KILDARE OPENED THEIR 2014 Bord Na Móna O’Byrne Cup campaign with a comfortable win over Athlone IT in Newbridge this afternoon.
As Jason Ryan took charge of the Lilywhites for the first time, they took full advantage of a strong wind in the first half to put Athlone to the sword, racing into a 1-11 to 0-0 lead after 23 minutes; captain Eoghan O’Flaherty grabbing the goal.
Although Athlone got their first point of the game with their next attack, the Lillywhites showed no sign of letting up; Adam Tyrell latching on to a Darroch Mulhall pass for their second goal and, as the half-time whistle went, the scoreboard read 2-14 to 0-3.
Kildare players kept their goal-scoring boots on after the break with O’Flaherty netting his second before Podge Fogarty made it 4-14 to 0-3 ten minutes into second half.
Although Athlone tacked on some late points, Kildare kept pressing forward and the defending champions eventually ran out comfortable winners, 4-24 to 0-12.
Elsewhere in Group B, Longford travelled to Carlow looking to put on an impressive display for new manager Jack Sheedy and the former Moorefield and Edenderry man watched his team hold the hosts scoreless in the first half; Francis McGee with the goal as they went into the break with the score 1-13 to 0-0.
It was an altogether better performance from Carlow in the second half as Seamus Kinsella and Shane McGrath both raised the green flag but Longford had too much in hand as they won 1-19 to 2-7.
In Group A, Kevin O’Grady scored two goals as Wexford ran out eight point winners over Laois in New Ross as the Tomas O’Flaharta era got off to a losing start for the visitors while Offaly’s 2014 season got off to a winning start with a one point victory over UCD in Tullamore.
Bord Na Móna O’Byrne Cup results:
Group A
Wexford 2-13 v Laois 0-11
Offaly 0-13v UCD 0-12
Group B
Longford 1-19 v Carlow 2-7
Kildare 4-24 v Athlone IT 0-12
