Gaelic Games

Cavan ease to win over Kildare to open Division Two campaign

Paddy Lynch leads the way with 0-8 including seven frees as Ulster side holds out in four-point win

Kildare's Jack Sargent is challenged by Cormac O'Reilly of Cavan. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Kildare's Jack Sargent is challenged by Cormac O'Reilly of Cavan. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Sat Jan 27 2024 - 19:48
National Football League Division Two: Cavan 0-16 Kildare 0-12

Cavan got off to a flying start to life under the management of Raymond Galligan with a well deserved win over Kildare in Carlow. They were organised in defence and frustrated the Kildare attack for long spells, while constantly carrying a threat when going forward themselves.

In Paddy Lynch, they had the game’s top scorer and he opened their account with the first of his eight points inside the opening two minutes.

Cavan were flying in the early stages and both wing-backs, Oisin Kiernan and Padraig Faulkner, got on the scoresheet as they moved into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the tenth minute.

Kildare’s best spell in the opening half came when Darragh Kirwan and Jimmy Hyland tied the game at 0-5 after 16 minutes but they lost their way in their attacking play after that and only scored one more point in the remaining minutes of the half.

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Gerard Smith and Killian Clarke were among the scorers as Cavan pushed on to lead 0-9 to 0-6 at half time.

The break gave Kildare the chance to regroup but the expected onslaught in the second half never really materialised.

Ciaran Brady, in the team just a couple of weeks after winning an All-Ireland Junior title with his club Arva, sent Cavan four clear early in the second half and when Dara McVeety pointed in the 49th minute they were five ahead.

The introduction of Shane O’Sullivan brought new life to Kildare and after helping create a score for Kirwan, he scored himself. Just as Kildare were building momentum, Paddy McDermott missed a great chance to get them back to with point.

Cavan's Paddy Lynch is challenged by Shea Ryan of Kildare. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Cavan's Paddy Lynch is challenged by Shea Ryan of Kildare. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho

That missed chance proved to be Kildare’s last opportunity to close the gap and Cavan were quickly back into a four-point lead after two more points from Lynch.

Kildare huffed and puffed in the last 10 minutes but Cavan were superb in defence and saw the game out at their ease.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Oisin Kiernan, Killian Brady; Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Niall Carolan, Oisin Kiernan (0-1); Killian Clarke (0-1), Ryan Donohoe; Ciaran Brady (0-1), Dara McVeety (0-1), Gerard Smith (0-1); Paddy Lynch (0-8, seven frees), Tiarnan Madden, Oisin Brady (0-1). Subs: Brian O’Connell for Kiernan (37 mins), Ryan O’Neill for Donohoe (49), Caoimhin O’Reilly for Madden (61), Cormac O’Reilly (0-1) for O Brady (64), Ryan Brady for C Brady (70+3).

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Ryan Burke; Kevin Flynn (0-1), Jack Sargent (0-1), Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely, Kevin O’Callaghan; Luke Killian, Ben McCormack (0-1), Paddy McDermott; Paddy Woodgate (0-1, free), Darragh Kirwan (0-3), Jimmy Hyland (0-2, one free). Subs: Shane O’Sullivan (0-2) for Hyland (49), Ryan Houlihan for Byrne (55), Aaron O’Neill (0-1) for Feely (59), Callum Bolton for Killian (68).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).

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