Jack Sargent fisted over a 75th-minute winning point as Kildare booked a place in a Leinster SFC semi-final, but only after a crazy injury time period when they almost let the game slip from their grasp.
Glenn Ryan's team, who lost all seven games in the league and were relegated from Division 2 of the Allianz Football League this year, were three points up and looking comfortable half way through the four additional minutes despite the 30th-minute sending-off of Kevin Flynn.
They were in controlled possession of the ball in the middle of the field but Kevin Quinn nipped in to dispossess Eoin Doyle and race towards goal. Doyle raced back but the only way he could stop Quinn was a rugby tackle outside the square. The referee awarded a penalty and showed a black card to Doyle.
Oisin McGraynor tucked away the penalty to level the scores - but there was more drama to follow.
Remarkably, Kildare coughed up possession again in the middle of the field, this time with goalkeeper Mark Donnellan miles out of the position. Wing-back Matt Nolan brought the ball forward but with the goal gaping his shot from the 45 bounced agonisingly wide of the post.
Much to the annoyance of Wicklow manager Oisin McConville, Kildare were allowed to continue play into a fifth minute of injury-time and from there they worked a winning score. Kevin Feely’s wayward shot was kept in play by at the back post by Niall Kelly who worked it back to Sargent to put over the bar to the relief and delight of Kildare.
Before all that chaos, Kildare played with the wind in the first half and with Feely and Niall Kelly in top form they were leading by 0-08 to 0-05 when Flynn was sent off for a misplaced shoulder challenge on Patrick O’Keane.
They were 0-09 to 0-07 ahead of the break and had a great start to second half with points from Paddy Woodgate, Kelly and Feely to move five clear.
But Wicklow ground their way back into the game and points from Dean Healy and Gearoid Murphy left two points between the teams with 15 minutes to go.
Fresh from the confidence gained from their win against Westmeath last week, Wicklow sensed their chance but Darragh Kirwan kicked an important point for Kildare and that was followed by a free from Feely,
McGraynor kicked a free in the 65th minute to leave three points in it but Kildare had the game in their hand until what prove to be the most bizarre injury time period of the year.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Ryan Burke, Shea Ryan, Mick O'Grady; Jack Sargent 0-01, Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott; Aaron Masterson 0-01, Kevin Flynn; Alex Beirne, Niall Kelly 0-03, Shane Farrell; Kevin Feely 0-07 (5 frees), Darragh Kirwan 0-02, Daniel Flynn
Subs: Brian Byrne for O'Grady (23); P Woodgate 0-02 (1 free) for Feely (BS 27-30); P Woodgate for Kirwan (38); Tony Archbold for McDermott (61); Harry O'Neill for Byrne (63): Shane O'Sullivan for Farrell (69); Ryan Houlihan for Ryan (BS 70-72)
Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Tom Moran 0-01, Malachy Stone, Cillian McDonald; Matt Nolan, Patrick O'Keane 0-01, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy 0-02, Craig Maguire; Darragah Fee 0-01, Christopher O'Brien 0-02, Jack Kirwan; Jonathan Carlin, Kevin Quinn 0-02, John Paul Nolan 0-01
Subs: Joe Prendergast for O'Keane (BS 31-33); Gearóid Murphy 0-01 for Carlin (33); Oisín McGraynor 1-01 (0-01 free, 1-00 penalty) for Maguire (62); Joe Prendergast for O'Keane (BS 62-63); Joe Prendergast for Kirwan (69)
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
