Goals from Davin O'Neill and substitute Jamie Nolan gave Cobh Ramblers an impressive 2-0 win at Station Road – a result that leaves Kildare still searching for their first win of the season.
The home side started brightly with Padraig Amond looking particularly lively so it was slightly against the run of play when the visitors took the lead after 26 minutes.
A defensive mix-up between Colin Osbourne and Paul Donnelly presented the ball to Davin O'Neill and he raced down the left before firing low past Austin O'Neill into the far corner to open his account for the season.
Darren Stapleton fired a free-kick just wide for Kildare after 39 minutes but Cobh came out after the half-time break and dominated the game.
Kieran O'Reilly had a goal ruled out for a foul on the Kildare ‘keeper on the hour mark when he headed home an Alan Carey corner.
O'Neill was beaten again after 64 minutes by Bryan McCarthy with a clever lob but Stapleton had got back to clear off the line.
Kildare had few chances in the second half but Amond was inches away from levelling the scores with their best opportunity when he headed just wide from Stapleton’s cross after 68 minutes.
Substitute Jamie Nolan made sure of the win with eight minutes left when he collected Ken Coleman's pass before slotting past O’Neill.
Man-of-the-match, Davin O'Neill almost scored a sensational goal with five minutes left when he beat four Kildare defenders and shot past O'Neill but he could not beat Gary Walsh on the line.
Kildare County: O’Neill; Osbourne (Barrett 76), Stapleton, McDermott, P Byrne; Donnelly, McCrossan, A Byrne, Walsh; Gorman, Amond.
Cobh Ramblers: J McCarthy; Carey, Guthrie, Murray, Kearney; B McCarthy (O'Shea 66), Coleman, Barrett, O'Neill; O'Reilly (Nolan 77), Cummins.
Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin).
