Reidy's heroics help Kildare edge past 14-man Mayo in Christy Ring Cup opener

Mayo 0-16

Kildare got out of jail against 14-man Mayo in Ballina this afternoon as they hung on for a nervy one-point win against a team who really put it up to them despite the numerical disadvantage.

Joe Quaid's men were hot favourites heading into the meeting with the Westerners, who were relegated to Division 3B this spring after a poor league campaign. Kildare had looked home and hosed in the final 10 minutes when they held a two-point lead, but Mayo fought back gamely to put the Division 2A side to the pin of their collars.

Kildare have David Reidy to thank for their escape from the west with a win, as the Limerick native notched 0-13 in a free-taking display of unerring accuracy. With John Mulhall omitted from the starting XV, Kildare's forwards both struggled to create and finish, with just two of the starting forwards contributing from play.

They led by 0-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes, as Reidy fired over four frees to allay a point from play by Mark Delaney. Mayo began to come back into the game however, and it was dual star Keith Higgins who stood out for them throughout.

Jack Sheridan pierced over an impressive point from the right wing after 20 minutes, but Mayo found their rhythm through scores from Diarmuid McLoughlin, Joseph McManus and Higgins once again. Reidy finished the half with eight points in total, all of which came from placed balls, as Kildare went into the turnaround with a 0-10 to 0-6 lead.

Mulhall was brought on at half-time to get things going for Kildare, and he was on the scoreboard within 10 minutes of entering the fray. Reidy continued to do the honours from placed balls, and when Mayo's David Kenny was shown a straight red card during the opening stages of the second half, it looked like Kildare had the Connacht men at their mercy.

The home side hung on though, but Kildare looked to have seen the game through when they led by three following Jack Sheridan's exquisite sideline cut. McManus and Higgins kept Mayo in the hunt however, and they had an excellent opportunity to tie the game in the fifth minute of injury time, but Higgins drifted a long range free agonisingly wide as Kildare left with the win.