Kildare continue winning ways with win over Kerry

Kildare assured themselves of at least a home semi-final in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League with a deserved win over Kerry in Newbridge today.

David Herity's team made it four wins from four in this season’s league with a hard-working and spirited display that was sprinkled with the magic dust of two magnificent second half goals from Brian Byrne and Gerry Keegan.

They started well with the opening two points but even against the wind, Kerry proved that this game was going to be no walk in the park when they answered back with four points of their own to lead 0-4 to 0-2 by the tenth minute.

With the gauntlet thrown down to them, Kildare answered back with a run of five points including a couple superb efforts from captain James Burke and Gerry Keegan.

Two Padraig Boyle frees got Kerry back to within a point of the hosts before one of the key spells in the game. A monster point from play from inside his own 45 by goalkeeper Paddy McKenna sparked a run of seven unanswered points before the half-time break, leaving Kildare 0-14 to 0-6 ahead.

Kerry tried to make a fight of it in the second half and Keith Carmody and Padraig Boyle scored the first two points after the restart before Kildare struck for their first goal in the 39th minute.

A move that started with goalkeeper McKenna was played through a number of Kildare players including Rian Boran, Paul Divilly and Keegan ended with a powerful finish by Byrne.

At one stage, Kildare stretched their lead to eight points but with Shane Conway hitting form and clipping over a couple of lovely points, Kerry had cut that back to five heading towards the last ten minutes and the feeling was that they were building momentum towards a big comeback.

However, a moment of brilliance