Kildare in Relegation Battle After Cork Defeat

Saturday, 14 March 2026 at 20:06

Allianz Football League Div. 2: Cork 1-31 Kildare 2-19. Up next vs Louth next weekend

The nine-point winning margin neither reflect Cork's performance or, indeed Kildare’s fightback in the final quarter.

Having been in full control for most of the game, Cork were hanging on in the closing stages, as 4 Kildare goal efforts were saved along with a saved penalty

With Cork coasting with a 14 points lead with 50 minutes gone, Jack Robinson's 51st minute goal began the fightback 1-26 to 2-12, but Cork added 4 consecutive points in as many minutes to lead by 15 after 56 minutes.

A measure of Cork's dominance was that they led at half time by 1-22 to 1-06 ahead, which included eight wind-assisted two-pointers; 1-19 of their first half total from play.

Kildare's first half goal was by Brendan Gibbons

Cork continued to dominate against the wind before Kildare found theirs and staged a massive fightback which, with a bit of luck, and due to outstanding Cortk goalkeeping, they could have snatched a most unlikely win, after being overwhelmed for three quarters.

On the credit side, a final score of 2-19 is an excellent return by Kildare and would win many games.

Kildare now rely on winning against Louth next weekend in Cedral St. Conleths, and hoping that Offaly, home tomorrow and Derry home next weekend can both, or either, beat Cavan, but Kildare needing to win their final game vs Louth necessary either way to avoid relegation.

Kildare: Cian Burke, Harry O’Neill, Padraic Spillane, Brian Byrne, Liam Kelly, Eoin Lawlor, Ryan Burke, Callum Bolton (0-1), Kevin Feely, Brian McLoughlin (0-1), Colm Moran (0-2), Colm Dalton (0-2), Sam Doran, Darragh Kirwan (0-3), Ben Loakman (0-2 tp).

Subs: Brendan Gibbons (1gl) for Feely (10 inj), Ben McCormack (0-4, 2 tp) for Kelly (h/t), Alex Beirne (0-3, 1 tp,1f) for Doran (h/t), Jack Robinson (1-1) for Moran (47), Eoin Cully for Loakman (64).