Kildare could afford the luxury of amassing 17 wides as they blew Cavan away at Newbridge last night to lift the Leinster JFC title for the first time since 2004.

Kildare 5-8
Cavan 1-9

Team captain Ciaran Kelly netted twice, while senior star Mikey Conway, Dan Campbell and Eoghan Carew also struck majors to ensure a comfortable victory. Despite having to wait until the 16th minute for their first score, the Lilywhites went into the break leading by 1-4 to 0-4 with Kelly accounting for their goal.

Kelly's second goal six minutes after the restart put them firmly in the driving seat before Val Andrews' Cavan side battled back to within two points. But Conway's goal 11 minutes from time ended their comeback hopes with further goals from substitute Campbell and Carew in the final three minutes adding gloss to the scoreline.

Scorers - Kildare: C Kelly 2-1 (0-1f), M Conway, D Campbell, E Carew 1-0 each, D Mulhall (2f), P Meagher 0-2 each, J Gately, P Dunne, T Archbold 0-1 each. Cavan: K Fannin 1-2, J O'Reilly 0-3 (1f), D Meehan, S Gaffney, T Reilly, R McCormack 0-1 each.

Kildare - R Eyres; D McEvoy, C Fitzpatrick, R Walsh; M Kelly, J Doyle, J Browne; P Dunne, E Carew; J Lambe, M Conway, C Kelly; D Mulhall, P Meagher, J Gately. Subs: C Murphy for J Lambe (h-t), T Moolick for Kelly (43), T Archbold for Mulhall (45), D Campbell for Gately (58), M Fitzharris for Conway (60).

Cavan - A O'Mara; T Hyland, S McCormack, K Reilly; T Reilly, R Maloney-Derham, D Graham; S Gaffney, E King; S Jordan, D Meehan, K Fannin; C McClarey, J O'Reilly, J Brady. Subs: R McCormack for Brady (42), P King for Gaffney (42), J Hayes for T Reilly (49), P McCabe for Meehan (53), C Smith for King (55).

Ref - P Kneel (Louth). Tweet

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