Kildare 2-14 Donegal 1-13
IT WAS FIRST blood to Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare this evening at Croke Park as they saw off All-Ireland champions Donegal.
The sharp-looking Lilywhites ran out four-point winners after what was a very entertaining curtain-raiser for the Allianz National League.
A Tomás O’Connor goal after 20 minutes helped the Leinster side to reel in Donegal, who started brightly, hitting three early points.
A goal from veteran Johnny Doyle looked to have sealed the affair for Kildare but Donegal immediately and dramatically went up the other end and notched one of their own through Dermot Molloy.
The impressive Niall Kelly responded with a point before Eoghan O’Flaherty added another. Michael Murphy — last year’s inspirational skipper — struck for nine points for Jim McGuinness’s men.
Check out our minute-by-minute coverage for more.
Kildare scorers: J Doyle 1-4 ( two frees), T O’Connor 1-0, N Kelly 0-3, M Conway 0-2 (two frees), B Flanagan 0-1, P O’Neill 0-1, H McGrillen 0-1, E O’Flaherty 0-1, P Brophy 0-1
Donegal scorers: M Murphy 0-9 (five frees), D Molloy 1-1, P McBrearty 0-2 (one free), M McHugh 0-1
Kildare: S Connolly; O Lyons, P Kelly, H McGrillen; E Bolton (E Doyle 60), M Foley, M Conway; G White (E O’Flaherty 63), P O’Neill; B Flanagan, D Flynn, N Kelly; S Johnston (P Brophy 55), T O’Connor, J Doyle.
Donegal: P Durcan; M Boyle (M McHugh 32), N McGee, É McGee; F McGlynn (D McLaughlin , half-time), D Walsh, A Thompson; R Kavanagh, M McElhinney; R Wherity, L McLoone, R Bradley; C McFadden (D Molloy 10), M Murphy, P McBreaty.
Jason Ryan will make a huge difference to kildare this year.
Donegal only played for twenty minutes this evening.This was their first game back together this season and only back training three weeks. Kildare have played competitive football in six games this season and have been back in training since November. This was Kildare’s All Ireland Final and come September their season will be long over. Well done tonight Kildare.