Gavin’s men stay on winning streak

DUBLIN 2-20 KILDARE 2-7

Dublin inflicted their most comprehensive league victory on the Lilywhites in decades when outclassing them in Croke Park on Sunday.

Officially it was Kildare’s ‘home’ game but there was few home comforts for them as Dublin defeated them by their greatest margin in league action since the season of 1974/75.

The Dubs prevailed by 13 points in the end butit could have been by more as Jim Gavin’s men continue to set the tempo at the top of the Alllianz FL Division 1.

Dublin laid the platform for victory in the opening half. Facing into a very stiff break they dictated the pace of the game and led by 0-11 to 1-6 at the break after playing some enterprising football while at the back Rory O’Carroll blunted the threat of Kildare’s Tomas O’Connor who had been the catalyst for much of his side’s most productive football in their campaign to date.

Kildare’s goal came against the run of play in the 21st minute when Dublin failed to deal with Johnny Doyle’s long free into the danger area as Seanie Johnston loitered with intent to sweep the ball tothe net with his fist.

However, Dublin closed out the half on top and lifted the game immediately on the restart. The introduction of Denis Bastick and Kevin McManamon at the break had immediate effect with McManamon clipping over two classy points within the opening minute of the second period.

Dublin kept their foot on the pedal with further points from the highly influential Paul Flynn, Jack McCaffrey and Ciaran Kilkenny. And it could have been more as Kildare keeper Shane Connolly twice denied Bernard Brogan of goals from close range.

The goal eventually arrived in the 46th minute when McCaffrey initiated a move around centrefield and kept moving to loop around and take a pass from the impressive Diarmuid Connolly before sliding the ball to the net to push his side ten points clear, 1-16 to 1-6.

There was to be no way back for Kildare as Dublin dominated the middle sector and attacked with fluidity and variety. The second goal came ten minutes from time when Bernard Brogan pounced to raise a second green flag as the Dubs really threatened to rout their opponents when moving 2-18 to 1-7 in front with ten minutes still remaining on the clock.

SCORERS – Dublin: B Brogan 1-5 (0-4f), C Kilkenny 0-4, J McCaffrey 1-1, P Andrews 0-3, D Connolly, K McManamon 0-2 each, D Daly, P Flynn, P Ryan 0-1 each. Kildare: S Johnston 1-2 (0-1f), E Bolton 1-1, E O’Flaherty, J Doyle (f), M Conway (f), B Flanagan 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: S Supple; K O’Brien, R O’Carroll, J Cooper; J McCaffrey, C O’Sullivan, D Daly; D O’Mahony, MD Macauley; P Flynn, C Kilkenny, C Reddin; P Andrews, B Brogan, D Connolly. Subs: D Bastick for Macauley (ht), K McManamon for Reddin (ht), B Cullen for Kilkenny (53), C Guckian for McCaffrey (57), P Ryan for O’Mahony (61).
KILDARE: S Connolly; M Foley, O Lyons, P Kelly; H McGrillen, E Doyle, E Bolton; J Doyle, P O’Neill; M Conway, E O’Flaherty, B Flanagan; C McNally, T O’Connor, S Johnston. Subs: M O’Flaherty for Conway (27), H Lynch for McNally (39), Daniel Flynn for Flanagan (42), E Callaghan for O’Neill (50), R Sweeney for O’Connor (57).
REF: J McQuillan (Cavan).
ATT: 15,389.