Kildare put Donegal to the sword

NFL DIVISION TWO/Kildare 1-17 Donegal 1-9:DONEGAL'S 100 per cent record was in tatters leaving Newbridge yesterday as Kildare romped to a comfortable victory to put themselves right into contention for promotion.

Donegal actually got off to a good start with a pointed free from Michael Murphy inside the opening minute but it was all downhill from there.

By the time they got their next score, a fortuitous goal from Stephen Griffen in the 24th minute, Kildare had a goal and five points on the board. That goal came from Gary White after some delightful foot passes from Johnny Doyle and Karl Ennis.

And they responded well when Griffen’s speculative lob went all the way to the net, Doyle kicking two points from play and Pádraig O’Neill sending over to give them a 1-8 to 1-2 half-time lead.

Kildare stayed on top after the resumption. Dermot Earley produced the score of the game after good work from Damien Hendy, Mark Scanlon, O’Neill and James Kavanagh, and with Daryl Flynn and Ken Donnelly also kicking points, the Lilywhites stretched their advantage to 10 points.

Tom Corley made up for his lapse for Griffen’s goal with a point-blank save from Kevin Cassidy but it was a rare opportunity for the Tír Chonaill men.

Murphy finished with a brace of late points, the second his first score from play deep in injury time, but there was very little consolation for Donegal.

KILDARE: T Corley; E Bolton, D Hendy, H McGrillen; G White (1-0), M Scanlon, K Cribbin; D Flynn (0-1), D Earley (0-1); D Whyte, P O’Neill (0-2), J Doyle (0-6, two frees); K Ennis (0-2, frees), J Kavanagh, K Donnelly (0-3). Subs: M Foley for Hendy, (temp, 50-51 mins), W Heffernan (0-1) for Ennis (58 mins), R Sweeney for Whyte (59 mins), H Lynch (0-1) for Earley (62 mins), K Brennan for Doyle (65 mins), Foley for White (60 mins).

DONEGAL: M Boyle; J Keaney, N McGee, K Lacey; A Thompson, F McGlynn, K Cassidy; N Gallagher, B Monaghan; F McNulty, D Walsh (0-1), S Griffen (1-0); C McFadden (0-2, one free), M Murphy (0-4, three frees), C Dunne. Subs: L McLoone (0-1) for McNulty (25 mins), Ó Waide for Keaney (47 mins), A Hanlon (0-1) for Walsh (55 mins), B Dunnion for McGlynn (61 mins).

Referee: M Collins (Cork).