Kildare hit 3-25 against limited Longford in Tailteann Cup opener

Tailteann Cup Group 1 Round 1

Kildare 3-25

Longford 1-11

Kildare put a huge score on the board when they faced Longford in their Tailteann Cup opener.

The Lilies put 1-16 on the board in the first half after a high-intensity display that was both encouraging and mournful as Kildare showed some of what they should be capable of.

Regardless of how it happened, Kildare are in the Tailteann Cup and to their credit they look set on taking it seriously. This won't be their toughest challenge, but it was certainly demonstrative of the limited level of many of the Tailteann teams.

Nonetheless, a big score was put up for The Lilies, which will be welcomed by all in the county after a tough year so far.

Kildare, Paddy Woodgate 2-1, Darragh Kirwan 0-6, Paddy McDermott 1-2, Kevin Feely 0-4 (0-2 mark), Jack Sargent 0-2, Daniel Flynn 0-2, Tony Archbold 0-2, Aaron Masterson 0-1, Ryan Houlihan 0-1, Shane Farrell 0-1, Darragh Swords 0-1, Rian Teahan 0-1, Kevin Flynn 0-1.

Longford, Darren Gallagher 1-4 (0-4 frees), Dylan Farrell 0-3 (0-2 frees), Joseph Hagan 0-2, Aaron Farrell 0-2.

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Ryan Houlihan, Mick O'Grady, Ryan Burke; Tony Archbold, Brian Byrne, Jack Sargent; Aaron Masterson, Brendan Gibbons; Shane Farrell, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy McDermott; Paddy Woodgate, Daniel Flynn, Kevin Feely. Subs: Kevin Flynn for Brendan Gibbons (44 minutes), Killian Galligan for Tony Archbold (52 minutes), Darragh Swords for Daniel Flynn (54 minutes), Eoin Doyle for Ryan Burke (58 minutes), Rian Teahan for Darragh Kirwan (62 minutes).

LONGFORD: Patrick Collum; Patrick Fox, Oisín O'Toole, Bryan Masterson; Aaron Farrell, Ryan Moffett, Dessie Reynolds; Darren Gallagher, Dylan Farrell; Mark Hughes, Michael Quinn, Joseph Hagan; Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Mimnagh, Keelin McGann. Subs: Paddy Kiernan for Daniel Reynolds (Half-time), Enda Macken for Keelin McGann (42 minutes), Cathal McCabe for Michael Quinn (50 minutes), Jack Macken for Daniel Mimnagh (57 minutes), Ruairí Harkin for Joseph Hagan (62 minutes).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)