Kildare minors beat Offaly to get Leinster Minor Championship off to an ideal start
Leinster Minor Football Championship Round 1
Kildare 3-15
Offaly 2-11
Kildare minors got their Leinster Minor Championship campaign off to the perfect start with a win over Offaly. The Lilywhites had it far from all their own way but teir quality shone through to get them over the line.
Best for the eventual winners was top scorers Joey Cunningham, the centre-forward from Allenwood kicked some incredible scores in this game and was a bright spark throughout for his side. Tadhg Donlan also played a key role with a goal to his name and an excellent interception to set up Cian Keaveny for his goal.
Despite some wobbly patches an impressive round one victory for Kildare against a well-organised and driven Offaly side.
Scorers
Kildare, Joey Cunningham 0-9 (0-4 frees), Jack McCabe 1-1, Tadhg Donlan 1-0, Cian Keaveny 1-0, Evan Donnelly 0-1, Harry Redmond 0-1, Cathal Moore 0-1 (0-1 frees), Harry Goulding 0-1, Liam O'Connor 0-1.
Offaly, Cillian Bourke 2-0, Fionn Carney 0-4 (0-4 frees), Robert Carney 0-2 (0-1 frees), Kaelem Byran 0-1, Rory Grehan 0-1, Brian Carroll 0-1, Cristian McKeon 0-1, Craig Weldon 0-1 (0-1 frees).
Teams
KILDARE: Cathal Moore; Liam Kelly, Rob Murray, Michael Chambers; James Donnelly, Senan Murphy, Colm Moran; Evan Boyle, Ben Ryan; Donnchadh Kinch, Joey Cunnigham, Tadhg Donlan; Cian Keaveny, Evan Donnelly, Harry Redmond.
Subs: Jack McCabe on for Cian Keaveny (36 minutes), Aodan Jordan on for Liam Kelly (46 minutes), Liam O'Connor on for Evan Boyle (49 minutes), Dara Cooke on for Donnchadh Finch (56 minutes), Ruaidhri Lawlor on for Rob Murray (56 minutes).
OFFALY: Donnacha Keoghan; Rory Green, Patrick Kenna, Harry Goulding; Christian McKeon, Enda McLoughlin, Brian Carroll; Cillian Bourke, Mark Mulrooney; Cameron Egan, Robert Carney, Cillian Foran; Dara Bates, Kaelem Bryan, Fionn Carney.
Subs: Cian Bracken on for Dara Bates (27 minutes), Harry grant on for Mark Mulrooney (49 minutes), Ricky Geoghegan on for Rory Grehan (56 minutes), Craig Weldon on for Fionn Carney (59 minutes), Callum Kelly on for Robert Carney (62 minutes).
Referee: Stephen Fagan (Wicklow)