Kildare have no answer to Kerry' pace and power

Shane Farrell of Kildare during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2B match between Kildare and Kerry at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile | SPORTSFILE

placeholder image — Shane Farrell of Kildare during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2B match between Kildare and Kerry at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile | SPORTSFILE

Kerry hit three second half goals

In the end there were fourteen points separating Kerry and Kildare in this All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 2B at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, in front of an attendance of 9,957 and in fairness there can be no complaints.

Kerry were in control from start to finish, their three second half goals putting the icing on the cake for Jack O’Connor’s side.

Kerry dominated the opening quarter hitting six points before The Lilies responded. Joe O’Connor and Dylan Geaney hitting early two-pointers before Jack Robinson responded with his and Kildare’s opening score after ten minutes.

Paudie Clifford hit a two-pointer, Robinson responded but Kerry kicked on with Paul Geaney and Sean O’Brien adding singles to lead 0-10 to 0-2 after fifteen minutes.

Kildare in fairness hit the next three points in a row, all from the boot of Clogerinkoe’s Jack Robinson who was giving the Kerry defence a fair testing.

Darragh Kirwan added another for the home side before David Clifford opened his account on 21 minutes.

Jack Robinson added his fifth, Alex Beirne added another but the visitors raised five more white flags, including a two-pointer from Ó Beaglaoich as boys in green and gold led at the break 0-16 to 0-8, in could have been more, Eoin Sheehan making a great save to deny Paul Geaney.

The second half saw the visitors open with a couple of quick points, Alex Beirne replied with a free but Kerry kicked on and led 0-20 to 0-9 after 48 minutes.

Brian Byrne punched a point for The Lilies, Darragh Kirwan hit a cracking two-pointer but Kerry hit back with goals from David Clifford and Diarmuid O’Connor.

Kirwan raised a single, added the second of his two-pointers and while Brian McLoughlin raised another orange flag, Kerry had the last say with Gavin White palming to the back of the Kildare net.

Final score: Kerry 3-22 Kildare 0-17

Scorers: Kerry, David Clifford 1-4, Dylan Geaney 0-4 (1 two-pointer), Brian Ó Beaglaoich 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Paudie Clifford 0-3 (two-pointer, 45), Gavin White 1-0, Diarmuid O’Connor 1-0, Graham O’Sullivan 0-2 (1 free), Joe O’Connor 0-2 (two-pointer), Paul Geaney 0-2, Seán O’Brien 0-2.

Kildare, Darragh Kirwan 0-6 (2 two-pointers), Jack Robinson 0-5, Alex Beirne 0-2 (1 free), Brian McLoughlin 0-2 (two-pointer), Ben Loakman 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1.

KERRY: Shane Murphy; Evan Looney, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian Ó Beatlaoich, Mike Breen, Graham O’Sullivan; Mark Ó Sé, Sean O’Brien; Joe O’Connor, Paudie Clifford, Diarmuid O’Connor; Paul Geaney, David Clifford, Dylan Gainey. Subs: Gavin White for Brian Ó Beaglaoich (ts 50 minutes); Tony Brosnan for Paul Geaney (52 minutes); Keith Spillane for Joe O’Connor (52 minutes); Armin Heinrich for Mike Breen (56 minutes): Tadhg Morley for Evan Looney (56 minutes); Killian Spillane for Diarmid O’Connor (61 minutes); Tadhg Morley for Jason Folley (ts 63 minutes); Tomás Kennedy for Paudie Clifford (ts 65 minutes);

KILDARE: Eoin Sheehan; Ryan Burke, Mark Dempsey, Harry O’Neill; James McGrath, Padraic Spillane, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely cpt, Brendan Gibbons; Shane Farrell, Darragh Kirwan, Colm Dalton; Ben Loakman, Alex Beirne, Jack Robinson. Subs: Brian McLoughlin for Shane Farrell 44 minutes); Ryan Sinkey for Colm Dalton (49 minutes); Eoin Cully for Jack Robinson (52 minutes); Tommy Gill for Harry O’Neill (62 minutes);

REFEREE: Niall Cullen, Fermanagh.