, Laois, the victims of this strange phenomenon which afflicts teams who discover themselves with a numerical advantage, were like rabbits caught in headlights. They didn't know which way to turn. All instinct left them and any pre-ordained game plan was thrown out the window. Indeed, it was difficult to understand Laois's tactical response. The two `free' men were left in the full-back line, a negative approach which played right into Kildare's hands. Still. Kildare had to win the match and, in that department, the free-taking of Padraig Graven, who scored eight points from dead balls, was vital. However, there wasn't a weak link among the 13 Kildare players on the pitch and, in Glen Ryan, they possessed not only a man destined to lead, but one who led by example. Ryan scored Kildare's only points from play (two) and also scored his side's goal, a 41st minute penalty.
It was a miserable Laois performance, bereft of all the promise of their National League campaign. Undoubtedly, but not understandably, they were the team disrupted by the two early dismissals. As the match progressed, anxiety and frustration came into their play too. Laois conceded no less than 52 frees in the 70 minutes (and received just 16 frees) and, to rub salt into wounds, were reduced to 14 men in the dying moments when centre-fielder David Sweeney was sent off for a late tackle on Ryan.
Kildare never trailed in the entire match and were hauled back to level terms on just two occasions. Graven, for long spells the only Kildare player within 40 yards of the Laois goal, had kicked them ahead just 45 seconds into the game yet, when his more experienced frontline team-mates received their marching orders, he was superbly augmented by Eddie McCormack, who put in trojan work in carrying the ball and also running off the ball.
The only time the Kildare defence buckled was in the 26th minute. Laois defender Adrian Phelan instigated a move which appeared to have perished closer to goal. However, the ball fell kindly for Tom Bowe to first time to the back of the net for his side's only goal, leaving the teams tied at 1-1 to 0-4. But it was Kildare who responded (with two Graven points) best thereafter; Laois did add another point from Sweeney before the half-time break. but perhaps a better indication of their plight came when Michael Lawlor recorded a bad wide in injury time when a goal seemed easier to accomplish.
Kildare had increased their cushion to an insecure two points when Graven - who had managed to get on the end of a fine Anthony Rainbow-Tom Harris move - was dragged to the ground by Phelan: Penalty. Captain Ryan trotted up from his defensive duties to give Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron little chance with the spot kick.
With defeat staring them in the face, Laois were compelled to act but, too often, the wasteful long ball into the Kildare full-back was gathered and dispelled outfield. Ian Fitzgerald, who struggled to get into the game, finally found some touch with a pointed free in the 45th minute and added another two points, one from play, in the next 13 minutes. But it was too little, too late.
When Graven kicked over his eighth point of the game in the 64th minute - to leave the scores at 1-11 to 1-7 - Laois no longer needed mere points, but a goal. And, even then, Kildare goalkeeper Christy Byrne proved up to the job when finger-tipping a Den is Lalor shot around the upright for a 45.
It was Kildare's day, for a change, and the manner in which their supporters shouldered the players and management off the pitch at the final whistle, indicated not just relief, but perhaps another new dawning for the Lilywhites.
