Munster giants overcome Kildare - report

Kerry 2-10 Kildare 1-5

Kerry combined attacking flair with defensive steel to blast their way through to the Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals.

Kildare failed to trouble the Munster giants in a one-sided Qualifiers tie at Thurles, where manager Mick O'Dwyer bowed out on a sad note, soundly beaten by his native county, with whom he enjoyed numerous All-Ireland triumphs both as a player and manager.

His side's ponderous, short-passing approach lacked real penetration, and their attack never looked like unlocking a resolute Kerry rearguard.

And when they went forward, Paidi O Se's side always looked capable of taking scores, with man of the match Colin Cooper and Eoin Brosnan firing home brilliant goals.

Kerry took an early grip on the game when Dara O Se powered through from midfield, fed Liam Hassett, and from his pinpoint pass, the precocious Cooper guided a low shot perfectly into the bottom corner of Enda Murphy's net.

Murphy had to be alert to save from Cooper moments later, but Kerry were already firmly in control, with Dara O Cinneide giving stand-in full back Glen Ryan a testing time, and kicking three excellent points.

John Doyle, also with three points, was Kildare's only genuine attacking threat, and when Eoin Brosnan and Hassett added further Kerry scores, they led by 1-5 to 0-3 midway through the first half.

Cooper and Sean O'Sullivan stretched the advantage to seven points, and the outlook bleak for Mick O'Dwyer struggling side.

They had gone a full 20 minutes without scoring, although Michael McCarthy did have to clear a Killian Brennan effort off the line.

But with two minutes of the half to play, the Lilywhites were right back in it when Martin Lynch sent Dermot Earley in for a superbly finished goal.

Now just four points separated the sides, Kerry ahead by 1-7 to 1-3 at the break, and Kildare almost had a second goal seconds into the second half when Tadhg Fennin sent a shot crashing against a post.

But again it was Kerry who seized the initiative and after defender John Sheehan had popped up for a point, Brosnan scythed through the middle to crash home a superb second goal.

The Kingdom could have had two more goals, but again Murphy saved first from Hassett, then from Brosnan.

Just as they had in the first half, Kildare went 20 minutes without a score, before substitute Padraig Hurley hit the second of their two second half points.

But Kildare's attacking failure was due chiefly to a wonderful defensive effort by Kerry, with Seamus Moynihan, Michael McCarthy and Tomas O Se in sparkling form.

And Paidi O Se's side finished the job off with real style, O Cinneide striking his fourth score, and substitute Johnny Crowley swinging over a beauty from far out on the right wing.