Curtin raises bar in Kildare stroll

KILDARE 1-13 CARLOW 0-2

KILDARE overwhelmed Carlow in this one-sided tie, in which the home team managed to just muster a point in each half.

With Drew Costello and Marcus Kiely dominant in midfield there was a steady supply of play to the Kildare forwards with Muiris Curtin, Padraig Behan, Jack Smith and Alex Beirne catching the eye in the visitors’ attack.

Jacob O’Brien cancelled out Beirne’s early point for Kildare with Carlow’s only first-half score coming in the fifth minute, as the visitors went on to lead 0-8 to 0-1 at the break.

Kildare were 0-11 to 0-1 ahead before Carlow fullforward Colin Byrne raised his side’s sole second-half flag.

Two Kildare substitutes made a late impression, Aaron Kennedy cracking home a well-taken injury-time goal and Davy Higgins registering a point.

This was Kildare’s second victory, following a big home win over Wexford, while Carlow were shapeless and bereft of any forward momentum.

SC ORE RS–Kildare: MCur tin 0-4 (2f); J Smith 0-3; A Kennedy 1-0; A Beirne 0-2; P Behan( f ), TB row ne, S Morris se ya nd D Higgins 0-1 each. Car low: JO’ Brien, C Byrne 0-1 each.

Kildare: J Ball; O O’Loughlin, S Hill, J Ham ill; N Jackman, L Broderick, P McDermott; D Costello, M Kiely; T Browne, A Beirne, M McGovern; M Cur tin, P Behan, J Smith. Subs: S Morrissey for Smith (45), A Kennedy for McGovern (51), E O’ Ha ire for Be han (52), D Higgins for Costello (55), S English by for Jack man (59), A Kane for McDermott (60).

Car low: K Budzisz; C Con nolly, C Bow den, J Dunne; M Be han, A Nolan, R Whelan; LConnolly, F Kavanagh; P McDonnell, PR egan, JO’ Brien; J McCullagh, C Byrne, S Moran. Subs: BC rot ty for Moran( h-t ); S Metcalfe for Behan (37); D Nolan for O’ Brien (44); J Cummins for Bowden (54).

REF – F Pierce (Offaly).