Tailteann Cup: Kildare net five second half goals

Tailteann Cup Group One

Kildare 5-15 Waterford 0-16

By Tomás McCarthy at Frahel Field

Five second half goals catapulted Kildare into the knockout stages of the Tailteann Cup in the Dungarvan sunshine on Saturday evening.

Substitute Shane O'Sullivan netted twice while Kevin Flynn, Niall Kelly and Paddy Woodgate also raised green flags as Glenn Ryan's men. Darragh Kirwan was another to catch the eye with four first half points from play.

Waterford midfielder Michael Curry made his 100th senior appearance. The Rathgormack man got his championship debut back in 2014. Unfortunately, the centurion received his marching orders with 20 minutes left for a second bookable offence. Paul Shankey's side also took the field without full forward Tom O'Connell due to travel commitments.

The Lilywhites, playing in an all black kit, struck first through Darragh Kirwan in the fourth minute. The home team hit back straight away via Mark Cummins.

Waterford had a let off when Paddy Woodgate blasted across the face of goal and wide. Faced with a wall of 15 white and blue shirts, Kildare stayed patient and Kirwan kicked three points in a row. Midfielder Luke Killian made it 6-1.

On 23 minutes, Cummins ran at the Kildare defence and offloaded to Déise captain Jason Curry who swung over a point off his right boot. Kevin Feely slotted two dead balls at the other end (a free and an advanced mark) to stretch the lead to six. Ryan's charges were guilty of seven first half wides, however.

Waterford missed two chances before Curry tapped over a free. Kildare wing forward Barry Kelly was black carded in injury time for a trip on Liam Fennell but the Leinster side still enjoyed an 8-3 advantage at the break.

This dismissal didn't make any difference as Kildare scored 1-4 without reply in the third quarter. With 45 minutes on the clock, Kildare won a turnover off a Waterford kickout and Paddy Woodgate finished to the bottom corner. Michael Curry then got his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Kildare capitalised with two goals in a minute from Niall Kelly and Shane O'Sullivan. Super sub O'Sullivan slotted home his second major after another turnover. With eight minutes left, number seven Kevin Flynn also billowed the cobwebs. Stephen Curry, Jason Curry and Donie Fitzgerald hit consolation points.

Scorers for Kildare: Shane O'Sullivan 2-0, Niall Kelly 1-3, Paddy Woodgate 1-2 (2fs), Kevin Flynn 1-1, Darragh Kirwan 0-4, Kevin Feely (1f, 1 mark), Luke Killian 0-2 each, Sam McCormack 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: Jason Curry 0-3 (2fs), Donie Fitzgerald, Stephen Curry, Mark Cummins 0-1 each.

Kildare: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; Tony Archbold, Brian Byrne, Kevin Flynn; Luke Killian, Brendan Gibbons; Paddy McDermott, Darragh Kirwan, Barry Kelly; Paddy Woodgate, Kevin Feely, Niall Kelly.

Subs: Alex Beirne for Gibbons (47), Shane O'Sullivan for Kirwan (51), Sam McCormack for Feely (56), Dean O'Donoghue for Burke (58), Rian Teahan for McDermott (62).

Waterford: Aaron Beresford; Caoimhin Walsh, Liam Fennell, Ross Browne; Dermot Ryan, Mark Cummins, Robbie McGrath; Michael Curry, Tholom Guiry; James Walsh, Jason Curry, Billy Hynes; Stephen Curry, James Power, Billy O'Keeffe.

Subs: Sean Whelan Barrett for James Walsh (56), Conor Ó Cuirrín for Hynes (56), Donie Fitzgerald for Power (58), Michael O'Brien for Jason Curry (70).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).