Kildare go down to Offaly in Tullamore
Home side fully deserved six point victory
Kildare fell to their second defeat in a row at Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore, this afternoon going under to Offaly on a final score line of Offaly 2-17 to 0-17.
It was game the home side fully deserved to win with two second half goals from Rory Egan and a penalty from Dylan Hyland proving the difference between the sides.
Kildare struggled from the throw-in with Offaly looking the more lively throughout that opening half but only led by a single point at the break, which Kildare, on their display, must have been very happy with at the break.
On the resumption Kildare hit the opening three points, taking the lead on 44 minutes and were still two clear on 49 minutes. However a goal from Rory Egan, set up by Shane Tierney gave the initiative to Offaly.
Man of the Match, Dylan Hyland added an inspirational point and when Cormac Egan and Hyland again added points the game looked all but over.
Kildare hit back with points from Colm Dalton and Cathal Hagney to reduce to deficit to two on 63 minutes.
Three minutes it was all over after Daire McDaid was fouled, the referee pointing to the spot, up stepped Dylan Huland and while Didier Cordonnie made a brave attempt to keep it out the ball nestled in the right corner of the net.
Offaly added two points before the final whistle, Kldare added one as The Faithful boys recorded a fine win on a final score line of Offaly 2-17 Kildare 0-1.
Scorers: Offaly, Dylan Hyland 1-9 (two two-pointers, penalty, 3 frees); Rory Egan 1-0, Cormac Egan 0-3, Keith O'Neill 0-2 (2 frees), Shane Tierney 0-1, Jack Bryant 0-1, John Furlong 0-1.
Kildare, Kevin Feely 0-4 (2 frees), Cathal Hagney 0-3, Callum Bolton 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-2, Colm Dalton 0-2, Jimmy Hyland 0-2 (1 free), Ben McCormack 0-1, Alex Beirne 0-1.
OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson cpt., Aidan Bracken, Daire McDaid; Rory Egan, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn, Keith O'Neill; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney. Subs: Aaron Leavy for Keith O'Neill (49 minutes); Nigel Dunne for Shane Tierney (69 minutes).
KILDARE: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Mick O'Grady, Brian Byrne; Harry O'Neill, James McGrath, David Hyland; Callum Bolton, Cathal Hagney; Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Kevin Feely, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Jack McKevitt for Ryan Burke (44 minutes); Brian McLoughlin for Ben McCormack (44 minutes); Aaron Masterson for Ryan Sinkey (51 minutes); Darragh Swords for Alex Beirne (56 minutes); Niall Kelly for Jimmy Hyland (67 minutes).
REFEREE: Paddy Neilan, Roscommon.