Ryan Sinkey goal gives U-20 champs Kildare the edge to overcome Longford

Featuring seven players who saw duty in last year’s All-Ireland final, Kildare had to dig deep hard to overcome a battling Longford side who will take plenty of positives from the outing, with forwards Matthew Carey, Paddy Moran, and Caolán Lynch particularly impressive.

After Moran opened the scoring for Longford inside 20 seconds, Kildare responded with four points in a row to open up an early lead. However, the visitors settled well against the breeze and by the 27th minute, they had gone into the lead by six points to five, with Lynch on target twice.

Kildare, though, finished the half the stronger with three of last year’s panel – Ryan Sinkey, James Harris, and Niall Dolan – landing excellent scores from play in a two-minute period heading to half-time to send them two ahead.

Longford kept the gap at two or three points in the first 15 minutes of an entertaining second half, but the crucial score came at the end of the third quarter when Sinkey’s shot dropped short and full-forward Ross Harris outjumped goalkeeper Oisín McManus to deflect it to the net.

Kildare were comfortable enough from there on and look as if they will be strong contenders for a third provincial crown in a row, although Longford may still have a say in a group which also includes Offaly and Louth.

SCORERS- Kildare: N Dolan 0-4 (2f), R Harris 1-0, R Sinkey (2f), C Dalton 0-3 each, D McPartlin 0-2 (2’45), J Harris, K Browne, D Crowley 0-1 each.

Longford: M Carey 0-4 (2f), C Lynch, Michael Flynn (2f) 0-3 each, P Moran 0-1 each.

KILDARE- D McPartlin; R Fitzgerald, E Lawlor, E Mountaine; O Grufferty, J Harris, N Cullen; D Crowley, F Cooke; K Browne, N Dolan, C Dalton; R Sinkey, R Harris, J O’Donoghue.  Subs: S Mahon for Fitzgerald h/t, S Savage for O’Donoghue 44, M Fitzsimons for Grufferty 54, TJ Nolan for 58, B Loakman for Dalton 59

LONGFORD - O McManus; C Smith, R O’Toole, E Wiliams; G Farrelly, A Flynn, R Courtney; A Smyth, R Shields; C Lynch, M Carey, Matthew Flynn; S Smith, P Moran, Michael Flynn. Subs: J Belton for Smyth h/t, H Kiernan for S Smith 42, J Brady Hynes for Belton 51, B Mulvey for Matthew Flynn 56, O Flynn for Farrelly 57

 REF- J Foley (Carlow)