Leitrim feel the Beirne as Kildare hit 0-36 in Tailteann win

Kildare Kevin Flynn, who's parents are from Leitrim, breaks out of defence during the first round of the Tailteann Cup against Leitrim

placeholder image — Kildare Kevin Flynn, who's parents are from Leitrim, breaks out of defence during the first round of the Tailteann Cup against Leitrim

Alex Beirne hit 0-12 in Kildare's 0-36 to 0-11 over Leitrim in their Tailteann Cup opener

Kildare 0-36

Leitrim 0-11

Kildare cruised to an opening Tailteann Cup win and, following a lacklustre first-half, put their foot down to hit a staggering 0-36 against Leitrim.

Leitrim got to within two-points in the 22nd and 26th minutes of this game with The Lilies looking pedestrian, but they reacted to that mild scare with a real surge before the half-time break.

Kildare hit eight scores, including a two-pointer, without reply in eight minutes to put daylight between them and the visitors.

Leitrim got two of their own late into the first half, but there was no sign of that carrying on beyond that point with Kildare coming straight for the jugular after the restart.

Jimmy Hyland drew the biggest roar of the day to that point with a two-point score in the 42nd minute. The crowd were also plenty cheerful for the return of Daniel Flynn and the safe passage through this game of Harry O'Neill.

Kildare, Alex Beirne 0-12 (0-10 frees, four-pointers), Darragh Swords 0-6 (0-1 frees), Ryan Sinkey 0-6 (0-1 frees), Kevin Feely 0-3, Jimmy Hyland 0-3 (one two-pointer), Darragh Kirwan 0-1, Mick O'Grady 0-1, Harry O'Neill 0-1, James McGrath 0-1, Niall O'Sullivan 0-1, Cian Burke 0-1 (0-1 '45).

Leitrim, Barry McNulty 0-6 (0-4 frees, two two-pointers), Tom Prior 0-2, Keith Keegan 0-2, Riordan O'Rourke 0-1,

KILDARE: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Mark Dempsey, Ryan Burke; Kevin Flynn, David Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely, Mick O'Grady; Darragh Swords, Alex Beirne, Paddy McDermott; Ryan Sinkey, Darragh Kirwan, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Rian Teahan for Darragh Kirwan (Half-time), Brendan Gibbons for Kevin Feely (44 minutes), Ryan Houlihan for Jimmy Hyland (52 minutes), Niall O'Sullivan for Kevin Flynn (56 minutes blood sub), Daniel Flynn for Alex Beirne (59 minutes), Kevin Flynn for Niall O'Sullivan (64 minutes blood sub reversal), Niall O'Sullivan for Harry O'Neill (66 minutes).

LEITRIM: Daire O'Shea; Éanna McNamara, Donal Casey, Kieran Clancy; James Rooney, Mark Diffley, Jack Foley; Barry McNulty, Cillian McGloin; David Feeney, Keith Keegan, Tom Prior; Ben Guckian, Riordan O'Rourke, Darren Cox. Subs: Tom Hughes for Éanna McNamara (47 minutes), Seán Harkin for David Feeney (52 minutes), Ryan Bohan for James Rooney (63 minutes), Joe McGloin for Riordan O'Rourke (65 minutes), Shane Finn for Kieran Clancy (65 minutes).

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)