Kehoe Cup: Kildare scrape win over Wicklow

Despite hitting no less than 14 second half wides, along with three balls dropping short, Kildare scraped out a victory over Wicklow at Bray Emmets GAA Headquarters this afternoon on a final score line of Kildare 0-15 Wiklow 1-11.

The opening half was a fairly close affair however both teams failing to find theget on numerous occasions.

Wicklow led at one time by three points but gradually the visitors cut ino the lead and just before the half-time break a free after Cian Boran, who had a fine opening half, found James Burke and the 2023 Kildare captain was fouled and duly made no mistake from close range.

Wicklow, playing with the aid of the strong breeze in the first half would have been somewhat disappointed to go in at the break trailing by a point 0-7 to 0-6.

Within a few minutes of the resuption Wicklow took the lead but by mid-way The Lilies were back one in front again.

On 56 minutes the sides were level at 0-11 each before Wicklow found the Kildare net through Seanie Germaine.

That goal though was the last score for the home side as Kildare stepped it up, drew level with a James Burke before the same player converted another free that proved to be the winner.

Scorers: Kildare, Cian Boran 0-4, James Burke 0-5 (4 frees), Jack Higgins 0-1, Gerry Keegan 0-3, Rian Boran 0-1, Killian Aherne 0-1.

Wicklow, Pádraig Doyle 0-3 (2 frees, 65), John Doyle 0-1, Mikey Lee 0-5 (2 frees),, Seanie Germaine 1-1, Torna Mulconry 0-1.

KILDARE: Sean Burke; Niall O'Muineachain, Sean Christanseen, John McKeon; Conan Boran, Rian Boran, Jack Travers; Jack Higgins, Paul Dolan; James Burke, Gerry Keegan, Sean Whelan; Cian Boran, David Qualter, Killian Aherne. Subs: Harry Carroll for Jack Travers (31 minutes); Peter O'Donoghue for Niall Ó Muineacháin; Declan Flaherety for David Qualter (49 minutes); Frank Bass for Cian Boran; Micheál Hogan for Jack Higgins (61 minutes).

WICKLOW: Cian Staunton; Dylan Byrne, Peter Keane, Tommy Collins; Zach Cullen, Pádraig Doyle, Owen Byrne; Luke Maloney, Padraig Doran; Eoin McCormack, Jack Doyle, John Doyle; Mikey Lee, Seanie Germaine, Luke Evans. Subs: Jacques McCall for John Doyle (half-time); Torna Mulconry for Jackk Doyle (53 minutes); Brandon Ryan for Padraig Doran (67 minutes); Mark Murphy for Luke Maloney (59 minutes); Owen Young for Luke Evans (69 minutes); Shane Browne for John Henderson (70 minutes).

REFEREE: Barry Redmond.