Dublin have nine points to spare over Kildare
The Lilies not at the races in Kilkenny
Dublin had nine points to spare over Kildare in Round 2 (Group 3) of the All-Ireland football series at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, this afternoon.
It was a stroll in the Park for The Dubs after some 18 minutes of the opening half. Up to that point it had been point-for-point the sides sharing ten points before Dublin opened up big time, hitting six points inside six minutes; no doubt the period when the 'visitors' stampled their authority on the game.
Kildare hit back with points from Neil Flynn, Kevin O'Callaghan and Neil Flynn again (free) to cut the lead back to three but Dublin came again before the break with a Dean Rock pointed free and a point from play from the impressive Con O'Callaghan to leave the half-time scorer reading Dublin 0-13 Kildare 0-8.
Kildare, through Ben McCormack, got the two opening points of the second half before Dublin kicked on to put five between them again and from there to the end the game was simply being played out with The Lilies never threatening, the only aspect of the game in doubt being the Dublin winning margin which at the end of the day could/ will be vital.
Nine points between the sides and with Kildare now to take on Roscommon (The Rossies playing Sligo tomorrow) in two weeks time to see who advances to the last 16 or who, Kildare or Sligo, see their season coming to an end.
Final score: Dublin 0-22 Kildare 0-13.
Scorers: Dublin, Colm Masquel 0-5, Con O'Callaghan 0-4, Dean Rock 0-4 (3 frees), Sean Bugler 0-3, Paul Mannion 0-2, Niall Scully 0-1, Killian O'Gara 0-1, Brian Fenton 0-1, Tom Lahiff 0-1,
Kildare, Neil Flynn 0-5 (2 frees, 45), Ben McCormack 0-3, Darragh Kirwan 0-1, Kevin O'Callaghan 0-1, Aaron Masterson 0-1, Paddy Woodgate 0-1 (free), Kevin Feely 0-1 (mark).
DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Daire Newcombe, Michael Fitzsimons, Sean MacMahon; Brian Howard, John Small, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Niall Scully, Seán Bugler, Colm Basquel; Dean Rock, Con O'Callaghan, Killian O'Gara . Subs: Paul Mannion for Killian O'Gara (half-time); Lorcan O'Dell for Dean Rock (48 minutes); Cian Murphy for John Small (59 minutes); Tom Lahiff for Con O'Calalghan (59 minutes); Greg McEneaney for Sean MacMahon (71 minujtes).
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Kevin O'Callaghan, Aaron Masterson; Paddy McDermott, Ben McCormack , Alex Beirne; Neil Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate. Subs: Ryan Houlihan for Eoin Doyle (half-time); Tony Archbold for Jack Sargent (half-time); Dnaial Flynn for Paddy Woodgate (42 minutes); Kevin Feely for Aaron Masterson (48 minutes); Paul Cribbin for Ben McCormack (54 minutes);
REFEREE: Sean Hurson, Tyrone.