No one sees red or yellow as Kildare leave it late

Kildare 1-12 Wexford 0-9:  KILDARE FINISHED an entertaining O'Byrne Cup opener with a five-point flourish to ensure a positive opening to the new season in Newbridge yesterday.

Following the previous evening's events in the McKenna Cup, observers were eagerly anticipating how David Coldrick would apply the new disciplinary rules.

But not even one yellow card was dished out by the Meath official, although there were 11 black book ticks issued in total, seven to Wexford and four to Kildare.

Both counties fielded experimental sides. Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney will have been pleased with Willie Heffernan who was very effective at full forward until injury forced his departure before half-time. The big Nurney man recovered sufficiently from an accidental finger in the eye to reappear for the final 20 minutes.

His clubmate Michael Conway was very impressive at wing back and he also kicked three points.

Jason Murphy was Wexford's sole attacking threat and he ensured the visitors were somehow level at the end of the opening quarter, despite having been outplayed. But a fine pass from Mark O'Sullivan set up James Kavanagh who drilled home a 22nd-minute goal to give Kildare a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.

Ronan Sweeney and Conway stretched the advantage to five in the third quarter but a brace from Murphy, and two fine scores from Ciarán Deely and Shane Cullen reduced the deficit to a point with 14 minutes remaining. The hosts finished with five points on the trot, including two apiece from O'Sullivan and Kavanagh to secure a deserved victory.

KILDARE: S McCormack; R Walsh, D Brennan, P Cornish; M Scanlon (0-1), M Foley, M Conway (0-3); D Flynn, R Kelly; J Kavanagh (1-2), R Sweeney (0-2), E O'Toole; M O'Sullivan (0-3, one free), W Heffernan, A Smith. Subs: M Harnett (0-1) for Heffernan inj (24 mins), Heffernan for Smith (50 mins), M Kenny for O'Toole (58 mins), H McGrillan for Walsh (58 mins).

WEXFORD: T Hughes; C Murphy, C Lawler, B Malone; A Flynn, S Cullen (0-1), A Doyle, P O'Leary, D Waters; J Murphy (0-5, two frees), C Deely (0-1), S O'Neill; P Naughter (0-1), G Brilly, B Brosnan (0-1). Subs: B Doyle for Waters (26 mins), P Hughes for Flynn (28 mins), C Byrne for O'Neill (inj 39 mins), G Molloy for O'Leary (46 mins), J Holmes for Brilly (66 mins).

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).