Kildare edge Offaly to secure semi-final berth

It was a case of third time lucky for Kildare as they overcame an Offaly side who had beaten them twice already this year by a single point to progress to the Tailteann Cup semi finals.

It was a nail biting encounter throughout at a packed Cedral St Conleths Park.

Kildare led by two points at half time, 1-07 to 0-08, after a magnificent individual goal by wing back James McGrath in the 22nd minute. There wasn't much of goal chance on when he initially collected the ball but things opened up as he moved forward and then he rifled his shot past Paddy Dunican.

Darragh Kirwan and David Hyland extended that lead for Kildare soon after the restart, and then Alex Beirne landed a beautifully struck two pointer.

Cillian Bourke answered back for Offaly but two fisted efforts from the opposite side of the field pushed Kildare seven clear.

Offaly needed a spark of inspiration and Jordan Hayes duly obliged with two two pointers either side of a Dylan Hyland score from the channel to the left of the two point line.

As played rolled on Mick O’Grady came off the bench to push Kildare three again in the final minutes.

A Paddy Dunican two point free left just a point in it in injury time through.

Beirne responded with his seventh of the game but Shane Tierney quickly replied at the far end.

That left a point in it and the game was on the line as Offaly had one last attack. Cillian Bourke’s effort from two-point range could have been a winner but it was off target and Kildare held on to secure their place in the last four.

Kildare: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Mark Dempsey, Brian Byrne; Rian Burke, David Hyland (0-01), James McGrath (1-00); Kevin Feely (0-01), Brendan Gibbons; Tommy Gill, Alex Beirne (0-07, 1tp, 2fs), Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey (0-03), Daniel Flynn (0-01), Darragh Kirwan (0-03).

Subs: Niall Kelly for Sinkey (53); Kevin Flynn for Gill (54); Mick O'Grady (0-01) for Gibbons (58); Brian McLoughlin for Kirwan (71).

Offaly: Paddy Dunican (0-03, 1tpf, 1'45); Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, Daire McDaid (0-01); Aidan Bracken, John Furlong (0-01m), Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes (0-04); Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn (0-02, 1tp)), Cillian Bourke (0-01); Dylan Hyland (0-02), Jack Bryan (0-01)t, Keith O'Neill (0-02).

Subs: Ruairí McNamee for Higgins (42); Shane Tierney (0-02, 1m) for Bryant (54); Rory Egan for Pearson (68 ).

Referee: Thomas Murphy, Galway,

Watch an All-Ireland Football Championship double-header, Monaghan v Down and Donegal v Mayo, on Sunday from 1.30pm. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.

Click here to read article