Bonus point sees Kildare edge out Mayo in thrilling finale

to his goal to push the gap to three with time fast running out.

Mayo made one last bold attempt to snatch a draw, but a free from 35 yards from goalkeeper Donal O’Brien was always rising.

It was cracking game, with Mayo rattling off six points without reply in the opening 10 minutes, before Kildare hit six unanswered efforts of their own – Barry Cormack, Paul Divilly and Shane Ryan picking off some good scores.

Mayo then went four ahead again, with dual star Higgins on target along with three from top scorer Kenny Feeney.

Kildare pegged back two more before the break to trail by 0-8 to 0-10, but just minutes into the secondhalf,ShaneRyanfoundthe net and Mayo just couldn’t get ahead again.

SCORERS – Kildare: S Ryan 1-2, B Cormack 0-4 (4f), B Sheridan 1-1, P Divilly 0-3 (1f), N O’Muineachain, K Whelan, C Bonus and B Deay 0-1 each. Mayo: K Feeney 0-9 (7f)), K Higgins 1-1, B Morley, S Boland, E Ryan, P Kiely and D O’Brien (1f) 0-1 each.

KILDARE – P McKenna 8, C Forde 6, J Doran 7, P Sullivan 7, E O’Neill 8, M Moloney 7, D Bereton 6, N O’Muineachain 7, B Cormack 8, B Byrne 6, P Divilly 7, K Whelan 7, M Delaney 6, M Fitzgerald 6,SRyan8. Subs: B Deay 8 for M Delaney (HT), C Bonus 7 for Whelan (55 mins), J Sheridan 8 for B Cormack (64 mins).

MAYO– D O’Brien 8, B Hunt 7, C Daly 9, S Mulroy 7, M Morley 7, D Kenny 8, C Henry 6, K McDermott 7, D McGreal 7, B Morley 6, K Feeney 7, P Kielty 7, S Boland 6, K Higgins 8, E Ryan 7. Subs: C Scahill 7 for S Boland (inj, 20 mins), S Kenny 6 for Scahill (55 mins), B Douglas 6 for McGreal (60 mins). REF– R McGann (Clare).