Kildare condemn Dubs to fourth straight loss as Kerry and Mayo pick up third wins

February 27, 2022

Kildare's Kevin Flynn and John Small of Dublin ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Kildare plunged Dublin into a relegation dogfight for the remaining three rounds of the Allianz Football League after scoring a 1-12 to 0-12 win over their neighbours in Newbridge this afternoon.

Jimmy Hyland’s goal 12 minutes into the second-half proved the difference for the Lilywhites as they picked up their first victory of the campaign while condemning the Dubs to their fourth straight loss in the process.

Points from Daniel Flynn (2), Kevin Flynn and Hyland were what saw the hosts lead at the half by double scores (0-8 to 0-4), after Shea Ryan had cleared off the line in the 13th minute when Ciaran Kilkenny and Dean Rock combined for a goal opportunity.

It was a clearance that proved crucial as Kildare stretched their lead to five early in the restart through a Hyland mark and the same player would make the most of Jack Sargent’s blocked shot to palm the net and give the home side a 1-10 to 0-7 lead.

Kilkenny, Rock and Sean Bugler grabbed sorely needed scores to reduce the Leinster champions’ deficit to three, but they couldn’t get the goal they needed.

Instead, Aaron O’Neill all but ensured the win for Glenn Ryan’s men with a free in injury-time before Lee Gannon’s sailed over Dublin’s 12th and final point late on.

Kerry's Paul Geaney crashes over Rory Beggan of Monaghan ©INPHO/Ben Brady

In Inniskeen, Kerry continued their winning ways with a comfortable 3-14 to 1-12 win over Monaghan.

David Clifford, Paudie Clifford, Gavin Crowley, Tony Brosnan and Sean O’Shea were all on the scoreboard for the Kingdom in the first-half as they led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

Diarmuid O’Connor pointed early in the restart and Monaghan would be given a mountain to climb once David Clifford hammered to their net on 38 minutes.

The same player would repeat the trick just three minutes later, making it 2-8 to 0-5, and it was well and truly ‘game, set and match’ when O’Shea got in to bang in goal number three for the Munster champions with 13 minutes to go.

The score stood at 3-14 to 0-8 when Conor McManus netted a penalty for Monaghan a minute shy of injury-time and points from Fintan Kelly, Kieran Hughes and Micheál Brannigan quickly followed to take a bit of tarnish off the final score-line which sees Jack O’Connor’s men remain top of the table on score difference.

Mayo sit on seven points along with Kerry after this afternoon’s 0-15 to 1-10 victory over Armagh at Dr Hyde Park.

It was the Orchard men that had made the perfect start with Ciaran Mackin’s goal in the opening minute and they’d go on to edge the lead at half-time (1-5 to 0-6).

Aiden Orme’s point got Mayo motoring from the start of the second-half and they’d be level once Diarmuid O’Connor split the posts on 40 minutes.

Rian O’Neill’s free got Armagh’s noses back in front but the Connacht champions weren’t going away and stayed in touch through Ryan O’Donoghue’s frees before finally taking the lead with points from Paddy Durcan and Jordan Flynn down the home stretch.

Armagh couldn’t get level in six minutes of injury-time and Durcan got forward again to shoot over his second and secure a third victory of the campaign for James Horan’s charges.


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