Kelly inspires Lilywhites

KILDARE’S Ciaran Kelly played the captain’s role to perfection with two goals as the Lilywhites lifted their first Leinster Junior title since 2004 at St Conleth’s Park last night.

Kildare kicked 17 wides and didn’t get their first score until the 16th minute but they scored 4-4 in the second half . Kelly’s goal was the difference at half-time with Kildare 1-4 to 0-4 ahead and they went goal crazy in the second period. Kildare skipper Kelly got his team’s second goal when he fisted home Paddy Meagher’s pass in the 36th minute. Two points was as close as Cavan could get and the game was as good as finished when Mikey Conway shot past Alan O’Mara with 10 minutes left. Although Ryan McCormack hit back with a point for Val Andrew’s side, Kildare finished in style with two goals in the final three minutes. Sub Dan Campbell fired past O’Hara and Eoghan Carew’s scrambled finish was the perfect finale.

Scorers: Kildare: C Kelly 2-1 (1f), M Conway 1-0, D Campbell 1-0, E Carew 1-0, D Mulhall 0-2fs, P Meagher 0-2, J Gately 0-1, P Dunne 0-1, T Archbold 0-1. Cavan: K Fannin 1-2, J O’Reilly 0-3 (1f), D Meehan 0-1, S Gaffney 0-1, T Reilly 0-1, R McCormack 0-1.