Lillies hanging in there at half-time despite woeful period giving Dublin the initiative

Leinster SFC final

Kildare are down by four points at the break in this Leinster final, but the Lilywhites are still in with a shout following a fine last 15 minute display in the first half.

Dublin did the damage in a devastating 17-minute period between the 3rd and 20th minutes as they kicked 2-4 without reply to take a stranglehold of the game. Daniel Flynn had gotten Kildare off to a mighty start with a long range point, but Dublin too over after that as Paul Mannion and Ciarán Kilkenny kicked their first two scores.

Then came the two goals, with Dean Rock being found in acres of space behind the Kildare full-back line and confidently netting in the 10th minute, before James McCarthy capitalised on more kamikaze defending from the Lilywhites as he latched onto a pass from Con O'Callaghan to hit the Hill 16 net for the second time in two minutes.

Kildare recovered superbly in the 15 minutes before half-time however, outscoring the Dubs by 0-9 to 0-4. Cathal McNally started the fightback with a point, and the roving Keith Cribbin followed up with another soon after. McNally finished the half with two points to his name, while Johnny Byrne, Daniel Flynn and Kevin Feely all kicked superb scores from play to keep Kildare in the game at the break.

Dean Rock was also black-carded in the first half for pulling down Mick O'Grady, though the fact that Bernard Brogan has scored two points since being introduced in his place means that decision has hardly weakened the Dubs.

It will take some effort in the second half, but at least Kildare have shown plenty of fight so far.