Kildare 2-11 DIT 0-9:KILDARE NEVER had to get out of first gear as they got the defence of their Bord na Móna O'Byrne Cup title off to a successful start at St Conleth's Park yesterday.

First-half goals from Pádraig O’Neill and Ronan Sweeney gave the champions an eight-point lead at the break and with their defence in control, it was an advantage they were never likely to cede.

DIT managed only one score from play, courtesy of second-half substitute David Shatwell and, despite the availability of Mayo pair Aidan O’Shea and Alan Freeman, were completely subdued as an attacking force.

Tomás O’Connor was a constant threat at the other end and once again Kildare had a goal disallowed for a square ball in the 32nd minute; Joe Curley’s decision looked the correct one though.

O’Connor also had a hand in the goals that did count, first spotting Páidí O’Neill’s run in the 11th minute and supplying an inch-perfect fisted pass. The St Laurence’s man slammed an unstoppable shot to the net from 12 metres.

Two minutes later, Eamonn Callaghan’s shot for a point dropped into DIT goalkeeper Alan O’Mara’s hands. O’Connor managed to dispossess the goalkeeper however, before feeding Sweeney, who made no mistake.

Alan Freeman registered all DIT’s first-half points from frees and added two more after the interval. But Kildare were cruising and set up a championship rehearsal with Offaly next Sunday.

While pleased with his side’s defensive efforts, Kildare boss Kieran McGeeney was demanding more ruthlessness from his players. “I was probably just disappointed we didn’t put more scores on the boards,” he said. “There were a couple of handy scores missed and I don’t want to be seeing that this year . . . We did well defensively . . . there’s still a lot we can improve on.”

KILDARE: S Connolly; P Kelly, C Fitzpatrick, O Lyons; B Flanagan, G White, E O’Flaherty (0-2, 0-1 free); D Flynn, R Sweeney (1-2); E Callaghan, M Conway (0-1, free), P O’Neill (1-2); A Smith, T O’Connor, F Dowling (0-2). Subs: J Kavanagh (0-2) for Callaghan (half-time); D Lawler for Dowling (49 mins); M Scanlon for Flanagan (49 mins); K Donnelly for O’Neill (61 mins); C Brophy for Sweeney (61 mins).

DIT: A O’Mara (Cavan); J Gallagher (Donegal), N Devereaux (Dublin), R Tierney (Wexford); P Cunningham (Dublin), C Walshe (Monaghan), D Hughes (Monaghan); A O’Shea (Mayo), R Hazley (Dublin); P Sharry (Westmeath), D Nelson (Dublin), A Nestor (Meath); B Allen (0-2, frees) (Offaly), E Reilly (Meath), A Freeman (0-6, frees) (Mayo). Subs: A McLoughlin (Wicklow) for Gallagher (17 mins); M Schutte (Dublin) for Nestor (25 mins); D Shatwell (0-1) (Dublin) for Cunningham (33 mins); C Walsh (Dublin) for Hazley (60 mins); S Flynn for Sharry (69 mins).

Referee: J Curley (Meath).