O'Shea and O'Leary help Kerry power past Kildare 

Siofra O'Shea scored 1-4 whilst Danielle O'Leary scored 1-3 as the Kingdom proved too strong for Kildare. 

LEADING THE WAY: Kerry's Siofra O'Shea scored 1-4 to help her side to victory over Kildare. Picture:  Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Lidl NFL: Kerry 2-10 Kildare 0-7

Bouncing back from an opening day reversal, All-Ireland champions Kerry picked up a second victory in six days in the Lidl Ladies NFL (Division 1) following an improved second half display against Kildare at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.

Goals in either half, courtesy of ace forwards Danielle O’Leary and Síofra O’Shea, were the critical scores for Mark Bourke’s charges, against a visiting outfit, newly-promoted to the top flight and hot on the heels of their own eye-catching triumph over Dublin last time out.

A buoyant Kildare certainly gave as good as they got for long periods. Indeed, despite conceding a tenth minute goal to the ever-threatening O’Leary, the visitors stayed in touch throughout the opening half, only trailing by three points at the break (1-3 to 0-3).

Kerry wouldn’t have been overly satisfied with their display in the first 30 minutes, but they were a stronger proposition on the resumption. Anna Galvin, Mary O’Connell and Aoife Dillane led by example, with O’Shea staying closer to goals to increasing effect.

At the other end of the pitch, wing-forward Neasa Dooley was an absolute revelation for the Leinster county, finishing with four excellent points from play. In defence, Ruth Sargent battled tremendously hard, while captain Laoise Lenehan enjoyed a superb duel with Kerry’s O’Leary.

With O’Shea notching the Kingdom’s first three points on the changeover, the second green flag, in the 38th minute, ultimately killed off Kildare’s prospects. O’Leary’s ’45 was well struck, finding its way into the hands of the Southern Gaels attacker, and O’Shea finished from close range.

Facing into an eight-point deficit (2-6 to 0-4), Kildare remained competitive all the way to the final whistle. They will continue to learn at higher altitude week by week. For Kerry, the show is, most firmly, back on the road.

Scorers for Kerry: S O’Shea 1-5 (0-4fs), D O’Leary 1-3, M O’Connell, C Evans 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: N Dooley 0-5 (0-1f), L Curran, R Byrne(f) 0-1 each.

KERRY: M Ellen Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; C McCarthy, K Cronin, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; L Boyle, N Carmody, C Evans; J Lucey, S O’Shea, D O’Leary.

Subs: N Ní Chonchúir for Boyle (28), R Dwyer for Lucey (44), J Curtin for O’Leary (55), N Broderick for Evans (57), N Quinn for Carmody (57), K O’Connor for Rahilly (60+2).

KILDARE: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Murtagh, E Wheeler; M Doherty, L Lenehan, M Aspel; C Sullivan, L Curran; C Moran, G Wheeler, N Dooley; L Shaw, L McGovern, R Byrne.

Subs: E Dowling for McGovern (40), S Galvin for Curran (44), L Doran for Shaw (44), E B Foley for G Wheeler (49), Z Brierty for Sullivan (57), E O’Toole for Moran (60+2).

Referee: S Curley (Galway).

Scorers for Kerry: Siofra O’Shea (1-5, 4f) ,D O’Leary (1-3), M O’Connell, C Evans (0-1 apiece).

Scorers for Kildare: N Dooley (0-5, 0-1f), L Curran (0-1), R Byrne (0-1f).

KERRY: M.E. Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, R Rahilly; K Cronin, C Evans, C McCarthy; A Dillane, M O’Connell; L Boyle, N Carmody, A Galvin (c); J Lucey, S O’Shea, D O’Leary. Subs: N Ní Chonchuir for Boyle (28), R Dwyer for Lucey (44), J Curtin for O’Leary (55), N Broderick for Carmody (55), N Quinn for Evans (57), K O’Connor for Rahilly (60).

KILDARE: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Murtagh, E Wheeler; M Doherty, L Lenehan, M Aspel; C Sullivan, L Curran; C Moran, G Wheeler, L Shaw; L Doran, L McGovern , R Byrne. Subs: E Dowling for McGovern (39), S Galvin for Curran (44), L Doran for Shaw (44), E B Foley for Wheeler (48), Z Brierty for Sullivan (57), E O’Toole for Moran (60).

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).