Antrim 3-20
Kildare 0-17

Antrim put their off-field troubles behind them to get their Christy Ring Cup campaign off to a flying start at Kildare's expense in Parnell Park today.

PJ O'Mullan's departure as manager and their mid-table finish in Division 2A had raised serious question marks over the Saffrons ability to bounce back from last year's promotion/relegation play-off disappointment but they answered their critics in resounding fashion today.

It was all one-way traffic during the opening 35 minutes as Antrim, under the management of Terence McNaughton, Dominic McKinley, Neal Peden, and Gary O'Kane, eased into a 2-13 to 0-5 interval lead.

Ciaran Clarke ran riot in the opening period and was responsible for 2-8 of his side's' first-half tally.

To their credit, 2014 champions Kildare added some respectability to the scoreline after the resumption but the concession of a third goal was the final nail in their coffin.

Full-forward Clarke, who sent over two second-half points, set up John Dillon for their third green flag of the contest.

Antrim - C O'Connell; S McRory, T McCloskey, R McCambridge (0-1); O McFadden, N McAuley, C McKinley (0-1); C Johnson (0-1), E Campbell; N McKenna (0-2), C Carson (0-2), J Dillon (1-0); J Connolly (0-2), S McAfee, C Clarke (2-10, 0-7f). Subs: E McCloskey for S McAfee, M Dudley (0-1) for J Dillon, F Donnelly for C Johnson.

Kildare - P Dermody; R Bergin, J Doran, C Gordon; S Gainey, M Moloney, M Grace (0-1); M Fitzgerald (0-2), P Ryan; P Cocoman, G Keegan (0-11, 5f, 3'65), N O Muineachain (0-1); B Byrne (0-1), P Divilly (0-1), D Flaherty. Subs: R Casey for P Ryan, S Ryan for P Cocoman.

Referee - J Cleere.

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