Div 2B / Kildare 0-13 Tipperary 0-8: Kildare remain in contention for promotion to the top flight after a comfortable win over Tipperary at Newbridge yesterday.

The home side led from start to finish but came under a good deal of pressure in the second half. Tipperary, though, failed to convert territorial dominance into scores.

Tipperary, who finished with 14 players following the dismissal of full back Seán Collum, once again had a fine performance from Declan Browne, who scored six points.Pádraig Brennan had an impressive game for Kildare with a personal tally of nine points.

Browne opened Tipperary's account in the sixth minute but by that time Kildare had two points through Morgan O'Sullivan and Terry Rossiter. Browne kept Tipperary in touch but Brennan scored three points to round off the first-half scoring for Kildare.

James Williams hit Tipperary's second score from play in the 33rd minute and they then lost Collum after his foul on John Doyle.

Kildare led by 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time and looked set for an easy win when Brennan added two more scores after Derek McCormack had opened their second-half account but Tipperary rallied with two more scores.

Tipperary remained competitive until the end and Niall Fitzgerald rounded off their scoring in the 59th minute. Kildare launched a counter-attack and Brennan got the last score of the game with seven minutes remaining.

KILDARE: E Murphy; R McCabe, D Hendy, A McLoughlin; E Callaghan, G Ryan, K Ennis; A Barry, D Earley; D McCormack (0-1), J Doyle, M O'Sullivan (0-1); P Brennan (0-9, five frees), T Rossiter (0-1), T Fennin. Subs: P Hurley (0-1) for Doyle (48 mins), B Moyles for Fennin (68 mins).

TIPPERARY: P Ryan; B Hahessy, S Collum, L Cronin; R Costigan, D Byrne, N Fitzgerald (0-1); K Mulryan, A Fitzgerald; G Burke, F O'Callaghan, J Williams (0-1); P Cahill, D Browne (0-6, two frees), D O'Brien. Sub: E Hanrahan for Williams (58 mins).

Referee: T Quigley (Wexford).