Kildare down by 3 at the break in final league game away to Galway

Allianz NFL Division 2 round seven

Kildare trail by three at the break after a dull first half encounter in Salthill in which they kicked seven wides.

Kildare began the game brightly, and it was Fionn Dowling - the only survivor from the team that defeated Clare last weekend - floated over a beautiful point off his left foot from 40 metres out. Ben McCormack almost found the net in the third minute but was denied by a smart save from Rory Lavelle, while Eamonn Callaghan's follow-up was smothered on the line.

McCormack did kick over a point soon after however, but Barry McHugh, Sean Armstrong, Gary Sice and Tomas Flynn all raised white flags for the hosts to put them in control.

Dowling was Kildare's only other scorer during the remainder of the half as the Lilywhites struggled to create chances up front, while they were also guilty of numerous wides as the reliance on Ben McCormack up front has looked costly at times.

Peter Kelly was shown a black card on 24 minutes after he scythed down Shane Walsh, and the Tribesmen are full value for their slender lead after largely dominating the opening half.