Monday Afternoon Sports Update: Leinster's Devin Toner To Retire At The End Of The Season.

Kildare hurlers survive relegation from Allianz Hurling League Division 2A.

GAA

Kildare footballers continued their Allianz League Campaign yesterday against Monaghan in St. Conleth’s Park.

And what a performance: racing into a 0-6 to 0-0 in the opening minutes, and ultimately kicking 24 points to Monaghan’s 1-12, with man of the match being half forward Ben McCormack who tormented the Monaghan defence throughout, contributing 3 points and setting up multiple scoring chances for others.

The full forward line scored 15 points.  Darragh Kirwan – replacing the ill Daniel Flynn - contributed five points from play, Paddy Woodgate  2 from play and 2 frees and Jimmy Hyland 2 from play and 6 frees.

The last time Kildare racked up a score like yesterday’s was in 1990 when they scored 4-25 against Kilkenny.

Kildare's hurlers needed a win against Westmeath in yesterday’s St. Conleth’s Park curtain raiser to be sure of their Division 2A status

However, despite leading in the early stages, they were decisively beaten 1-21 to 0-14; their cause not help be a straight red card for Gerry Keegan after 13 minutes, a stage at which Kildare led 0-7 to 0-2.

But, despite that defeat, Kildare avoid relegation thanks to Carlow beating Meath 2-21 to 1-21, with Carlow’s Marty Kavanagh scoring an incredible 17 points.

Round 1 of the Leinster Minor Football Championship began on Saturday: Kildare played Offaly in  Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Kildare were never troubled, running out clear winners by 3-12 to 0-5.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Naas CBS became All Ireland Colleges senior A football champions, defeating St. Brendan’s Killarney by 3-14 to 2-15 in Croke Park.

Kfm’s coverage was in association with Taaffe Sand and Gravel, Blacktrench, Naas

Yesterday, Kildare played Roscommon in the Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3 Semi Final in Parnell Park.

A Lauren Murtagh goal after 2 mins gave Kildare a perfect start.  They led 1-8 to 1-7 at half time.

However, despite more scores - 19 to 13 - than Roscommon, conceding 4 goals did the damage as Kildare lost by 2 points: 4-9 to 1-16

The county under 16’s lost 6-10 to 1-7 away to Meath in the Leinster championship.

They’ll be home to Dublin on April 9th.

In the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League, Kildare were away to Wexford in Shelmaliers on Saturday.

Another defeat for Kildare by 2-18 to 0-9

Wexford led 11 points to 4 at half time, but two goals in as many minutes midway through the 2nd half ended the contest, with Wexford 2-15 to 7 points ahead with 47 minutes gone.

RUGBY

Devin Toner has confirmed his intention to retire from rugby at the end of the season.

The Meath native, who in his early years played with North Kildare RFC, is Leinster's record appearance holder with 276 caps.

Toner also played 70 times for Ireland, collecting three Six Nations medals, as well as a Grand Slam in 2018.

He first played for Leinster in 2006 and has won four Heineken Cups along with seven league titles.

SOCCER

A consortium of season ticket holders is believed to be among the bidders for Chelsea.

Nizar Al-Bassam, co-founder of London-based asset management firm Centricus, has told the Times he's hoping for a quick resolution as the Premier League club is "bleeding money".

A deadline for bids passed on Friday night, with the European champions up for sale following the sanctioning of Russian owner Roman Abramovich.