Daragh Ó Conchúir reports from O’Connor Park

Kildare 2-14

Mayo 2-8

KILDARE STAGED A strong second half performance to ease away from Mayo and book a place in the last four of the All-Ireland minor football championships, where they will play Kerry.

The Leinster champions got off to a dream start with a scintillating goal from the outstanding Jack Robinson in the fourth minute but Mayo hit back with an excellent goal of their own from Ryan O’Donoghue four minutes later.

They will bemoan the eight wides they kicked with a very strong wind in their favour in the opening period though and they also struck the woodwork twice with kicks for points.

Meanwhile, Kildare were much more economic and Robinson added two points from play while Jimmy Hyland converted a couple of frees to open up a three-point advantage approaching the interval.

Paul Lambert goaled for Mayo in the 27th minute though and their most dangerous forward Colm Moran added a point immediately, before a brawl broke out that led to two yellow cards and more significantly for the players involved, two black cards.

Joe Mason was the second Mayo defender to be sent marching, having been introduced when John Maughan had to depart after just nine minutes.

On the face of it, Hyland’s loss to Kildare was greater, as he has been a talismanic figure not just this year, but when the Lilies won last year’s Leinster title.

Mayo led 2-2 to 1-4 at half time, but once David Marnell and Aaron Masterson thundered into the fray in the second half, Kildare had the upper hand with Robinson, Tony Archbold and Kelly among the scorers as they pulled clear.

Mayo were always dangerous on the break and Luke Mullins had to pull off a smart stop, but when Brian McLoughlin goaled in the 56th minute, there would be no way back for the westerners.

SCORERS FOR KILDARE: Jack Robinson 1-5(0-1f); Ciaran Kelly 0-4(2fs, 1 sideline); B McLoughlin 1-0; J Hyland 0-2(fs); A Masterson, T Archbold, K Foley 0-1 each

SCORERS FOR MAYO: C Moran 0-4; R O’Donoghue, P Lambert 1-0 each; D Cosgrove, J Healy, S McGreal, C Diskin (45) 0-1 each

KILDARE

1 Luke Mullins

2 John O’Toole

3 Mark Dempsey

4 David Shaw

5 Tony Archbold

6 Jason Gibbons

7 Sam Doran

8 David Marnell

9 Aaron Masterson

10 Jack Robinson

14 Brian McLoughlin

12 Kevin Foley

13 Ciaran Kelly

15 Jimmy Hyland

24 Cian Costigan

Subs

18 Danny O’Sullivan for Doran (29)

21 Paddy Woodgate for Hyland (30)

11 David Kelly for Foley (56)

22 James Burke for McLoughlin (60+2)

MAYO

1 Adam Byrne

2 Seán Kenny

3 Donovan Cosgrove

4 John Cunnane

5 Brian OMalley

6 Matthew Macken

7 John Maughan

8 Colm Murphy

9 Nathan Moran

10 Paul Lambert

11 Conor Stenson

12 Oisín McLaughlin

13 Colm Moran

14 Justin Healy

15 Ryan O’Donoghue

Subs

17 Joe Mason for Maughan BC (10)

20 Stephen McGreal for Mason BC (30+6)

18 Liam Kelly for Cunnane BC (35)

22 Conor Diskin for Murphy (47)

19 Ross Egan for McLaughlin (53)

24 Nathan McGee for Healy (59)

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)

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