Cailean O’Boyle: scored Derry’s first goal.
Derry defeated Kildare by five points on a scoreline of 2-17 to 3-09 at in their Allianz National Football League Division One clash at Celtic Park.
Leading by four points at half-time, Derry stormed ahead in the second half, at one stage leading by 13 points, but took their foot of the pedal in the dying minutes to allow Kildare score two late goals to put a bit of respectibility on the scoreboard.
Derry showed from the throw-in that they were not taking their relegation-threatened opponents lightly as they stormed into an early six point lead.
Brian McIver’s side were ahead shortly after the throw-in when Emmett McGuckin chose to put the ball over the bar when a goal was a possibility.
Mark Lynch pointed with his first touch of the ball in the third minute before Cailean O’Boyle fired to the back of the net after being set up by Sean Leo McGoldrick in the seventh minute.
After James Kielt replaced Fergal Doherty, who sustained what looked like a serious cut to the head, Mark Lynch put the home side six clear when he put a free over the bar from 45 metres out.
Keiith Gribbin brought Kildare back into the game with a fisted goal in the 14th minute.
Following the introduction of Aaron Devlin for the injured James Kielt, points from Enda Lynn, O’Boyle and McGuckin restored Derry’s six point lead in the 24th minute.
Two minutes later, Keith Cribbin kicked Kildare’s first point to see Derry lead on a scoreline of 1-06 to 1-01.
Heron extended the Derry lead when he converted a 45 after Kildare keeper Connolly pushed a goal-bound Enda Lynn effort round the post in the 31st minute.
After Dowling pointed for the visitors, Emmett McGuckin rattled the Kildare crossbar followed by another fantastic save by Connolly when he denied Aaron Devlin who looked certain to find the back of the net on the follow up,
A Hugh Lynch point on the stroke of half time keeps Kildare in the game, so it is all to play for in the second half.
Derry began the second half as they did the first and a goal and a point from Mark Lynch and a single score from McFaul saw them lead by nine on a scoreline of 2-09 to 1-03 four minutes after the restart.
A Conway point for Kildare reduced the deficit but Heron, O’Boyle, Lynn and Lynch put the home side firmly in the driving seat in the 47th minute on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1.04.
After both sides had exchanged scores, Kildare put over four scores without reply to put eight points between the sides.
However, Derry pulled themselves together and points from Lynch (3) and Kielt settle whatever nerves their fans may have to put 11 points between the sides on 2-17 to 1-09.
Kildare hit two late goals in the dying minutes.
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