Jack Sargent saves 13-man Kildare in wild Wicklow battle

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