Dublin just edge it over Kildare

Tommy Callaghan, 28 Jan

On a final score line of Dublin 1-11 Kildare 0-13 The Dubs defeated

Kildare by the minimum in this opening game in Division of the AFL at

Croke Park this afternoon.

It was a tight game but Dublin with an early goal were never headed and

while The Lilies came back very strong in the dying minutes that

leveling point just never came.

Dublin hit 10 wides in all while the Kildare wide count was a mere

three.

The game saw Kevin Feely make a final ten minutes appearance for

Kildare a remarkable recovery after a serious injury last summer.

Dublin got off to the perfect start after when five minutes when John

Fenton found the Kildare net.

Kildare did not let that early set-back upset them and came back to

withing a point withe a Jack Robison point.

Two frees from Cormac Costell and a point from John Small were

responded to with white flags from Darragh Kirawn (two) and another

from Jack Robinson but Niall Scully responded to leave the half time

score reading Dublin 1-5 Kildare 0-6.

Final score: Dublin 1-11 Kildare 0-13.

Scorers: Dublin, Cormac Costello 0-4 (3 frees), Brian Fenton 1-0, Con

O'Callaghan 0-2, John Small 0-1, Niall Scuilly 0-1, Ciaran Kilkenny

0-1, Ross McGrry 0-1,Dean Rock 0-1 (free)

Kildare, Darragh Kirwan 0-3 (1 free), Neil Flynn 0-4 (2 45s), Jack

Robinson 0-3, Jimmy Hyland 0-3 (1 free).

DUBLIN: David O'Hanlon; Eoin Murchan, Greg McEneaney, Michael

Fitzsimons; Lee Gannon, John Small, Cian Murphy; Brian Fenton, Tom

Lahiff; Niall Scully, Ross McGarry, Seán MacMahon; Cormac Costello,

Ciarán Kilkenny, Con O'Callaghan. Subs: Colm Basquel for Niall Scully

(47 minutes); Dean Rock for Greg McEneaney (55 minutes); Killian O'Gara

for Cormac Costello (67 minutes); Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne for Tom Lahiff

(71 minutes).

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady cpt., Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan;

Darragh Malone, Kevin Flynn, Paddy McDermott; Aaron Masterson, Kevin

O'Callaghan; David Hyland, Neill Flynn, Paul Cribbin; Jimmy Hyland,

Darragh Kirwan, Jack Robinson. Subs: Paqddy Woodgate for lJimmy Hyland

(blood sub 29-35); Alex Beirne for Paul Cribbin (46 minutes); Tony

Archbold for Darragh Malone (46 minute); Ben McCormack for Jimmy Hyland

(59 minutes); Kevin Feely for Aaron Masterson (60 minutes); Jack

Sargent for Ryan Houlihan (71 minutes);

REFEREE: Brendan Griffin.