Clinical Kiely gives Faithful masterclass

OFFALY collected their second routine win of the campaign with 14 points to spare over Kildare in Tullamore.

Offaly never looked in any danger and, despite Kildare showing plenty of promise, they had raced seven points clear as they hit 1-4 without reply.

That injury-time goal was a real killer blow, as Danny Flanagan made no mistake from close range to put Offaly 1-12 to 0-8 ahead at the break.

Offaly fired their second goal four minutes after the restart from the excellent Cathal Kiely, who finished with 1-11 to his name, and the game was over as a contest.

Muiris Curtin kept the Kildare men fighting until the end with eight points to his name, but Cillian Sampson went on to add a third Offaly goal right on full-time.

Offaly now take on Antrim on Friday in Drogheda.

SCORERS – Offaly: C Kiely 1-11 (5 f), D Flanagan and C Sampson 1-1 each, DJ McLoughlin 0-3, C Donoghue 0-2, C Teehan 0-1.

Kildare: M Curtin 0-8 (4f & 0-1 ‘65’), C Boran 0-2, M McGovern, C McCabe, H Dunne and D Melville 0-1 each.

OFFALY – S Loughnanne; A Brazil, A Flanagan, S Mulrooney; L Egan, D Maher, L Nolan; E Houlihan, E Curley; C Kiely, C Sampson; C Teehan, C Donoghue, D Flanagan. Subs: A Walsh (for E Curley H/T), B Egan (for A Brazil 45m), D Molloy (for C Donoghue 49m), S Flynn (for DJ McLoughlin 49m), J Screeney (for E Houlihan 56m).

KILDARE – S Burke; D Murray, B Noone, M Eustace; C Shanaghan, K Kelleher, D Costello; H Dunne, C Boran; M Curtin, D Hanafin, S Whyte; F O’Sullivan, M McGovern, C McCabe. Subs: A Hackett (for S Burke 36m), J Cleary (for M McGovern 42m), J Higgins (for S Whyte 49m), R Stapleton (for C McCabe 54m).

REF – BNea