Cian O’Neill hails Kildare’s resilience

Kildare 1-12 Offaly 1-8: Kildare made it two wins from two as they bid to make a quick return to the second tier of League football.

The home team tore out of the traps with Niall Kelly kicking three points in the first six minutes and when the brilliant Kevin Feely scored his first point in senior inter-county football, they were five points clear after 15 minutes. Niall McNamee finally got Offaly off the mark soon after and Pat Flanagan’s side would not have been too disappointed going in at the break 0-8 to 0-4 in arrears, given their poor start and the strength of the wind.

Cathal McNally finished brilliantly for a goal in the 47th minute after being sent clear by a delightful kick pass by Eamonn Callaghan and with Feely and Daniel Flynn dominant around the middle, the margin became nine.