Kildare outclass Wexford

Kildare 2-16 Wexford 0-8

Kildare enjoyed a runaway win over their Leinster rivals Wexford this afternoon, with newly-appointed captain Johnny Doyle leading by example in this one-sided NFL Division 2 clash at Newbridge.

Doyle kicked 0-10 in all and the game was effectively over as a contest at half-time as the Lilywhites turned around with a 1-10 to 0-3 advantage.

Wexford were All-Ireland semi-finalists but they have struggled so far this season and this is their third straight league loss.

Doyle gave his marker David Walsh a torrid time in the opening stages.

The Allenwood ace scored off after a '45' was played in short and he then pointed a free before Padraig O'Neill weighed in with a point for the hosts.

O'Neill soon doubled his tally as Kieran McGeeney's men moved confidently into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, with Wexford midfielder Eric Bradley and David Fogarty struggling to secure a platform of possession for their side.

Shane Cullen and Collie Byrne had opened the Model county's account and the visitors, who were without All-Star attacker Mattie Forde, notably struggled for firepower.

PJ Banville's yellow card also hurt their chances of growing into the game.

They fell further behind on the stroke of half-time when late call-up Alan Smith notched Kildare's first goal, after good work from Dermot Earley and a final pass from Eamonn O'Callaghan.

Points from Cullen, Ciaran Lyng and Paddy Colfer, who was moved out the field after starting in the full-forward line, saw Wexford build some confidence.

But even a red card for Kildare's Daryl Flynn could not help the Wexford cause. The home side, with Doyle in dead-eye form, kept plugging away and they carved out their second goal when a ball in from Michael Conway was fisted to the net by O'Callaghan.

Doyle, O'Callaghan and O'Neill added further points as McGeeney's charges rubber stamped their dominance and moved up to second place in the table.

For Wexford, their remaining four games are in must-win territory as they are propping up the table.