Kildare picked up their first win of the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A as they ran out seven-point winners over a Kerry side who themselves had only recorded one victory before their long journey north.
The Lilywhites improved again after their last outing draw away to Down in Ballycran and with one round remaining a victory over near neighbours Carlow might still seal a semi-final berth.
Louis Dee made a wonderful save from James Burke inside the opening 30 seconds and it was Kerry who eventually opened the scoring through a Maurice O Connor free after two minutes.
David Qualter, replacing the injured Jack Sheridan, levelled from a placed ball 60 seconds later before Cian Boran and Qualter, again from a free, pushed Kildare two ahead. Maurice O Connor added his second but such was Kildare's early dominance they deservedly pushed three ahead courtesy of a long range Simon Leacy effort and a third Qualter free.
The visitors, who only retained eight of the team who enjoyed a six-point victory over Kildare on their last visit to Manguard Park, started to win more primary possession around the middle and coupled with some poor Kildare decision making they added three points in a row to level matters at the end of the opening quarter. Killian Hayes and Dan Goggin raising white flags before O Connor added his third free.
James Burke got his name on the scoreboard for the hosts with a free from just inside his own 45. Cian Boran got on the end of a Muiris Curtin pass as Kildare opened a gap again .David Qualter capitalised on a Daire Guerin foul and he added a '65 after Cian Boran's goalbound effort was expertly saved by Louis Dee again.
The O Connor's - Kyle and Maurice - swapped points with Muiris Curtin and James Burke and despite a late Maurice O Connor goal Kildare went to the dressing room 0-11 to 1-07 to the good.
Jack Higgins got his first just after the change of ends before Kingdom full forward Michael Leane reduced the gap to the minimum. Kildare then hit a purple patch hitting 1-03 without reply. A long ball saw James Burke fouled inside the Kerry square and Paddy McKenna made no mistake with the resultant penalty. Cian Boran and two David Qualter frees opened up a seven-point advantage.
Half-time substitutes Gavin Dooley for Kerry and Declan Flaherty for Kildare added points but the Kingdom could only get within four of Kildare.
Dan Goggin got his second yellow card and Kerry would finish with 14. David Qualter brought his personal tally to nine and as we entered injury time. A late Declan Flaherty point, his second, this time from a tight angle ensured a 1-21 to 1-14 Kildare victory.
The Lilywhites were full value for their victory and they can look forward to Carlow's visit with confidence.
Kildare: Paddy McKenna 1-01 (1 penalty,1f), Cian Shanahan, Sean Christanseen, Harry Carroll, Simon Leacy 0-01, Conan Boran, Rian Boran, Cathal McCabe, Daire Guerin, David Qualter 0-09 (7 fs,1 '65), Jack Higgins 0-01, Paul Dolan, Muiris Curtin 0-01, James Burke 0-03 (1free), Cian Boran 0-03.
Subs: Declan Flaherty 0-02 for Harry Carroll H/T, Conn Kehoe for Muiris Curtin 61.
Kerry: Louis Dee, Eric Leen, Evan Murphy, Kyle O Connor 0-1, Tomas O Connor, Darragh Shanahan, Fionan MacKessy 0-02 (1f), Tom Doyle, Killian Hayes 0-01, David Woulfe, Maurice O Connor 1-07(5fs,1 '65), Ronan Walsh, Dan Goggin 0-1, Michael Leane 0-1, Daithi Griffin.
Subs: Gavin Dooley (0-01) for Ronan Walsh H/T, Niall O Mahoney for Tomas O Connor (61), Flor McCarthy for Niall O Mahoney (68), Morgan Madden for Tom Doyle (70), Darragh Reen for Michael Leane (71)
Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)
Elsewhere in n Division 3A, Cavan's hopes of back-to-back promotions are very much alive as they fought back to defeat Armagh 2-13 to 0-16 at Kingspan Breffni.
The Orchard County, who eight years ago this month beat Down to secure Division 2A hurling, are now in very real danger of falling into Division 3B having picked up just one point from four games.
Karl McKeegan’s side started brightly and with Alex O’Boyle continuing his rich scoring form, they led 0-10 to 0-03 at the interval.
O’Boyle hit the target twice early in the second half but Cavan were handed a route back into the contest when Nicholas Kenny found the net 47 minutes in and Brian Fitzgerald followed up with a second goal eight minutes later to put the hosts in front.
They stretched their lead from there and with Shea Harvey dismissed late on, Armagh were unable to rescue the game.
In Division 3B, Fermanagh maintained their 100% record with a 1-13 to 1-08 win over Lancashire.
Aidan McKinley’s goal 10 minutes before the break gave Lancashire a 1-05 to 0-05 half-time lead at Brewster Park, but the Erne County hit 1-04 without reply on the resumption, Brian Teehan with their major, to move ahead with late scores from Luca McCusker, Ben Corrigan and JP McGarry seeing them home.
Longford remain just a point behind the Ulster side after a comfortable 2-15 to 1-07 win over Leitrim at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Longford made the perfect start with an eighth-minute Cathal Mullane goal and they led 1-05 to 0-03 at the break with Leitrim reduced to 14 men after Martin Feeney’s dismissal at the end of the half.
With that numerical advantage, Longford were never troubled in the second half with Mullane grabbing a second goal in an 11-point win.
