Digest: Kildare were much too strong for Kerry in their senior hurling opening round tie of the Christy Ring Cup at Naas on Saturday, winning 4-12 to 1-17.
There was little between the sides until Andy Quinn got Kildare's first goal in the 26th minute, but Shane Sheehan found the net later in the half cutting the eventual winners' interval lead to 1-7 to 1-6.
Kerry regained the lead with three unanswered points after the break, but Kildare soon took full control with Quinn's second goal, after Mattie Dowd had equalised with a converted 65 in the 44th minute.
Brendan Byrne and Joe Dempsey added further goals for Kildare, although Kerry battled until the end with Michael Conway in impressive form.
SCORERS - KILDARE: M Dowd (0-6, four frees), A Quinn (2-0), J Dempsey, B Byrne (1-0 each), T Carew (0-3, two frees), A McAndrew (0-2), C Buggy (0-1). KERRY: M Conway (0-12, 11 frees), E Sheehy (1-0), E Tuohy, I McCarthy, S Sheehan, J Dooley, S Brick (0-1) each.
* Jason Stokes is expected to make a return to action with the Limerick footballers in today's challenge against Kildare at Nenagh.
The towering midfielder has been out of action for nine months because of a leg injury and it had earlier been reported that he might miss the remainder of the season.
However, Stokes is now expected to play at full forward at some stage of the game at Nenagh. Limerick will play All-Ireland senior football champions Kerry in the Munster semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday week.
* Carlow hurlers recovered from a dreadful start to eventually struggle to a 2-13 to 1-13 victory over south-east neighbours Wicklow in their inaugural Christy Ring Cup tie at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow on Saturday.
Wicklow were the dominant side in the opening half, storming into a 1-3 to nil lead after 13 minutes, with their goal coming on the 10th minute from midfielder Jonathan O'Neill.
A Carlow goal from dual player Mark Brennan on 31 minutes cut the leeway to a single point - 1-5 to 1-4, but Wicklow were not flattered to lead 1-8 to 1-6 at the interval.
Six minutes after the restart Mark Brennan got a touch on a speculative shot from midfield by wing back Liam Kenny to level the sides at 2-6 to 1-9. And, a minute later, Des Murphy pointed from play to put Carlow in front for the first time.
Once in front, Carlow managed to keep their noses there for the remainder of the game, despite the persistent and stubborn resistance of the Wicklow men.
Wicklow were reduced to 14 men after 11 minutes of the second half when left full forward John Kehoe received a straight red card.
SCORERS - CARLOW: Pat Coady (0-9, seven frees, one 65), M Brennan (2-1), D Murphy (0-2), R Dunbar (0-1, free). WICKLOW: J O'Neill (1-4, 0-1 pen, 0-1 free), J Keogh (0-3, one free), D Hyland (0-2), G Murray, G Bermingham, A Tiernan, C Kavanagh (0-1 each).
* Tipperary performed a double victory over Clare yesterday. Before the senior game at the Gaelic Grounds, Tipperary's intermediate side recorded a 0-17 to 1-12 victory over Clare in the Munster semi-final.
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