Two goals from Daniel Flynn and an Alex Beirne penalty maintained Kildare's winning start to the Tailteann Cup with a 14-point victory away to Tipperary.
That duo accounted for 3-09 as the Lilywhites eased away from their hosts in the second half at Clonmel Sportsfield.
Flynn wasn’t named to start, but after his addition for the absent Darragh Kirwan, he reeled off 2-04 from play and hit the crossbar too. Beirne scored 1-05 and assisted another 1-05.
Kildare manager Brian Flanagan made a whopping seven changes to the side that defeated Leitrim by 25 points last weekend. It didn’t knock them off their stride.
They looked ominous in the early stages. Inside the first minute, Flynn landed the opener and assisted Beirne’s next after a botched kick-out.
In fact, Kildare got off a remarkable 10 shots before Tipp registered their first attempt. Tommy Gill, Brendan Gibbons, and Ben McCormack all cashed in, but they sprayed an equal number of wides.
A Beirne free made it six-nil before Tipp rallied. First, Cian Smith landed a two-point free. Then, Daithí Hogan burst through on goal but fired over rather than under the crossbar for his first point in senior football.
That woke up Kildare. They came straight up the field as Flynn exchanged a one-two with McCormack before driving to the net. Darragh Swords and Jimmy Hyland’s points made it 1-08 to 0-03.
It would be a one-score game by the break. After a Smith curler, Seán O’Connor intercepted the kick-out and fended off three defenders to tee up Darragh Brennan for a thumping finish past Didier Cordonnier. Star forward O’Connor would depart at half-time.
Flynn was left free for a goal chance in response. He lobbed Shane Ryan, but the ball struck the crossbar.
The Johnstownbridge man handpassed over from their next attack, but Smith curled over a fine two-pointer to leave Tipp 1-09 to 1-06 in arrears at half-time.
Jack O’Neill’s superb solo score narrowed the gap further on the restart.
But Swords won a penalty from Eoin O’Connell, and Beirne sent Shane Ryan the wrong way for 2-09 to 1-07.
Steven O’Brien’s two-point free, after a 50-metre advancement, made it a one-score game again.
David Hyland’s wide-open two-pointer settled Kildare, and they kicked on with Jimmy Hyland and Flynn points.
After a Darragh Brennan free, Kildare stretched away for a 1-06 burst. Beirne added a two-point free after another 50-metre advancement. Then, a move involving a handful of substitutes ended with Beirne squaring for Flynn to palm in.
Tipperary: S Ryan; J Feehan, L Boland (0-01), M McFadden; J O’Neill (0-01), M Stokes, K Costello; P Feehan, M Russell; M Freaney, C Smith (0-05, 1tp, 1tpf), S O’Brien (0-02, tpf); D Hogan (0-01), D Brennan (1-01, 0-01f), S O’Connor.
Subs: E O’Connell for Russell (30), B Comerford for O’Connor (h-t), J Morris for P Feehan (55), E Power for Freaney (60), E Moloney for O’Brien (67).
Kildare: D Cordonnier; M Dempsey, B Byrne, R Burke; T Gill (0-01), D Hyland (0-02, tp), M O’Grady; A Masterson, B Gibbons (0-01); R Sinkey, A Beirne (1-05, 1-00p, 1tpf, 2f), B McCormack (0-01); D Swords (0-01), D Flynn (2-04), J Hyland (0-03).
Subs: K Flynn for O’Grady (h-t), E Cully for Sinkey (44), K Feely for Gibbons (48), T Archbold (0-01) for McCormack (55), J McKevitt for Burke (60-61, temp), McKevitt for K Flynn (64-67, temp), McKevitt for Gill (68)
Referee: J Henry (Mayo).
