Kildare pip Offaly to book Tailteann Cup semi-final
Revenge was sweet for Kildare who got the better of Offaly at the third time of asking to secure their Tailteann Cup semi-final place.
Brian Flanagan's side previously lost to Offaly in the Division 3 league final and earlier again in the group stage.
But seven points from in-form attacker Alex Beirne, who now has 2-30 for the tournament, and a crucial goal from James McGrath, propelled the hosts to a hugely significant win in Newbridge.
Ryan Sinkey and Darragh Kirwan split six points evenly between them also as Kildare reached the last four of the tier two competition for the first time.
They were pushed all the way by a game Offaly side who cut a seven-point deficit with 21 minutes to go to just one late on.
Offaly even had a two-point attempt in the fifth minute of stoppage time to win it but Cillian Bourke's attempt flew wide.
It all means that Offaly's season is over while Kildare will progress to Monday morning's draw for the semi-finals which will take place next weekend at Croke Park.
On a wet pitch with intermittent downpours, the physicality was off the scale throughout as the Leinster neighbours met for the third time this year.
Colm Dalton is tackled by David Dempsey of Offaly. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Offaly won the previous two meetings by six and two-point margins but ran into a Kildare side in better form this time.
The Lilywhites were one of only two teams in the competition to reach the knock-out stage with a perfect record.
They blitzed Leitrim and Tipperary before blasting 4-19 beyond Sligo to advance directly to the quarter-finals.
But this was always likely to be their toughest test of the campaign and the lead swung over and back throughout.
Kildare had it first after clipping three of the game's first four points, from Sinkey, captain Kevin Feeley and Darragh Kirwan.
Offaly responded with points from Keith O'Neill and Cathal Flynn, the latter a two-pointer, to move 0-5 to 0-3 ahead themselves. And so the terms of engagement were set.
Next came the Kildare goal, from McGrath, which had the splendidly appointed new main stand rocking.
Athy man McGrath took off on a stunning solo run towards goal from the right wing before rifling a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Paddy Dunican.
Jack Bryant, Kildare's destroyer in the Division 3 league final at Croke Park, hit back for Offaly with a point and Daire McDaid added another.
But Beirne's first point of the game left Kildare 1-7 to 0-8 up at half-time.
It was more of the same after the break, Kildare firstly striding confidently clear with Beirne coming alive and kicking a two-pointer to nudge them 1-13 to 0-9 lead.
Then Offaly hit back with five unanswered points - including two Jordan Hayes two-pointers - to cut the deficit right back again.
They were neck and neck all the way until full-time Kirwan, Beirne and O'Grady grabbing the vital Kildare scores to keep them just about ahead all the way.
Offaly did have a 75th minute attempt to win it when young Tullamore star Bourke took a pot shot at glory from outside the arc but his two-point attempt flew wide.
Scorers for Kildare: A Beirne 0-7 (1 tp, 0-2f), J McGrath 1-0, R Sinkey 0-3, D Kirwan 0-3, K Feeley 0-1, D Flynn 0-1, D Hyland 0-1, M O'Grady 0-1.
Scorers for Offaly: J Hayes 0-4 (2 tp), P Dunican 0-3 (1tp, 0-1 45) K O'Neill 0-2, C Flynn 0-2 (tp), D Hyland 0-2 (0-1f), S Tierney 0-2 (0-1f), J Furlong 0-1 (0-1m), J Bryant 0-1, D McDaid 0-1, C Bourke 0-1.
KILDARE: C Burke; H O'Neill, M Dempsey, R Burke; T Gill, D Hyland, J McGrath; K Feely, B Gibbons; B Byrne, A Beirne, C Dalton; R Sinkey, D Flynn, D Kirwan.
Subs: N Kelly for Sinkey 54, K Flynn for Gill 55, M O'Grady for Gibbons 58, J McKevitt for Dempsey 63, B McLoughlin for Kirwan 72.
OFFALY: P Dunican; L Pearson, D Dempsey, D McDaid; A Bracken, J Furlong, C Egan; J McEvoy, J Hayes; K Higgins, C Flynn, C Bourke; D Hyland, J Bryant, K O'Neill.
Subs: R McNamee for Higgins 42, S Tierney for Bryant 54, R Egan for Pearson 68.
Referee: T Murphy (Galway).
Read More
Fermanagh reach Tailteann Cup semi final for the first time after narrow win against Sligo
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