Leinster JFC/Kildare 1-9 Dublin 1-7: Kildare had a successful start to their defence of the Leinster junior football championship title they won last season with a two-point win over Dublin at Sarsfields last evening.
They dominated for most of the game but had to withstand a determined recovery by Dublin during the final quarter.
Dublin led when Liam Eviston got the opening score and again later in the half when Graham Cullen, brother of senior player Bryan, grabbed a goal.
But Kildare recovered through a Noel Mallon goal and led by 1-6 to 1-3 at the break.
Kildare's top scorer Adrian McAndrew, who kicked seven points, increased Kildare's advantage when he sent over two points within five minutes of the restart and he scored again later in the half after Eviston replied.
A Dublin rally produced three scores but they could manage no more despite winning a greater share of possession in the final minutes.
DUBLIN: P Copeland; M Whyte, K McGrath, L Browne; A Daly, K Kavanagh, C Prendiville; D Bastic, P Brennan (0-2); D Flanagan, G Cullen (1-0), P Keogh; L Eviston (0-2, one free), C McGuinness (0-1), N McGrath. Subs: R O'Reilly for Flanagan, C O'Reilly for McGrath, B Byrne for Whyte, S Mills (0-2, one free) for Keogh.
KILDARE: P Flood; T Dowling, P Browne, G Kearney; M Dowling, J Dempsey, B McMullen; S Darcy, B Lawlor; J Gleeson, A McAndrew (0-7, three frees), N Mallon (1-0); M Fitzharris, E Dockery, L Kelly (0-2, frees). Subs: R Walsh for Kelly, G Hendy for Darcy.
