Kildare finish the stronger

Kildare 1-12 Cavan 1-9:Kildare ended Cavan's impressive league start at Breffni Park yesterday when they produced vital scores just before half-time, including a goal from Derek McCormack, and a series of points in the early minutes of the second half to run out deserving winners.

Cavan must have felt their unbeaten run was secure when they led by 1-2 to 0-0 after five minutes, Jason Reilly scoring the vital goal.

With the Breffni men leading by 1-5 to 0-3, after 20 minutes, the game could well have been decided in Cavan's favour at this stage; but the key forward Mickey Graham missed a good goalscoring opportunity.

Karl O'Dwyer kept Kildare in contention with points from play and frees and gradually they gained the upper hand to lead by 1-8 to 1-5 by the interval, Derek McCormack pouncing on a mistake in the Cavan defence to shoot to the net as the game moved into injury-time.

Patrick Murray with two points and one from Tighe Fennin stretched Kildare's lead to five points as the game entered the final quarter.

Cavan battled hard and converted frees from Peter and Finbar Reilly reduced Kildare's lead to two points with nine minutes left.

A number of missed opportunities from frees finally ended Cavan's hopes and it was Kildare who finished well on top with another point from the accurate Tighe Fennin.

KILDARE: E Murphy, P Mullarkey, R Quinn, K Doyle, T Harris (0-1), A Rainbow, K Duane, K Brennan, A Harris, P Murray (0-3), K O'Dwyer (0-3), S McKenzie-Smith (0-1), T Fennin (0-4), L Donlon, D McCormack (1-0). Subs: M Wright for Mullarkey; B Murphy for McKenzie-Smith; D Jordan for McCormack; C Reilly for Murray.

CAVAN: A Donoghue, E Reilly, T Prior, C Hannon, R Rogers, A Forde, J Doonan, B McCrudden (0-1), P McKenna (0-1), P Galligan, P Reilly (0-1), F Reilly (0-4), L Reilly (0-2), J Reilly (1-0), M Graham. Subs: M Brides for Rogers; G Pierson for Galligan; E Jackson for Graham; C Nelligan for P Reilly.

Referee: D Joyce (Galway)