"The early goals gave us the edge" - Kildare hurling manager Brian Dowling reacts to Down win

Conditions were rough out there, the wind was blowing across the pitch wasn't really favouring anyone in either half but look we asked the lads just to stand up and be counted as we knew Down would here and put it up to us.

The words of Kildare hurling manager, Brian Dowling, just have seeing his side record their second win in the Kehoe Cup defeating visitors Down in Manguard Park on Saturday.

“We got two goals inside the opening five or six minutes and that was a great start which have us something to old on to throughout the match.

“A bit like last week where we missed a lot of chances again but it is is January but we will have to be more clinical, some we have to work on the training pitch and it is something we are working on.”

Looking ahead Brian admitted that they have a fair few lads to come back into the squad.

“A few lads came back into us from their clubs with injuries so we have to be careful with them, go with what the physios are telling us; lads are doing rehab every night in training, they are mad to get back but we have to ensure they are right, we don't want to pick up fresh injuries that could see them miss a number of weeks.”

One more game next week in the Kehoe Cup before the Allianz League begins the following week.