GAME AT A GLANCE
By Daire Walsh
MAN OF THE MATCH
PAUL DIVILLY
He has already given many years of service to the Kildare cause, but the class of Confey’s Divilly continues to endure. While Jack Sheridan and his club-mate David Slattery had strong claims, the midfielder’s five-point haul – including a brace of early scores while the game was still in the melting pot – gives him the edge.
TURNING POINT
As was the case in earlier games against Donegal and Derry, it is difficult to pick out a turning point considering how one-sided the contest turned out to be. That said, the sides were on level terms when David Slattery bagged a 14th-minute goal, which subsequently made it easier for Kildare to discover their attacking rhythm.
TALKING POINT
For the third game in succession, Kildare were head and shoulders above their opponents in terms of pace, power and intensity. There is a sense that the Lilies are by a distance the best team in Division 2B and this is what helps to make Saturday’s away trip to Mayo so vital in the overall development of this side.
SCORE OF THE MATCH
There are any number of scores that could have made the cut, but it is hard to look past Jack Sheridan’s point from a sideline cut on 17 minutes. Many wouldn’t even dare to have a go, but the Naas man had no hesitation when an opportunity presented itself on the right-hand touchline.
REFEREE WATCH
It was a relatively quiet afternoon for Kevin Brady as the Louth whistler had no major incidents of note to deal with. It was notable that Kildare got so few scores from placed-balls, but while he could have easily awarded them frees on a few occasions, it had no bearing on the final outcome.