Sport

Kildare keep hopes alive

DUBLIN...1-4 KILDARE 0-7: Dublin's quest for a third successive under-21 Leinster title proved to be far from academic at Páirc…

Mon Apr 26 2004 - 01:00

DUBLIN...1-4 KILDARE 0-7: Dublin's quest for a third successive under-21 Leinster title proved to be far from academic at Páirc Tailteann, Navan, on Saturday. The All-Ireland champions were somewhat fortunate to survive with honours even.

Considering Kildare's initial rumblings, and late salvo, Tommy Lyons was content to replay on Saturday at the same venue (5 p.m.): "We're happy to be still in it. It was an awful dogfight. Kildare were hitting us awful hard and fair. It took us a long time to get to the pace of the game."

Two minutes into injury-time Kildare were awarded a free-kick after Colin Prendeville was penalised for an illegal hand pass to Bryan Cullen. Replacement Eamon McCormack's effort fell short. It was the final play.

Ten of last year's Dublin side started the game. The defence is pretty much intact, with captain Paul Griffin impressive but the loss of Alan Brogan and Conal Keaney leaves a void in attack. Graham Cullen was their only forward to score from play.

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Kildare were their equal in most areas - accept for midfield where Declan O'Mahoney was outstanding. His goal in the 27th minute left Dublin leading 1-2 to 0-3 at the interval. Dublin could have scored a second before the break when David O'Callaghan fed Cullen but Rob McCabe made an excellent block.

In the second-half, an O'Mahoney point stretched Dublin's lead to three points but Kildare replied strongly and James Kavanagh levelled the contest with two minutes remaining.

DUBLIN: P Copeland; C Prendeville, M Fitzpatrick, P Griffin (capt); N Cooper, B Cullen, B Lyons; D O'Mahoney (1-1), P Brennan; S Hiney, D Kelleher, D Dineen; D O'Callaghan, G Cullen (0-1), J Noonan (0-2, frees). Subs: N Clarke for Prendeville (half-time), P Whelan for Dineen (42 mins), M Vaughan for Noonan (48 mins), J Coughlan for Whelan (60 mins), Prendeville for Lyons (61 mins)

KILDARE: T Corley; M Hogarty, R McCabe, A McLaughlin (capt); M Dowling, M Foley, J Lonergan; W Heffernan, D Flynn (0-2); D McCormack (0-1), J Kavanagh (0-2, one free), H Lynch; R Glavin, S Darcy, T Archbold (0-1). Subs: E McCormack (0-1, free) for Darcy (37 mins), F Hanniffy for Glavin (57 mins).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).