Kildare ... 1-16 Down ... 1-11: Kildare claimed their first league win of the season at Newbridge yesterday but still remain in deep relegation trouble.
Down started off this Division Two B tie in promising fashion thanks to a goal inside the opening minute but they ultimately failed to build on their early success and manager Paddy O'Rourke knows too well that his side could also be destined for relegation.
He introduced veteran James McCartan in the second half and although the double All Star and All-Ireland medal winner added some urgency to their attack the Ulster side were overwhelmed as rejuvenated Kildare won in style.
Kildare came into the game minus the services of a few injury-hit regulars, including Dermot Earley.
They were put under early pressure when right-half forward Liam Doyle dribbled the ball along the ground after it broke in front of him and he tapped it past Christy Byrne for the first goal of the afternoon.
John Doyle opened Kildare's account with a point in the fifth minute but Down were the most impressive side in the early stages.
Centre forward Michael Walsh played well throughout for the visitors and he added to their tally with a point from play and a converted free before Kildare could score again.
It took the Lilywhites some time to settle but with Derek McCormack and Doyle causing problems for the Down defence they began to narrow the gap.
Veteran Glenn Ryan pointed in the 20th minute and this was followed by a Doyle free which left Kildare a point behind.
Kildare took the lead for the first time in the 26th minute when Tadgh Fennin made the most of a fine pass from Karl Ennis to grab Kildare's goal from close range.
Their new-found advantage was extended by Ennis and Fennin and they led by 1-9 to 1-5 at half-time.
Down introduced Brendan Grant and made a number of postional changes for the second half but they still waited until the final quarter for their first point of the second half.
Instead Kildare continued to pile on the pressure with a free from Fennin and a point by Ronan Sweeney.
The winners were nine points in front and looking forward to their first league success by the time Ronan Sexton got Down's next score.
KILDARE: C Byrne; B Lacey, R Quinn, A McLoughlin; D Lyons, D Hendy, A Rainbow; A Barry, A McHugh; K Ennis (0-1), G Ryan (0-1), R Sweeney (0-1); T Fennin (1-6, 0-4 frees), D McCormack (0-2), J Doyle (0-4, 2 frees). Subs: E Callaghan for Rainbow, K Brennan (0-1) for McHugh, P Murray for Fennin, J O'Donoghue for Ryan, B Moyles for Sweeney.
DOWN: M McVeigh; J Clarke, C Byrne, M Cole (0-2); A Scullion, A O'Prey, D Rooney; S Ward, G McCartan; L Doyle (1-1), M Walsh (0-4, 2 frees), R Murtagh; R Sexton (0-2), D Gordon, A Devlin (0-2). Subs: B Grant for Rooney, B Burns for Byrne, J Lavery for Scullion, J McCartan for Murtagh, G McMahon for Devlin.
Referee: T Quigley (Wexford).
