GAA: Kildare cruise to victory

Down 1-17 0-10 Kildare

Kildare cruised to an easy seven-point victory over a very poor Down side in

this Div 1B game in Newry.

However, despite this defeat, Down will retain their Div 1 status for next

year following Mayo's victory over Derry, which leaves the Oak Leaf men

rooted at the bottom of the table.

Kildare were much the superior side, domninating midfield through Killian

Brennan and Ronan Sweeney while Martin Lynch who scored four majestic

points and Tadgh Fennin who snatched five poinbts, gave the Down advance a

real tough examination.

Kildare dominated from the start, and a goal buy Johnny Doyle after 124

minutes set them up for a 1-09 to 0-04 half-time lead.

In an effort to strengthen the attack, Down sent in 38-year-old scorer

All-Star Mickey Linden and within a minute, he had lobbed over a point

which many thought would be a signal for a Down revival.

But it was Kildare who took the initiative with Tadgh Feenin and Martin

Lynch klobbing over thrree points each while centre half-back Anthony

Rainbow raced through a Down defence to twice send over points.

Down's goal came three minutes from time by Aiden O'Prey but it did

nothing more than put a better look on the scoreboard .

Kildare complete their programme next Sunday when they have a visit from

Clare. A Kildare victory would send the Banner County into Div 2 next year,

along with Derry, which would mean that Down's match wth Derry would be

meaningless.