Before last Sunday the Kildare SFC had managed to throw up only a few talking points and most of those revolved around the weather with an amount of tut tutting about how late in the year it is to be playing the championship what with dark evenings, bad weather and blah, blah, blah.

Then just as it began to appear as if we were destined for another Clane/Sarsfields final - a fixture which has had more re-runs than Fawlty Towers - along come Moorefield to upset the apple cart.

Hindsight is a great man but a few days ago only a handful of people could have had serious thoughts of a Moorefield win.

They came into the championship with a decent side. Four of the team have inter county experience and many more have been part of solid success achieved at underage level with the club - some of it at the expense of Sarsfields.

But, after a bright start against St. Laurence’s they lost their way and did not have matters all their own way in the replay either.

Then they were struck by a series of injuries. Philip Wolfe, Les Hogan, Jim Bob Murphy and Bernard Behan could take no part last weekend. This forced some surgery on the side which was more lifesaving than cosmetic in character.

Against this difficult background they faced up to a side who had disposed of the challenge of Allenwood in the first round in what was a repeat of last year’s county final.

When Sarsfields and Moorefield last met in 1993, Sarsfields won and most, if not all, of these fixtures have gone Sarsfields’ way.

But not so on Sunday when the teams provided creative and entertaining football on a day designed for neither.

Moorefield, managed by Mickser Condon, led virtually all the way for a win that left no doubts that they were the strongest team. When Sarsfields twice threatened to get back into the game Moorefield had the will to pull clear again.

Michael Browne, who had outstanding game for Sarsfields with five points from play, levelled in the 5th minute after Patrick Murray had got the game’s first score.

Sarsfields scored just once more in the first half again from Browne but Moorefield were much the better side. Three Moorefield points on the trot midway through the half left Sarsfields chasing the game.

Sarsfields had their chances too but they came up against a good defence in which Kevin O’Neill, Martin Ryan, Noel Buckley and Kenny Duane were outstanding.

But it was not plain sailing for Moorefield. Sarsfields won most of the ball that was there to be won in the air around the middle of the park though Moorefield more than compensated by winning most of the breaking ball.

Moorefield were guilty of some poor shooting, especially in the opening half. The conditions were to blame for most of this because the game was played on a field which had absorbed a good deal of rain and accommodated the Round Towers/Caragh game just before.

The misses included a goal chance for Ronan Sweeney as well as several wides against a team which had come from behind against Allenwood in their opening game.

But Michael Ryan, Moorefield’s best player, linked up with Patrick Behan to end the scoring famine in the 29th and Patrick Murray added another giving Moorefield a 0-7 to 0-2 interval lead.

Sarsfields had a couple of very poor efforts including one from Stewart McKenzie Smith, who was to have a great second half, which went across the goal and wide.

In spite of the conditions it was a great game of football and Sarsfields played their part. It was not for nothing that they are the county champions and reached the Leinster final last year.

It was not over by any means at half time because this Sarsfields team have won many games by coming from behind. Within eleven minutes of the second half they looked like they might win the game.

Two frees by Padraig Brennan were followed by scores from John Whelan, David Earley and Michael Browne. Only a Patrick Murray point kept Sarsfields from drawing level.

Michael Ryan’s goal midway through the half was the score which won the game for Moorefield. Ryan’s superb strike followed a pass from Robbie Delaney and it undid all of Sarsfields’ progress in one fell swoop.

More evidence that was the best game of the year so far was provided when brave Sarsfields mounted a second comeback.

Later in the half they hit three points on the trot.

John Whelan, who had an outstanding game at midfield, had a hand in two. Whelan made the running before passing to Martin Dunne and later he somehow flicked the ball back to Browne for what was Sarsfields’ final score in the 53rd.

They came oh so close to pulling the game out of the fire. Dermot Earley kicked a free into the Moorefield goalmouth and Enda Freaney, perhaps thinking he had more time than he actually had, tried to get the ball into his hands instead of pulling first time and the Moorefield backs eventually cleared.

At the other end Michael Ryan and Ronan Sweeney both hit wides and Sweeney also had a shot blocked down.

The game had entered injury time when Patrick Murray converted a free and fate decreed that the final score would fall to Sos Dowling, one of the most highly regarded footballers to play for Moorefield or Kildare. If Moorefield go all the way there is hardly a supporter who would not be glad to see him win a medal after a distinguished career.

On an afternoon which saw them win a first championship in living memory over their neighbours Sarsfields, Moorefield had many good players. Perhaps the best were Michael Ryan, Patrick Murray, Martin Ryan, Kenny Duane, Kevin O’Neill, Ronan Sweeney and Sos Dowling, who saw service all over the field.

Michael Browne was outstanding up front for Sarsfields. John Whelan was excellent throughout and though Dermot Earley had his moments he wasn’t as consistent as Whelan. Niall Hedderman and Martin McIntyre also played well and Stuart McKenzie Smith won some possession in the second half. Liam Sex gave little away.

It was Moorefield’s day and their win in adverse circumstances was thoroughly deserved at the end of a game which will be remembered long after this year’s championship is decided.

For Sarsfields there was small consolation in the fact that the better side won on the day and, as a young team, the Sash remain a potent force in the county under the considerable influence of Ray O’Sullivan.

Moorefield: Padraig Canavan, Martin Ryan (Capt.), Kevin O’Neill, Seamus Murray, David Barry, Noel Buckley, Kenny Duane, Sean White, Ronan Sweeney (0-1), Patrick Murray (0-6 3 frees), Sos Dowling (0-1), Michael Ryan (1-3, 0-1 free), Brian McGrogan, Martin Murray, Patrick Behan. Subs; Robbie Delaney for Martin Murray, Paul Potts for Brian McGrogan and Padraig O’Flynn for Seamus Murray.

Sarsfields: Kevin Nolan, Nigel Campbell, Martin McIntyre, Martin Dunne (0-1), Niall Hedderman, Liam Sex, Brian Moylan, John Whelan (0-1), Dermot Earley, Tom Brennan, Padraig Brennan (0-2, both frees), Stuart McKenzie Smith, Enda Freaney, David Earley (0-2, 1 free) and Michael Browne (0-5). Sub: Ed Donoghue for John Whelan (inj.).

Referee: Bernard Duff (Suncroft).