Kildare advance to Tailteann Cup semi-final

In front of an attendance 11,500 at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, in this the second game of a double-header Kildare advanced to the semi-final of the Tailteann following a one point win over Offaly after an excellent game that went right down to the wire.

Kildare led at the break by two points, 1-7 to 0-8, the goal in the 22 minute from wing-back James McGrath and it could have been two after Alex Beirne saw his goal-bound effort come off the butt of the post earlier.

Offaly created two goal chances of their own in that half, the first cleared off the line by Brian Byrne while Cian Burke denied Lee Pearson.

Kildare enjoyed a great spell on the resumption pushing the lead out to six.

Offaly, as expected, fought back with midfielder Jordan Hayes firing over two two-poinnters to reduced and with time running out Alex Beirne left two between them before Shane Tierney got it back to one.

With time ticking Offaly had a one last chance to level it but missed the target with the final whistle arriving on a final score of Kildare 1-17 Offaly 0-19 as Kildare finally got the better of The Faithful Boys at the third time of asking this season.

Scorers: Kildare, Alex Beirne 0-7 (one two-pointer, 2 frees), James McGrath 1-0, Darragh Kirwan 0-3, Ryan Sinkey 0-3, Kevin Feely 0-1, Daniel Flynn 0-1, David Hylandf 0-1, Mick O'Grady 0-1.

Offaly, Jordan Hayes 0-4 (two two-pointers), Paddy Dunican 0-3 (45, one two-pointer free), Keith O'Neill 0-2, Dylan Hyland 0-2 (1 free), Cathal Flynn 0-2 (two-pointer), Shane Tierney 0-2 (one mark), Daire McDaid 0-1, John Furlong 0-1 (mark), Jack Bryant 0-1, Cillian Bourke 0-1,

KILDARE: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Mark Dempsey, Brian Byrne; Rian Burke, David Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely cpt, Brendan Gibbons; Tommy Gill, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Ryan Sinkey, Daniel Flynn, Darragh Kirwan. Subs: Niall Kelly for Ryan Sinkey (54 minutes); Kevin Flynn for Tommy Gill (54 minutes); Mick O'Grady for Brendan Gibbons (58 minutes); Brian McLoughlin for Darragh Kirwan (71 minutes).

OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Lee Pearson cpt, David Dempsey, Daire McDaid; Aidan Bracken, John Furlong, Cormac Egan; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Kyle Higgins, Cathal Flynn, Cillian Bourke; Dylan Hyland, Jack Bryant, Keith O'Neill. Subs: Ruairí McNamee for Kyle Higgins (42 minutes); Shane Tierney for Jack Bryant (54 minutes); Rory Egan for Lee Pearson (68 minutes).

REFEREE: Thomas Murphy, Galway,