Kildare 1-15

Offaly 0-13

KILDARE FINISHED WITH 13 men but got the result they desired against Offaly to book a Leinster senior football semi-final place this afternoon.

Jack O’Connor’s side will take on Westmeath at that stage after the draw was made in Leinster this evening after the completion of the quarter-final ties.

Neil Flynn’s goal was the critical score in pushing them clear despite Cian Farrell impressing for the Faithful county, who entered the game off the back of last week’s victory over Louth and having secured promotion last month to Division 2 of the league.

Following the completion of our last Quarter Final the draw for the Semi Final fixtures was made....

The draw will see @MeathGAA face @DubGAAOfficial and @KildareGAA versus @westmeath_gaa on Sunday the 18th.#LeinsterGAA | #TheseAreOurColours pic.twitter.com/F1clPUyCqF

— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) July 4, 2021

Kildare lost Ryan Houlihan to a second yellow card and Jimmy Hyland to a black card in the final quarter. Those setbacks came after Kildare had been in front 1-13 to 0-8 by the 57th minute.

They were outscored by Offaly 0-5 to 0-2 in the closing quarter but didn’t concede the goal that would have rocked their challenge as Offaly chased them down.

Neil Flynn hit the only goal of the game. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

Kildare were ahead 0-6 to 0-5 at the break and then they took over in the third quarter to dominate on the scoreboard with Flynn netting with 13 minutes left in normal time.

The Maynooth man finished with 1-7 to his name while Jimmy Hyland and Fergal Conway struck 0-2 apiece.

Cian Farrell was top scorer for Offaly with 0-8, four of those from frees, while veteran Niall McNamee scored a brace.

Kildare's Eoin Doyle and Niall Darby of Offaly. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Kildare: Neil Flynn 1-7 (0-4f, 0-2 ’45), Jimmy Hyland, Fergal Conway 0-2 each, Mick O’Grady, Kevin Feely, Aaron Masterson, Darragh Kirwan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Offaly: Cian Farrell 0-8 (0-4f), Niall McNamee 0-2 (0-2f), Paddy Dunican (0-1 ’45), Bernard Allen, Anton Sullivan 0-1 each.

Kildare

Mark Donnellan (Maynooth)

Mark Dempsey (Moorefield), Mick O’Grady (Celbridge), Eoin Doyle (Naas).

Kevin Flynn (Celbridge), David Hyland (Athy), Ryan Houlihan (Moorefield).

Kevin Feely (Athy), Aaron Masterson (Moorfield).

Conor Hartley (Sarsfields), Fergal Conway (Celbridge), Neil Flynn (Maynooth).

Darragh Kirwan (Naas), Ben McCormack (Sarsfields), Jimmy Hyland (Ballyteague).

Subs

Brian McLoughlin for Kirwan (54)

Shea Ryan (Sarsfields) for Conway (57)

Paddy Brophy (Celbridge) for Hartley (70)

Con Kavanagh (Sarsfields) for Flynn (70)

Offaly

Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks)

James Lalor (Raheen), Eoin Rigney (Rhode), Niall Darby (Rhode).

Colm Doyle (Clara), Carl Stewart (Clara), David Dempsey (Ballycommon).

Cathal Mangan (Kilclonfert), Jordan Hayes (Edenderry).

Johnny Moloney (Tullamore), Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh), Anton Sullivan (Rhode).

Niall McNamee (Rhode), Cian Farrell (Edenderry), Rúairí McNamee (Rhode).

Subs

Shane Horan (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin) for Rigney (25)

Bernard Allen (Tubber) for Ruairi McNamee (28)

Eoin Carroll (Cappincur) for Mangan (half-time)

Bill Carroll (Cappincur) for Cunningham (58)

Aaron Leavy for Doyle (58)

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)

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