Allianz Football League Division 1 – Kerry 2-15 Kildare 0-15

Kildare will play Kerry in round 5 of the Allianz Football League Division 1 on Sunday March 16th at 2:30pm in St. Conleth’s Pk, Newbridge.

Kerry win crucial battle in Newbridge

Report from GAA.ie 

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION I: KILDARE 0-15 KERRY 2-15

James O’Donoghue inspired Kerry to a second successive victory with another virtuoso display and plunged Kildare into a relegation dogfight at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge on Sunday afternoon.

O’Donoghue picked up where he left off against Tyrone with a brilliant second half goal as the Kingdom cruised past the Lilywhites in a game that was beyond the hosts as soon as O’Donoghue struck for his fourth goal in two games.

Kildare opened brightly and they had three points on the board before Kerry found the target. Paddy Brophy, Eoghan O’Flaherty and Cathal McNally all raised the white flag before O’Donoghue landed the visitor’s first point.

From there though the half ebbed and flowed as Bryan Sheehan and Brophy exchanged points before three in a row from Paul Geaney, Daithi Casey and the excellent Stephen O’Brien edged Kerry ahead for the first time.

Brophy curled over an equalising point midway through the half but O’Donoghue replied with a fine score. Sean Hurley hit back to level matters once again but suddenly Kerry moved through the gears and they took control of the game in fine style.

Sheehan stroked over a free before O’Donoghue weaved his way along the endline and brilliantly picked out Paul Geaney at the back post who palmed the ball to the net. A fisted effort from Paul Murphy put Kerry six clear and Kildare were reeling.

O’Flaherty, a brilliant Darroch Mulhall score and a Paul Cribbin point clawed Kildare back into the game but an O’Donoghue point ensured that Kerry took a 1-10 to 0-9 lead into the second half.

O’Donoghue was denied by a wonderful Shane Connolly save moments after the resumption and Kerry had Peter Crowley and goalkeeper Brian Kelly to thank for a superb double denial of Padraig Fogarty two minutes later, but it was clear that Kerry were in the ascendency and they soon confirmed that on the scoreboard.

O’Donoghue and Casey grabbed a brace each as Kildare struggled to keep pace with points from Fogarty and Kevin Murnaghan, but when Legion star O’Donoghue brilliantly turned and placed a low shot beyond Connolly, Kerry were out of sight.

The final quarter was a non-event as Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s men saw out the victory with the minimum of fuss while three late Kildare points merely took an even grimmer look off the scoreline for the troubled Lilies.

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Scorers for Kildare: P Brophy 0-3; E O’Flaherty 0-2 (2f); S Hurley, D Mulhall 0-2 each; C McNally, D Mulhall, P Cribbin, M Conway, K Murnaghan, P Fogarty, O’Connor 0-1 each

Scorers for Kerry: J O’Donoghue 1-5 (1f); P Geaney 1-1; D Casey 0-3; S O’Brien, B Sheehan 0-2 (2f) each; J Lyne, P Murphy 0-1 each.

KILDARE: S Connolly, M O’Grady, M Foley, F Conway, K Cribbin, K Murnaghan, P Cribbin, T Moolick, G White, C McNally, E O’Flaherty, Sean Hurley, P Brophy, T O’Connor, D Mulhall. Subs: P Fogarty for P Cribbin, D Hyland for K Cribbin (both h/t), J Gately for McNally (46), P O’Neil for Fogarty (49), M Conway for White (53), H McGrillen for O’Flaherty (53).

KERRY: B Kelly; P Murphy, M Griffin, S Enright; P Crowley, F Fitzgerald, M O Sé; A Maher, D Moran; D Casey, B Sheehan, D Walsh; S O’Brien, P Geaney, J O’Donoghue. Subs: K O’Leary for D Walsh (43), J Lyne for Casey (49), B Keane for Geaney (54), J Buckley for Sheehan (58), D O’Sullivan for O’Brien (62), A O’Mahony for Enright (67).

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)

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Report: Cormac O’Malley

Previews: Division I Football – Derry v Dublin, Tyrone v Westmeath, Mayo v Cork, Kildare v Kerry: http://t.co/0KwNQk4bs3 #AllianzLeagues

— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 14, 2014

Team News

KERRY (AFL v Kildare): Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion); Paul Murphy (Rathmore), Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore), Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar); Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers), Fionn Fitzgerald (capt, Dr Crokes), Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht); Anthony Maher (Duagh), David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys); Daithí Casey (Dr Crokes), Bryan Sheehan (St Marys), Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane); Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare), Paul Geaney (Dingle), James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)

Substitutes: Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin), Shane Enright (Tarbert), Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys), Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Kieran O’Leary (Dr Crokes), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes), Brian McGuire (Listowel Emmets), Jack Sherwood (Firies), Conor Cox (Listowel Emmets), Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion)

KILDARE: S Connolly; M O’Grady, M Foley, D Hyland; K Cribbin, K Murnaghan, P Cribbin; T Moolick, G White; C McNally, E O’Flaherty, S Hurley; P Brophy, T O’Connor, D Mulhall