Mayo 1-16
Kildare 1-10
A superb second half display from substitute Cathal Freeman was the catalyst for Mayo's progression to semi-final of the Christy Ring Cup in Kiltoom on Saturday afternoon. The game threw in half an hour late, due to a late switch in venues from Athleague to the St Bridget's ground in the east of the county. Mayo were looking to keep up their performance level from the previous weekends demolition of Westmeath in Westport. Trailing by three points at half time after dominating a lot of the play in the first half, it looked like it could be a bridge to far for Martin Brennan and Pete Finnerty's men but a game turning display from the young Tooreen man was the kick start that Mayo needed to book their place in the June 6 semi-final against Down.
Keith Higgins lining out in mid-field along side his brother Pearse got things going on the scoreboard with a long range free in the first minute. The advantage was doubled by Kilkenny native David Dowling with a great score. The full forward picked up the sliothar on the half way line and made 30 yards before stroking it over the bar on the run.
David Harney was the Kildare scorer in cheif on the balmy summer afternoon and he opened his sides account after David Kennedy played in a quick free to the Clane man, who slotted it over from 30 yards. Two Adrian Freeman points from placed balls saw Mayo stretch their lead to three after eight minutes, but Harney hit back for the Lillywhites with a hat-trick of points from frees from different angles and distances, with Keith Higgins sandwiching in a point from a free between Harney's second and third scores, leaving it 0-5 to 0-4 after 18 minutes. Conor Ryan added on another score for Mayo from 45 meters out, giving Mayo a two point advantage.
The Lenister men moved towering centre half forward Paul Divilly into the edge of the square and the Confey man caused Aidan Connolly pleanty of problems early on as both men engaged in fascinating dual for the rest of the encounter. Almost straight away Divilly won a high ball in to the penalty area and he laid it off to David Carter, but the corner forwards shot was put out for a 65 by the Mayo defense. Mayo escaped once again when Divilly's effort from the rebound from the resulting 65 flashed past the post. Mayo's look was about to run out and eight minutes before half time, David Carter made a quick break towards goal, he drew Connolly out leaving Divilly free inside and a quick pass saw Divilly plant the sliothar low past Michael Walsh to raise the green flag.
Keith Higgins's third point from a free in the opening half for Mayo saw them level up the game shortly after, but it was Kildare who took the game by the scruff of the neck up to the median whistle with Tony Murphy, another Harney free and a 65' David Kennedy opening up a1-7 to 07 half time lead for Mayo.
Whatever Brennan and Finnerty said in the dressing room did the trick as Mayo came out a changed team from the one that went in at the break, four points inside the opening eight minutes saw those in green and red retake the lead. Cathal Freeman ran at the Kildare defense to cause some panic before he set up Derek McDonnell to clip over a nice point. From then on last years Mayo minor football star took the game and ran with it. He hit a quick-fire hat trick of points inside four minutes all from play, each one better than the other. His third of the sequence was a fantastic effort from out on the left sideline, when there seemed to be no option for him for either a pass or a shot. Kildare were shell shocked, but managed to compose themselves enough to force themselves back into the lead after 12 points, Mark Maloney drove over after a fine run. Then Adrian McAndrew looked to be pulling the trigger for a goal effort only for Aidan Connolly to do enough to put him off and see his effort hook over the bar.
Derek McDonnell leveled the game up on 49 minutes, after he was set up by Pearse Higgins. Keith Higgins put Mayo back into the lead a minute later when he beautifully drifted a free from left to right to sneak inside the posts. It was all Mayo now as they looked to kill off the game, but Kildare's defense was standing firm at this juncture, Cathal Freeman landed a huge score from out the country to put Mayo two to the good and with five minutes left the decisive score of the game arrived. Freeman cut in down the left wing and opened up a goal scoring chance, his shot was batted out by Paul Demody in the Kildare goal, but with little distance, after a scramble in the box David Dowling was able to swing a boot at the sliothar and put it over the line to the delight of the Mayo faithful who had traversed Roscommon earlier that afternoon to get to the game. Kildare had to get a goal now, to get themselves back into it, but the most they could muster was a pointed free from David Harnery. Derek McDonnell put five between the sides with three minutes left and the final word on the day was left fittingly to Cathal Freeman who picked the ball up in the left corner of the field and cut back in side his man before drifting a fantastic shot over the bar to seal the win.
Mayo: Michael Walsh; Derek Walsh, Aidan Connolly, Paul Hunt; Brian Higgins, Paddy Barrett, Conor Ryan (0-1 ); Keith Higgins (0-4 4f ), Pearse Higgins; Eoghan Madigan, Derek McDonnell (0-3 ), Derek McConn; Adrian Freeman (0-2,2f ), David Dowling (1-1 ), Martin Devaney. Subs:Cathal Freeman (0-5 ), Stephen Broderick,
Kildare: Paul Dermody; Niall Doolan, Paudie Reidy, John Doran; David Kennedy, Kevin Chan, Fiachra Ó Muineachain; Donal Moloney, Neill Ó Muineachain; David Harney, Paul Divilly, Tony Murphy; Adrian McAndrew, Mark Maloney, David Carter. Subs:Oisín Lynch, Micheal Divilly, Lorcan Harney,
Ref: Tommy Ryan (Tipperary )
