Offaly dethrone Leinster champions Kildare

Offfaly 0-13 Kildare 0-9

Joe Maher and Peter Cunningham were the stars as Offaly dethroned Leinster under-21 champions Kildare in Athy last night.

They contributed ten points between them and that along with further three from Aaron McDonagh was enough to secure a victory over a very lacklustre Kildare side.

Daniel Flynn, who is only back from a stint with AFL side Port Adelaide, started at corner-forward for Tom Cribben’s team and scored a point as Kildare moved into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes.

But Offaly soon took charge of the proceedings.

Cunningham and Maher both scored twice as Offaly hit five points in a row with the Kildare defence all at sea but Kildare rallied late in the half with points from Celbridge duo Paddy Brophy and David Hughes.

The second half began with two points from Declan Flaherty and Barry Coffey to put the home team one point ahead but that was the last time they were in front.

Cunningham and Maher shared six of the next seven points in the game and then McDonagh put Offaly five clear with nine minutes to go.

There was little or no reaction from a listless Lilywhite side and Flaherty's point in the final minute was no consolation to the disappointed home supporters.

OFFALY: C Clancy; S Moriarty, J O'Connor, D Corbett, K Mullally, P Foy, C McNamee; D Byrne, E Carroll; J Gettings, P Cunningham (0-4), A McDonagh (0-3), J Maher (0-6, 2fs), L Kelly, S Doyle. Subs: A Shelly for Byrne (29 mins), R McNamee for Kelly (37 mins), N Bracken for Cunningham (55), J Kavanagh for Maher (60).
KILDARE: S McNamara; B Egan, S Higgins, S O'Hagan, D Corcoran, D Hyland, C O'Donoghue; G Farrell, F Conway (0-1); B Coffey (0-3, 3f), T Gibbons, P Brophy (0-1), D Hughes (0-1), D Grehan, D Flynn (0-1). Subs: D Flaherty (0-2) for Grehan (ht); P Connell for Farrell (44 mins); R Houlihan for Corcoran (53 mins), C Healy for Hughes (55).
Referee: D Maher (Westmeath)