Kildare hurlers make it three from three in Kehoe Cup

Paul Dolan pushes by his marker in the Kehoe Cup clash with Down in Hawkfield

placeholder image — Paul Dolan pushes by his marker in the Kehoe Cup clash with Down in Hawkfield

Kehoe Cup 2023

Kildare 0-26

Down 0-15

“We worked on our accuracy (following last week's display against Wicklow) Nigel O'Hara, our coach honed in on it and it paid off handsomely.”

The words of Kildare manager David Herity following Kildare's comprehensive victory over Down in Round 4 of the Kehoe Cup, that saw Kildare make it three wins from three in Hawkfield on Sunday.

The manager added “Our conversation rate last week was just 29 per cent, which was pretty scandalous, but today I felt they were outstanding especially in the opening half, against a bit of a breeze and to get fifteen points, which was our whole total last week was indeed very encouraging.”

Kildare dominated from the word go against Down, who have now lost their three opening games but they do have some players to come back in and no doubt they will be much stronger when these sides meet later in the league.

Jack Travers, who had an impressive game at wing back opened the scoring after two minutes as The Lilies took control from the word go.

Points were added by Cathal McCabe, Cathal Dowling, James Burke, Paul Dolan and another point from a free from James Burke as the home side led 0-6 to no score after 15 minutes.

A couple of wides followed for Down before they eventually got off the mark through their accurate free taker, Chris Egan, after 17 minutes.

James Burke (free) and Jack Travers again found the range before Down hit four points before the break. However at that stage Kildare had amassed a total of 15 points and in total no less than seven different players in white had their names on the score sheet as they led at the break 0-15 to 0-5.

Down did improve somewhat on the resumption but having said that never had their opponents under any real pressure.The opening six points were shared equally before Kildare emptied their bench, in total 23 players saw game time which really pleased manager Herity.

The game that Brian Byrne return to action, and playing a role that he is very accustomed to, sweeping, his manager confessed that “he plays that role very well, a great reader of the game and when he got forward he controlled matters well.

The manager also gave a mention to a few of the newer lads who saw action.

“I thought a few of the newer lads did well, Cormac Byrne did well at the back; Jack Travers did well with three points from play; Cathal Dowling went off early with an injury but we still brought in Declan Flaherty who also managed three points and at this stage we have given game to 31 players and that is very pleasing indeed.”

Down did eke out two goal chances later in the game but once again Paddy McKenna proved what a fine keeper he is, bringing off a few excellent saves, despite getting little to do for long periods of the game.

Reece Gavin (Moorefield) marked his debut with a fine point while James Burke was again the top scorer with a fine tally of seven points.

Kildare now take on Meath in the final game of the competition, this Saturday and a draw will see The Lilies capture the Kehoe Cup, just one week before they open their Division 2A Allianz League campaign the following week.

Final score: Kildare 0-26 Down 015

Scorers

Kildare, James Burke 0-7 (4 frees), Jack Travers 0-3, Cathal McCabe 0-4, Declan Flaherty 0-3, David Qualter 0-3 (2 frees), Paul Dolan 0-2, Johnny Byrne 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1, Reece Gavin 0-1, Cathal Dowling 0-1,

Down, Chris Egan 0-6 (4 frees, 65), Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-4 (1 free), Jordan Doran 0-1, Sean Campbell 0-1, Oisin McManus 0-1, Paul Sheehan 0-1, Sean Campbell 0-1.

Teams

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Simon Leacy, Sean Christanseen, Cormac Byrne; Jack Travers, Cian Shanahan, Harry Carroll; Cathal McCabe, Paul Dolan; Johnny Byrne, James Burke, Jack Higgins; Brian Byrne, David Qualter, Cathal Dowling.

Subs: Killian Aherne for Cathal Dowling (23 minutes); Declan Flaherty for Jack Higgins (32 minutes); Drew Costello for Harry Carroll (49 minutes); Frank Bass for James Burke (57 minutes); Reece Gavin for Paul Dolan (57 minutes); Sean Whelan for Cathal McCabe (60 minutes); Michael Hogan for Cormac Byrne (60 minutes); Peter O'Donoghue for James Burke (60 minutes).

DOWN: Stephen Keith; John McManus, Barry Trainor, Tom Murray; Caolan Teggart, Matt Conlon, Niall McFarland; Jordan Doran, Liam Savage; Ryan McCusker, Chris Egan, Pearse Óg McCrickard; Tim Prenter, Oisin MacManus, Paul Sheehan.

Subs: Tom McGrattan for Ryan McCusker (44 minutes); Sean Campbell for Paul Sheehan (46 minutes); Padraig Doran (58 minutes); Jason Croskery for Chris Egan (59 minutes).

REFEREE: Derek Ryan, Meath.