AFL: Kildare had six points to spare in win over Sligo
Late Kirwan goal shakes off a dogged home side
Kildare made it two wins from two in the AFL, Division 3, with a hard-earned but deserved six point win over a dogged Sligo side in Sligo.
It took a super goal from Darragh Kirwan in the 59 minute to shake off the home side, a goal that saw Kevin Flynn and Darragh Swords heavily involved in a fine movement.
Sligo were just a single point behind up to the 62 minute and had a couple of chances but Kirwan's goal settled the issue.
Kildare led at the break by a single point, 0-9 to 0-8, that after at one stage leading by four points after 23 minutes; Darragh Kirwan firing over a two-pointer, along with another white flag.
However Sligo hit the last four points of the half to be well placed trailing by that single point.
Kildare certainly lacked a bit of intensity in that half, paying in some fits and starts.
Final score: Kildare 1-16 Sligo 0-13.
Scorers: Kildare, Darragh Kirwan 1-5 (one two-pointer), Niall Kelly 0-2, Colm Dalton 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-2, Didier Cordonnier 0-1 (45), Alex Beirne 0-2, Ryan Houlihan 0-1, Darragh Swords 0-1.
Sligo, Niall Murphy 0-4 (3 frees, one two-pointer), Patrick O'Connor 0-2, Darragh Cummins 0-3, Alan Reilly 0-1 (free), Alan McLoughlin 0-2 (2 frees), Alan Devaney 0-1 (45).
KILDARE: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Mick O'Grady, Brian Byrne; Ryan Houlihan, James McGrath, David Hyland; Kevin Feely, Callum Bolton; Brian McLoughlin, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Darragh Kirwan, Niall Kelly. Subs: Darragh Swords for Ryan Sinkey (half-time); Kevin Flynn for Ryan Burke (48 minute); Aaron Masterson for Niall Kelly (57 minute); Cathal Hagney for Alex Beirne (55 minutes); Ben McCormack for Brian McLoughlin (70 minutes);
SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Paul McNamara, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons; Brian Cix, Darragh Cummins, Ross Doherty; Canice Mulligan, Paul Kilcoyne; Cian Lally, Aan McLoughlin, Eoghan Smith; Alan Reilly, Patrick O'Connor, Niall Murphy cpt. Subs: Jack Lavin for Ross Doherty (50 minute); Pat Spillane for Eoghan Smith (55 minute); Luke Towey for Alan Reilly (60 minutes): David Quinn for Cian Lally (68 minutes).
REFEREE: Thomas Murphy, Galway.