Kildare hurlers relegated to Christy Ring after Down defeat

Joe McDonagh Cup

Down 1-27

Kildare 3-13

Kildare's short stay in the Joe McDonagh Cup came to an abrupt end in Manguard Plus Hawkfield on Saturday evening last as far more physical and hungrier Down side had eight points to spare over David Herity's charges in what was probably ones of Kildare's worst performances of the year.

After a successful opening start to the season culminating in a Kehoe Cup win and an unbeaten run in the Alliance League that saw them reach the league final it was predicted that Kikdare could be the dark horses in the Joe McDonagh Cup. It wasn't to be and the 2024 season will see this side compete in the Christy Ring Cup yet again.

On a day when the county’s Under 20 footballers were winning a second All Ireland in 5 years it was hoped that the hurlers could cap a successful weekend. Instead they were suffering their fifth straight defeat in as many outings in the McDonagh competition and with it the dreaded relegation.

Indeed the success of their season all hinged on Saturday’s battle for survival but when the Mourne County men edged into a sixth minute lead they were never behind again and despite a brief respite with sixteen minutes to play when Kildare closed the gap to three they could never get any closer.

David Qualter opened the scoring for Kildare with a point five minutes in, but the Lilywhites brief lead was eroded as Caolan Taggart and Finn Turpin added two quick scores for Down.

Pearse Óg McCrickard with the first of his 14 points, and Liam Savage quickly opened a three point advantage.

McCrickard was to prove a real thorn in the side of Kildare throughout the evening and his accuracy from play and frees was match winning.

This was a relegation final in all but name as these teams fought to preserve their status in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Down were on the attack from the get go and raced into an 0-4 to 0-1 lead. The Kildare side looked low on confidence but there was no reason that this Down team wouldn't be either given the equally difficult campaign that they have had.

Down held the upper hand for most of this game and their superior intensity meant that appeared one step clear of Kidlare at every turn.

Despite playing catch up Kildare were battling hard and when Declan Flaherty responded quickest to a ball back off the post from Brian Byrne's effort, the Coill Dubh man shot low past Stehen Keith to give Kildare hope.

Cathal McCabe was subject to some harsh treatment in that opening half and both Eoghan Sands and Pearse Og McCrickard can count themselves lucky not to have received more than yellow from a lenient Kevin Jordan.

As half time approached McCrickard hit three in a row to leave it 0-15 to 1-6 after 35 minutes.

The half time break saw Kildare introduce the experienced Paul Divilly and two early frees from David Qualter gave hope.

Down were quick to respond when Turpin and, that man, McCrickard combined for three quick points. Kildare failing to match the Down intensity.

McCrickard would continue to fire and just over 10 minutes into the second half Down held a commanding 0-20 to 1-10 advantage.

The Kildare faithful were on their feet again when James Burke latched on to a superb delivery from substitute, Jack Travers before drawing a foul and referee Jordan pointed to the spot. Paddy McKenna came the length of the field to convert and when Cian Shanahan quickly followed up with a point that aforementioned three point deficit looked within their grasp.

Caolaan Teggart broke Kildare hearts when he landed a massive point before Liam Savage followed suit and when Eoghan Sands then found the Kildare net it was lights out as Down pushed their lead out to nine points.

Paddy McKenna was called upon twice more before the end firstly hitting a 20 metre free low and hard towards the Down goal but his opposite number, Stephen Keith was on hand to pull off a good save. The brief Kildare fight was quickly extinguished.

The Kildare vice captain was then awarded a second penalty this time Simon Leacy been fouled and McKenna made no mistake as he picked the same spot to the right of Keith's goal.

It was fitting from a Down perspective that it was McCrickard who rounded off the Down tally with two late points to seal a 1-27 to 3-13 victory.

A disappointing end to Kildare's season. Yes, alot of positives to take from the year but the next few weeks will be hard to stomach.

David Herity his management team and the panel are to be commended for their efforts. With such a relatively young panel and plenty more coming through let's hope this setback is only a minor bump on the road.

That being said, a swift re-entrance to the Joe McDonagh will most certainly be on the agenda for this ambitious squad.

Kildare will be looking to bounce back immediately to this level of hurling.

An undoubtedly huge disappointment for team that appeared so clearly on the up following their league exploits.

Bad luck and bad performances have played their part in their return to the Christy Ring for 2024.

SCORERS

Down: Peare Óg McCrickard 0-14 (8 frees 1'65), Caolan Taggart 0-3, Eoghan Sands 1-0, Liam Savage 0-3, Finn Turpin 0-2, John McManus 0-2, Oisin McManus 0-1, Mark Fisher 0-1, Jordan Doran 0-1.

Kildare: Paddy McKenna 2-0 (2 pealties), David Qualter 0-5 (4 frees), Declan Flaherty 1-0, Gerry Keegan 0-2, Cian Boran 0-2, Johnny Byrne 0-1, James Burke 0-1 (1 free), Cian Shanahan 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1.

TEAMS

Down: Stephen Keith; Darragh Mallon, Caolan Taggart, John McManus, Matt Conlon, Ruairi McCrickard, Mark Fisher ,Jordan Doran, Peare Óg McCrickard, Daithi Sands, Eoghan Sands, Finn Turpin, Oisin McManus, Liam Savage, Chris Egan. Subs: Ryan McCusker for Doran (49 minutes), Stuart Martin for Chris Egan (49 minutes), Tim Prenter for Oisin McManus (62 minutes) .Paul Sheehan for Eoghan Sands (64 minutes), Niall McFarland for John McManus (70 minutes).

Kildare: Paddy McKenna, Niall O’Muineacháin, Rian Boran, Cian Shanahan, Cathal McCabe, Simon Leacy, Alan Goss; Brian Byrne, Killian Harrington; Johnny Byrne, James Burke, Gerry Keegan, David Qualter, Declan Flaherty, Cian Boran. Subs: Paul Divilly for Harrington (27 minutes), Jack Travers for Alan Goss (Half-time), Cormac Byrne for Declan Flaherty (45 minutes) Paul Dolan for Paul Divilly (63 minutes), Richie Hogan for David Qualter (65 minutes).

REFEREE: Kevin Jordan Tipperary