Slattery double keeps Kildare at head of the table

DAVID Slattery’s (left) two second-half goals sent Kildare a step closer to promotion at Páirc Esler last night.

The Lilywhites moved three points clear at the top of AFL Division 2 with a merited victory over Down.

The hosts finished with 13 players as Darren O’Hagan went off injured and Jerome Johnston was black-carded, with all six subs used.

For Down, this was a chance to claim a third successive League win, and move joint-top with Kildare. But the first half provided generally forgettable fare, the sides registering a mere seven points between them, and just three from play.

Down full-forward Barry O’Hagan looked good early on and he kicked two points within 13 minutes. But as the half wore on, he became far more isolated, often the only Down player inside the opposition’s 45 metre line.

A patient build-up led to O’Hagan’s first point in the second minute before Down went close to a third-minute goal, Mark Donnellan keeping out Ryan Johnston with a smart save.

Donnellan turned scorer three minutes later, converting a ’45 to open Kildare’s account, but O’Hagan’s second point restored Down’s lead.

Tommy Moolick and two Kevin Feely frees put the Lilywhites two points up but Darragh O’Hanlon would have the final say of the first half for Down, converting a close-in free.

Caolan Mooney kicked a couple of classy second half points for Down but Slattery’s goals were the difference. With his very first contribution, he finished to the net in the 37th minute, after Daniel Flynn and Feely had worked the opening.

And 20 minutes from time, Slattery latched onto a fine Niall Kelly handpass to coolly slip a low shot past Michael Cunningham.

The game ended on a sour note during nine minutes of stoppage time, when Down’s frustration was evident. Down: M Cunningham; R McAleenan, B McArdle, D O’Hagan; D O’Hanlon, C McGovern, C Mooney; A Carr (N Donnelly 57), P Turley (C Magee 69); K McKernan, C Maginn (M Poland 66), J Murphy; S Millar (S Dornan 69), B O’Hagan, R Johnston (A Davidson 55 (J Johnston 63)). Scorers: D O’Hanlon 0-4f, C Mooney, B O’Hagan 0-2, K McKernan, J Johnston 0-1. Black Cards: A Davidson (63), J Johnston (70+5). Yellow: S Millar (40), M Poland (70+7). KilDare: M Donnellan; M O’Grady, D Hyland, O Lyons; J Byrne, E Doyle, K Cribbin; K Feely, T Moolick (E Heavey 68); F Conway (S Ryan 70), N Kelly, P Cribbin; C McNally (D Slattery ht, É Callaghan 65), D Flynn, C Hartley (F Dowling 54). Scorers: D Slattery 2-0, K Feely 0-5f, M Donnellan (45), O Lyons, P Cribbin, T Moolick 0-1. Yellow cards: E Doyle (20), M O’Grady (70+1), M Donnellan (70+5). referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).