Pointless Dubs fear the drop after famous Kildare win

Jimmy Hyland did the damage again for Kildare who scored a landmark 1-12 to 0-12 Allianz Football League Division 1 win over Dublin in Newbridge, easing their relegation fears and consigning the Sky Blues to a relegation battle in the process.

In what was a repeat of last summer's Leinster decider, Kildare led for virtually the duration with Hyland's 49th minute goal proving decisive.

The 2018 Under-20 Player of the Year, who hit 1-05 overall, struck to the net from close range after Jack Sargent's shot was initially pushed onto the crossbar, leaving Kildare six points clear.

It was a vital cushion that they required in the closing 20 minutes or so as Dublin rallied but Dessie Farrell's crew couldn't rescue a result and have now slipped to four consecutive defeats in a row.

With just three games left, all against northern opposition and two of those matches in Ulster, relegation is now a very real fear for the Dubs.

Sean Bugler scored four points for the visitors at a packed out St Conleth's Park, the same tally free-taker Dean Rock amassed, but they were playing catching up throughout and paid a high price for failing to convert any of the several goal opportunities that fell their way.

Dublin created more of the openings initially but on a slippery sod with a crosswind blowing towards the main stand at St Conleth's Park, they found it difficult to turn their greater possession into points.

Ciaran Kilkenny, Tom Lahiff and Bugler were prominent in Dublin's attack and the trio accounted for all of the team's scores as the sides found themselves locked on 0-04 apiece approaching the half-hour mark.

Dublin should have moved ahead in that period but Kildare full-back Shea Ryan cleared off the line after Kilkenny and Rock had