Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18:Dublin won their fifth consecutive Leinster SFC title this afternoon with a three point win over neighbours Kildare at Croke Park. Pat Gilroy's side coped admirably after Ger Brennan was sent off in the 20th minute, while a stunning second half display from Bernard Brogan kept the Lilywhites at a distance.
Kildare asked plenty of questions of the Dubs during the 70 minutes and recovered brilliantly from a slow start to go in ahead at the break. However, their failure to exploit their numerical supremacy and another slow start to the second half cost them dearly, though they notched every one of their 18 points from play.
Gilroy’s use of the bench also proved crucial, with Ciaran Whelan, Shane Ryan and Bryan Cullen both introduced to great effect.
The Hill was rocking early on as Dublin set a frenetic pace and pointed through Alan and Bernard Brogan, before Barry Cahill was allowed to stride unchallenged through the Kildare defence and rifle his shot past Tom Corley.
Jason Sherlock added his first score and Headquarters sensed another hiding, but Kildare kept their cool and responded with scores from Ronan Sweeney, Alan Smith and Pádraig O’Neill.
The pace never let up and Conal Keaney got his first before Smith and Donnelly replied to bring Kildare to within two points.
Dublin’s bright start was a distant memory 20 minutes in and there was a further blow for the defending champions after Ger Brennan was rightly dismissed Pat McEnaney for a punch on Donnelly, who brought Kildare level soon afterwards.
The Lilywhites were ahead in the 24th minute when Sweeney pointed and it looked, for a moment, like they might get away from the Dubs. That was until Sherlock fielded Alan Brogan high ball and pivoted hit the net off his left boot.
Again, Kieran McGeeney’s side responded, this time through points from captain John Doyle and James Kavanagh.
Dermot Early bravely fisted another effort as Kildare took a one point lead and the momentum into the dressing room at half time.
They appeared to leave there, however, and had to wait 12 minutes for their first score from O’Neill. By that time Dublin had scored through substitute Ciaran Whelan, on to add some mettle to the midfield, the Brogan brothers and Keaney.
There numerical disadvantage appeared insignificant for a time as they kept the ball moving fast and took their scores, but their accuracy deserted them and Keaney’s point was not added to until 12 minutes later when Cahill pointed.
Conversely, Kildare found their range again and stayed in touch through O’Neill and Eamonn Callahan, before Straffan’s Robert Kelly drew them level with a booming point off his left boot.
It could have rattled Dublin, but instead they somehow managed to up it a gear once again, with the fresher legs of the substitutes to the fore.
But it was Bernard Brogan who really stood up when needed, pointing five crucial scores in the last 10 minutes to take his tally to 0-07 and kill off Kildare’s hopes.