Leinster U21: Kildare too good for Offaly

EIRGRID LEINSTER UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP: KILDARE 3-12 OFFALY 0-9

Kildare became the final team to secure their place in the Leinster U21 semi-final line up tonight when a devastating first half performance ensured that they were able to avenge last year's defeat to neighbours Offaly.

Niall Kelly kicked five points for the Lillwhites, four in the first half, while a scrambled goal from Mark Sherry proved to be a dagger to the heart of the Faithful County as it helped Kildare into a commanding 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead.

Aided by a slight breeze, Offaly burst out of the blocks with real intent at the start of the second half, posting four points in the first five minutes, including an excellent score on the run from Seán Moriarty.

However a decisive five minute spell completely turned the tide back in Kildare's favour, initiated by a stunning save from Colin Heeney to deny Declan Byrne what could have been an equalising goal.

Shortly after Heeney's intervention, Mark Sherry cut through the Offaly defence and what looked like a mishit shot turned into a perfect pass as the ball rolled across goal and fell perfectly for Declan Flaherty to tap it into an empty net.

An off the ball incident led to Moriarty being shown a straight red card by Patrick Maguire and while Kildare added just four scores in the last twenty minutes, they easily held Offaly at bay and were home and hosed long before Neil Flynn rounded off a successful night for his team with a stylish low finish in the dying minutes.

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Scorers for Kildare: N Kelly 0-5 (1f), D Flaherty 1-1, N Flynn 1-1 (1f), M Sherry 1-0, R Moore 0-2, C McMonagle 0-1, C Fenner 0-1, W Fitzpatrick 0-1.

Scorers for Offaly: J Maher 0-4 (2f), L Kelly 0-2 (2f), E Carroll 0-1, P Cunningham 0-1, S Moriarty 0-1

OFFALY: J Colgan; J Hendy, J Lalor, A Whelan; C McNamee, O Cusack, D Corbett; E Carroll, D Byrne; J Evans, P Cunningham, S Moriarty; R McNamee, J Maher, L Kelly. Subs: J Kinahan for C McNamee (27 - B/C), S Tierney for R McNamee (47), J Kavanagh for Byrne (47), Adam Shelley for Kelly (49)

KILDARE: C Heeney; P Mescal, D Maguire, B Byrne; R Houlihan, P Connell, D Hyland; D Fitzpatrick, R Moore; C Fenner, M Sherry, N Kelly; N Flynn, D Flaherty, C McMonagle. Subs: C Healy for Flaherty (45), T Gibbons for McMonagle (49), S O'Hagan for Maguire (51), D Duke for Connell (55), W Fitzpatrick for Fenner (60).

Referee: Patrick Maguire (Longford)

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