James Horan sounds warning for Jonny Cooper

"He could cost his team when it really counts."

Kildare and Dublin's first round Allianz League clash had a bit of bite about it. Dublin were rusty, in particular in defence in the first half. Cian O'Neill's men held a two point advantage at the break, with a goal from Luke Flynn setting the Lilywhites on their way nicely. Flynn was afforded acres of space from the Dublin rearguard, in what was a very slack display of marking from Jim Gavin's defenders. You'd have to question Davy Byrne and Steven Cluxton's lack of communication as they failed to spot the midfielder ghosting in behind them. https://twitter.com/eirSport/status/957330491274706944 The first half ended with this tension boiling over. Jonny Cooper was stuck in the middle of it, as he appeared to dive after being pushed in the back by a Kildare player. Former Mayo manager James Horan was speaking in the Eir Sport studios on the Na Fianna club man's antics.

"Jonny Cooper, he's a pest. There was a couple of occasions in the first half, when Kildare lads were through, and Jonny Cooper was in there.  "Then when Jonny gets a little bit of a push from Niall Kelly, he's down like a sack of potatoes. For me, he's sailing too close to the wind and referees are going to pick up on the way he's carrying on. "He's been sent off in big games before, if he continues that - when it comes to it - he could cost his team when it really counts," said the new Westport manager.

https://twitter.com/eirSport/status/957339826868506625 Dublin got into the swing of it in the second half, with Dean Rock and Brian Fenton hitting Kildare for two quickfire goals. They look home and hosed, leading by 2-11 to 1-6 after 50 minutes.