Ryan McHugh of Donegal in action against Kevin Flynn of Kildare during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Donegal and Kildare at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal.
Allianz Football League Division One
DONEGAL 2-11 KILDARE 1-9
By Chris McNulty in Ballybofey
First-half goals by Kilcar pair Patrick McBrearty and Ryan McHugh laid the foundations for Donegal to overcome Kildare in Division One.
McBrearty netted in the 26th minute and McHugh registered in added time at the end of the first half.
Donegal played over 50 minutes without Michael Murphy, who had to leave injured in the opening period, but they managed to do enough.
Jimmy Hyland’s goal ensured that Kildare remained in touch and Glenn Ryan’s men were in touch. They were left to rue a handful of second-half wides with Donegal’s winning margin wider than it felt for a long stretch of part two.
The teams were level twice in the first seven minutes, Hyland on the double to cancel out points from Conor O’Donnell and Jason McGee.
McBrearty punted over from distance and Michael Langan found the range in a slim pocket of space to give Donegal a slight hint of breathing space.
Padraic Tuohy and Conor O’Donnell exchanged points before the home support saw their captain, leader and talisman Murphy hobble off.
The numbers were still showing on the board of the fourth official when Hyland ghosted in to slap to the net from Ben McCormack’s dropping ball.
Kildare in front after 22 minutes with Donegal minus Murphy: gauntlet thrown.
Four minutes later, McBrearty delivered the perfect riposte. Jason McGee and Eoghan Ban Gallagher carved out the opening. McBrearty had his spot picked in the bottom corner of the Kildare net - and the Kilcar man tucked neatly past Aaron O’Neill to open up a three-point lead.
By the interval, Donegal led by six, McHugh firing in after a good approach run by Langan.
Donegal suffered a blow just three minutes into the second half when McGee, having a fine afternoon until then, was helped from the pitch by the medical team.
Donegal blew a five-point lead in last weekend’s draw with Mayo and the nerves whistled again here when Kevin Flynn bent over to reduce Kildare’s arrears to three.
O’Donnell stemmed the flow with Donegal’s first point of the second half, eleven minutes in.
Hyland converted a 55th minute free to keep the Lilywhites within a score, but Langan eased the worries of the home followers.
Scorers for Donegal: Ryan McHugh, Patrick McBrearty 1-1 each, Michael Langan 0-4, Conor O’Donnell, 0-3, Shane O’Donnell, Jason McGee 0-1 each
Scorers for Kildare: Jimmy Hyland (2f) 1-4, Paddy Woodgate (2f) 0-2, Kevin Flynn, Padraic Tuohy, Ryan Houlihan 0-1 each
DONEGAL: Shaun Patton; Caolan Ward, Brendan McCole, Odhrán McFadden-Ferry; Tony McClenaghan, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Paul Brennan; Jason McGee, Caolan McGonagle; Peadar Mogan, Ryan McHugh, Michael Langan; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Conor O’Donnell. Subs: Charles McGuinness for Murphy (21), Shane O’Donnell for McGee (38), Ethan O’Donnell for McClenaghan (50), Mark Curran for Brennan (60), Stephen McMenamin for McFadden-Ferry (69)
KILDARE: Aaron O’Neill; Mark O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan; Jack Sargent, James Murray, Tony Archibold; Kevin Feely, Kevin Flynn; Padraic Tuohy, Paul Cribbin, Ben McCormack; Paddy Woodgate, Daniel Flynn, Jimmy Hyland. Subs: Aaron Masterson for Flynn (21),Neil Flynn for McCormack (50), Paddy McDermott for Tuohy (58), Brian McLoughlin for Woodgate (60), Fergal Conway for Cribbin (65)
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).
