Kildare defeat Offaly nine points

Kildare made it three points from four following this evening's nine point win over Offaly at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge in Division 2, Round 2 of the Allianz Football League.

It was a game that looked all but done and dusted at half-time with the home side leading 2-9 to 0-6 points but Offaly came back strongly in the second half cutting the lead back to four points on 53 minutes.

Kildare went after Offaly right from the throw-in, which they won, a high ball launched in to Kevin Feely, who was fouled and Alex Beirne popped it over.

The home side were dominant throughout the early minutes, putting enormous pressure on the Offaly kick-out.

On four minutes Brian McLoughlin fed Alex Beirne who crashed the ball to the net.

Offaly got off the mark on six through Dan Molloy, Aaron Leavy added another before The Lilies took control again opening up a 1-9 to 0-5 lead (Keith O'Neill getteing a two-pointer for the visitors) before a second goal arrived on 30 minutes when a long ball in by Brian Byrne was fielded by Alex Beirne who fed Eoin Cully and the Carbury man blased to the net. Kildare led at the break 2-9 to 0-6.

On the change of ends Offaly certainly came right back into it with a couple of two-pointers cutting the lead  back to four, but the home side regained their composure and a goal from Sam Doran on the 60 minute closed it off in the end.

Final score: Kildare 2-17 Offaly 0-17.

Scorers: Kildare, Alex Beirne 1-2 (1 frees), Brian McLoughlin 0-5, Eoin Cully 1-1, Sam Doran 1-1, Ben Loakman 0-3, Callum Bolton 0-3, Kevin Feely 0-1, Harry O'Neill 0-1.

Offaly, Keith O'Neill 0-9 (1 two-pointer, 1 two-pointer free, 1 free), Nathan Poland 0-5 (1 two-pointer), Harry Plunkett 0-1, Dan Molloy 0-1, Marcus Dalton 0-1.

KILDARE: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Padraic Spillane, Ryan Burke; James Harris, Eoin Lawlor, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely cpt., Brendan Gibbons; Brian McLoughlin, Alex Beirne, Callum Bolton; Ben Loakman, Colm Moran, Eoin Cully. Subs: Sam Doran for Com Moran (47 minutes); Daragh Mangan for Brendan Gibbons (62 minutes); Darragh Swords for Alex Beirne (60 minutes); Liam Kelly for Eoin Lawlor (68 minutes); Dara Crowley for Callum Bolton (73 minutes).

OFFALY: Sean O'Toole; Shane O'Toole Greene, David Dempsey, Lee Pearson cpt,; Cormac Egan, Jordan Hayes, Diarmuid Egan; Jack McEvoy, Aaron Leavy; Ciaran Murphy, Keith O'Neill, Rory Egan; Dan Molloy, Jack Bryant, Eoin Sawyer. Subs: Nathan Poland for Jack Bryant (half-time); Marcas Dalton for Dan Molloy (half-time); Harry Plunkett for Eoin Sawyer (51 minutes); Eoin Dunne for Diarmuid Egan (59 minutes); Daire McDaid for Shane O'Toole Greene (71 minutes).

REFEREE: Seamus Mulhare, Laois.