Kildare hurlers share the points with Down in Ballycran
Kildare 1-24
Down 1-24
A point in the 63rd minute from Down's Pearse Óg McCrickard gained the home side a share of the points against Kildare in AHL Division 2A, Round 2 game played at Ballycran on Sunday.
Kildare looked to be on their way a minute earlier when a Jack Sheridan free found the range but two penalty misses, one in each half proved very costly but there was no doubt this was a much improved display from The Lilywhites.
The opening half was a lively affair with scores coming from nearly every piece of action.Both sides created a total of thirty six scoring chances with thirty one of those hitting the black spot. Kildare were ahead by the minimum 1-14 to 0-16 when Chris Mooney brought the half to a close.
Tim Prenter opened the scoring for the home side inside a minute before Simon Leacy levelled straight from the restart.
Muiris Curtin, operating as a third midfielder, got on the end of a Cian Boran to level it again this time replying to a Pearse Óg McCrickard effort.
Kildare were showing a great hunger and work-rate and despite a tough physical battle the visitors matched Down to move three ahead courtesy of a James Burke point and two from Jack Sheridan.
Simon Leacy and Daniel Toner swapped points before Pearse Óg McCrickard and Conn Kehoe did similar. Kehoe converting after excellent work from Rian Boran as got his pass away from a kneeling position.
Down responded and by the 12th minute the sides were level at 0-7 a piece.
McCrickard, Daithi Sands and Donal Hughes all on target for the Mourne.The game changed significantly in favour of Kildare as we entered the second quarter. James Burke edged Kildare ahead and directly from the restart Jack Sheridan reacted quickest to the short puckout before firing to the net.
Down then lost full back Matt Conlan to a black card for a deliberate foul on Muiris Curtin but Paddy McKenna failed with the resultant penalty, Stephen Keith reacting brilliantly and despite the numerical advantage Kildare failed to capitaise on their superiority.
Jack Sheridan did extend the lead to four but Down were back level at 0-12 to 1-9 after 24 minutes.
Pearse Óg McCrickard converting four chances.
Jack Sheridan has been in inspirational since his return to the team this year and he added his fifth point on 26 to keep Kildare in front.
It was a one point lead that Kildare would keep until the half time break. Sheridan added three more frees before the 35th minute, James Burke also weighing in with an excellent point. Down did close the gap to the minimum courtesy of Chris Egan, Ruairi McCrickard, Daniel Toner and an Eoghan Sands effort from a difficult angle.
The early crossfield breeze seemed to have eased over the half-time break but such was the accuracy of both teams you wouldn't have noticed the elements
Two Marc Fisher white flags either side of a Harry Carroll point for Kildare has the sides level for the ninth time, six minutes after the restart.
Jack Sheridan and James Burke kept Kildare in front but Down were never far away. Daithi Sands made the most of a Donal Hughes pass, cutting in along the endline before meeting a clatter of Kildare defenders.
Referee Chris Mooney pointed to the spot but it was hard to pinpoint the Kildare aggressor. Marc Fisher rattled the Kildare net low past Paddy McKenna to move the Mourne men two ahead.
Simon Leacy, with his third, reduced the gap but in Ballycran Down are hard to overcome and the experienced duo of Daithi Sands and Pearse Óg McCrickard edged them three ahead for the first time.
As we approached the last three minutes of normal time Cian Boran and Declan Flaherty left one between the sides. Flaherty showing all his experience to fire over into the dressing room end.
Kildare sensed a chance to finish strongly and when they were awarded a second penalty Jack Sheridan was presented with the chance to move the Lilywhites two ahead. Conan Boran was the man who set Sheridan free before he drew the foul.
For a second time Stephen Keith denied Kildare and Sheridan held his nerve to pop over the leveller from the resultant 65.
The closing nine mintes that included six injury saw the two sharpshooters Sheridan and McCrickard share the last four points,all frees as neither team could pull away.
McCrickard did have two late frees but both drifted wide of Paddy McKenna's post much to the delight of the travelling Kildare contingent.
It was a game that Brian Dowling might look back on as a point lost and those two missed penalties will no doubt play on his mind.Its Kildare's first point of the campaign and they can still reach the knockout stages.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna, Cian Shanahan, John McKeon, Mark Grace, Harry Carroll 0-1, Simon Leacy 0-3, Conan Boran, Rian Boran, Paul Dolan, James Burke 0-4, Conn Kehoe 0-1, Daire Guerin, Muiris Curtin 0-1, Jack Sheridan 1-12 (12 frees), Cian Boran 0-1. Subs: Sean Christanseen for Mark Grace 34; Cormac Byrne for John McKeon 43; Declan Flaherty 0-1 for Conn Kehoe 61; Cathal McCabe for Paul Dolan 61; David Qualter for Muiris Curtin 61; Jack Higgins for Simon Leacy B/S 66.
DOWN: Stephen Keith, Tom Murray, Matt Conlan, Mark Fisher 1-2 (1 penalty), Liam Savage,Caolan Taggart, Barry Trainor, Donal Hughes 0-2, Tim Prenter 0-1,Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-10 (7 frees), Ruairi McCrickard 0-1, Daithi Sands 0-2, Eoghan Sands 0-2,Chris Egan 0-1, Daniel Toner 0-3. Subs: Paul Sheehan for Eoghan Sands 51; Niall Milligan for Daniel Toner 60; Pheilim Savage for Donal Hughes.
Referee Chris Mooney (Dublin)
MAIN MAN
On a day where a share of the spoils was probably a fair result despite two missed penalties Kildare had good performances from Cian Shanahan and Conan Boran in defence Rian Boran worked tirelessly in the middle.James Burke contributed four points from play but with 1-12 Jack Sheridan is a worthy Man of the Match.
TURNING POINT
The two missed penalties one in each half were probably the chances Kildare needed to convert to have gained the full two points.The second one on 57 minutes was a crucial miss.
SCORE OF THE GAME
Some real good score taking from Kildare and their conversion rate was considerably better than the previous two rounds.James Burke's 34th minute point was the pick of the bunch.A combination of his high fielding and strength saw him shoot over an excellent score.
WHAT NOW?
Kildare have two rounds left,both at home in Manguard Park, and it will be Kerry who make the trip in two weeks time.
Two home wins might be enough for Kildare to make it into the semi final.