Kildare hurlers come through stern Down test
Kildare senior hurling manager, David Herity, warned prior to Sunday's AHL Division 2A, Round 2 clash with Down that despite beating the same opposition just a few weeks ago in the Kehoe Cup by 11 points, he was expecting a much tougher game this time around.
And how right he was.
Played in Hawkfield “we expect St Conleth's Park to be closed when the Joe McDonagh Cup commences redevelopment so we went for Hawkfield” Down put it up to Kildare, looked to be in the driving seat on a more than a few occasions throughout the game and in the end there was a just a single point separating them sides.
It was great discipline showed by the experienced defender Niall Ó Muineacháin in time added on when tackling a Down attacker, the Kildare standing his ground just before the final whistle arrived.
Add in the fact that goalkeeper, Paddy McKenna came to his side's rescue on a few occasions and it just emphasised the fact there was little between the sides this time around.
On the other hand rarely will The Lilies miss the chances again (at least one would hope they wouldn't) than they did throughout this one.
Fourteen wides, including a penalty, a number of frees and from open play certainly had the home side rocking but as manager David Herity said in his after match comments “there was a time not too long ago we would not have come out on top in a game such as that.”
No doubt The Lilies will have to show improvement, particularly when within striking distance of the posts when they travel to Derry on Sunday week what will be another stern test but two wins from two certainly has The Lilies in a place they will feel comfortabe with and while there are sterner tests ahead, winning when not playing at their best is always a good sign; it will be interesting to see how the next number of games pan out.
Kildare opened well with the hard-working Cathal Dowling firing over after two minutes; Paul Dolan added a second and while
Down replied with a point from Caolan Taggart, two James Burke frees saw the home side lead 0-4 to 0-1 after just six minutes.
Down had the benefit of the breeze and while it may have been more across the pitch rather than straight down it certainly favoured the side playing into the Milltown end.
Sharp-shooter Paul Sheehan converted a Down free before Barry Trainor added another and when Finn Turpin got his first of the afternoon the sides were now level at 0-4 apiece.
Kildare were playing an amount of short hand passing with the sliother not always reaching its intended target and while Brian Byrne was playing a sweeping role, not unusual for the Naas man, up front the Down full back line always seemed to have an extra man that proved difficult to break down.
David Qualter set up James Burke for a point but two Down points from Paul Sheehan and Fionn Turpin had the visitors in front for the first time after 17 minutes.
A James Burke free was replied to by a similar score from Paul Sheehan as Down showed they were a vastly improved outfit from a few weeks ago on their last visit here.
A missed a free and a short did nothing for the home cause as Down opened a five point lead with points from Tom McGrattan, Paul Sheehan, Pearse Óg McCrickard and Stuart Martin looked ominous for David Herity's side.
Cathal Dowling gained possession, the ball fell lose and Cathal McCabe, another fine game from the Maynooth dual star, saw him pull first time past Stephen Keith in the Down goal to make it 1-7 to 0-12 on 32 minutes.
Two more points apiece before the break, McCabe and a James Burke (free) after Burke had brought out the best in the Down custodian, left the half time score reading Kildare 1-9 Down 0-14.
Herity made a few positional switches at the break, but somewhat surprisingly started with the same XV but Kildare looked to have got off to the perfect start when a long ball in saw James Burke being hauled to the ground, referee Shane Hynes had no hesitation pointing to the spot.
Up stepped captain James Burke but his contact was poor as he hit the sliother well left and wide of the post.
A clatter of wides followed but Kildare finally leveled up matters with points from Paul Dolan and Rian Boran on 42 minutes.
Paddy McKenna made a brilliant save from Oisin McManus, Down missed the 65, hit two wides; Kildare went one better hittinh three before Paul Sheehan and Brian Byrne exchanged points.
Paddy McKenna made another brilliant save to deny Chris Egan before Down regained the lead through Paul Sheehan.
Two more wides apiece before Sheehan left two separating the sides.
At this stage Kildare stepped it up, three points on the trot from Burke, Byrne and a great free from McKenna put The Lilies one clear on 67 minutes.
Johnny Byrne went off with a broken thumb; Declan Flaherty left two in it and while Finn Turpin reduced the gap; Cathal McCabe hit a beauty; McCrickard left one in it but Kildare held on to win 1-17 to 0-19.
SCORERS
Kildare: James Burke 0-7 (5 frees), Cathal McCabe 1-2, Brian Byrne 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-2, Cathal Dowling 0-1, Paddy McKenna 0-1 (free), Declan Flaherty 0-1, Rian Boran 0-1.
Down: Paul Sheehan 0-8 (4 frees, 65), Finn Turplin 0-3, Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-2, Stuart Martin 0-2, Tom McGrattan 0-1, Caolan Taggart 0-1, Matt Conlon 0-1, Barry Trainer 0-1.
TEAMS
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Niall Ó Muineacháin, Simon Leacy, Cian Shanahan; Jack Travers, Conan Boran, Rian Boran; Paul Dolan, Cathal McCabe; Johnny Byrne, Gerry Keegan, James Burke cpt.; Brian Byrne, David Qualter, Cathal Dowling. Subs: Cian Boran for David Qualter (44 minutes); Cormac Byrne for Jack Travers (47 minutes); Declan Flaherty for Paul Dolan (56 minutes); Mark Delaney for Johnny Byrne (65 minutes).
Down: Stephen Keith; Tom Murray, Barry Trainer, John McManus; Caolan Taggart, Matt Conlon, Niall McFarland; Liam Savage, Stuart Martin; Finn Turpin, Paul Sheehan, Pears Óg McCrickard; Oisin MacManus, Chris Egan, Tom McGrattan. Subs: Tim Prenter for Barry Trainor (51 minutes); Ayrton Gleeson for Pearse Óg McCrickard (62 minutes) Jason Croskery for Caolan Taggart (63 minutes).
Referee: shane Hynes, Galway.