Simon Leacy opened the scoring for Kildare in the 3rd minute and a four-point cushion opened up soon after as Curtin availed of some defensive sloppiness before hammering a superb finish into the top corner of Oisín O’Doherty’s goal.
Derry replied through points from Cormac O’Doherty and Darragh McGilligan but the Lilies remained on the front foot with Conan Boran, Sheridan, Paul Dolan and Leacy all adding to their tally.
Paul Burke was denied a second Kildare goal towards the end of the first quarter as O’Doherty dived full length to divert his powerful effort to safety.
It was at this stage that Paul Mullan began to drag Derry back into life as he struck four points from play within six minutes to leave the bare minimum between the sides by the 27th minute.
However, a foul on Burke allowed Sheridan the chance to convert a 33rd minute penalty, pushing Kildare 2-12 to 0-12 ahead by the interval.
Derry raced out of the blocks in the second-half as four O’Doherty points and another Mullan score left just a point between the teams by the 43rd minute.
It was at this point that the Lilies began to play their way back into contention as Sheridan converted two frees and another superb goal, this time from David Qualter in the 49th minute, saw them regain control of matters.
Sheridan’s free-taking ensured they remained on the front foot and with Burke prodding home in the 68th minute, the concession of a penalty to O’Doherty in added time failed to dilute the Kildare celebrations at full-time.
Scorers – Kildare: J Sheridan 1-9 (0-8f, 1-0 pen); J Burke 1-2; D Qualter 1-1; M Curtin 1-0; C Boran 0-3; S Leavy 0-2; C Boran, P Dolan, C McCabe, D Flaherty 0-1 apiece. Derry: C O’Doherty 1-11 (0-9f, 1-0 pen); J Mullan 0-6; J Cassidy 0-2; R Mullan, D McGilligan, C McNaughton 0-1 apiece.
Kildare: P McKenna; M Grace, R Boran, C Shanahan; P Dolan, C Boran, D O’Meara; S Leacy, C McCabe; D Guerin, J Burke, C Boran; J Sheridan, D Qualter, M Curtin. Subs: J Dolan for Guerin (46), D Flaherty for Curtin (54), H Carroll for Shanahan (55), C Dowling for McCabe (62), M Delaney for Burke (71).
Derry: O O’Doherty; P Kelly, M Craig, N Farren; S Cassidy, R Mullan, M McGrath; C O’Kane, C O’Reilly; D McGilligan, C O’Doherty, C Murray; J Mullan, C McNaughton, R Ó Mianáin. Subs: J Cassidy for O’Kane (40), S Quinn for Farren (50), S Kelly for McNaughton (53), D Mooney for O’Reilly (62), J Friel for Murray (67).
Referee: Brian Keon (Galway).
