Kildare hurlers maintain their 100% winning record with excellent win over Kerry

Allianz Hurling League Division 2A

Kildare 2-20

Kerry 0-21

Kildare made it 15 wins on the trot on Saturday last when they scored a five point win over Kerry in Round 4 of the Allianz Hurling League, Division 2A, at St Conleth's Park, Newbridge.

The five point winning margin certainly did not flatter Kildare, in fact if it had been double that score it would have been a better indication of David Herity's team superiority.

Two brilliant goals, from Brian Byrne and Gerry Keegan was top drawer stuff, the first a brilliant move, the second a brilliant finish.

In front of a great crowd, on a bitterly cold afternoon with the rain coming in fits and starts, it was Kildare who opened the scoring with Cathal McCabe hitting a beauty after just 25 seconds and James Burke getting the first of his dozen points after four minutes.

Kerry hit back in probably their best period of the game hitting four points on the trot from Padraig Boyle, Gavin Dooley, Shane Conway and Dooley again to lead 0-4 to 0-2 after ten.

A couple of poor wides from The Lilies before Paul Dolan replied with a point as Evan Murphy picked up an early yellow.

Kildare upped their game considerably from here on, getting on top on their own half back line and midfield they hit four points in a row from James Burke who fired over three, two frees, with Gerry Keegan hitting over a lovely effort to lead 0-07 to 0-4 after 17 minutes.

Padraig Boyle converted two frees to leave it 0-7 to 0-6 on 22 minutes. Incredibly the boys from The Kingdom were not to raise another white flag for the remaining of the half.

Kildare, on the other hand, showing great hunger and intensity went about opening up a gap that was never to be closed and while they had a strong wind on their backs, their overall display was impressive.

Goalkeeper Paddy McKenna, passing to Niall Ó Muineacháin, received the return and then hit a monster effort straight between the sticks into the town end.

Declan Flaherty, a James Burke free; Conan Boran set up Cathal Dowling who fired over; James Burke added a free; Conan Boran was fouled and Burke did the rest before finding the posts from close to the sideline to make it 0-14 to 0-6 at half- time.

Kerry did have a couple of chances late on including a free straight in froNt of the posts, but failed to convert, to trail by eight at the break.

It was impressive stuff from Kildare, laced with some great movement and top class scoring.

Kerry with the wind in their favour in the second half were expected to come back at The Lilies and when they opened with two points inside two minutes, from substitute Keith Carmody and Padraig Boyle it cut the lead back to six points.

Kildare responded in brilliant fashion in a move that would not be out of place atthe highest level.

Starting with keeper Paddy McKenna who found Brian Boran, who passed to Paul Divilly; Boran received the return and in turn found Brian Byrne; the Naas man blasted to the net for an absolute cracking goal; the score now reading Kildare 1-14 Kerry 0-8 on 39 minutes.

Padraig Boyle converted a free; James Burke, with a similar score after a foul on Paul Divilly that saw Kerry no. 3 Eric Leen yellow carded.

Padraig Boyle converted another Kerry free (before being substituted) and when Shane Conway popped one over the lead was now back to seven points on 47 minutes.

Another James Burke free was followed by a similar score after Kerry, not for the first time in this game were blown for over-carrying.

Shane Conway, Kerry's most effective forward on the day, added another point.

A move down the far wing saw James Burke pass to Gerry Keegan who split the posts.

Points from Daniel Collins and Shane Conway keptKerry in touch but another James Burke free left seven separating the sides on 57 minutes.

The visitors gave themselves a chance when raising two white flags, both from the stick of Conway but Kildare responded brilliantly with goal number two.

James Burke found Gerry Keegan and the Celbridge man using his pace to great effect, carried before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the Kerry net to leave it 2-19 to 0-17.

Three points from Shane Conway kept the game alive with time running out, four minutes of time added was announced with The Lilies still enjoying a cushion of five points.

Substitute Mark Delaney pushed that out to six before Kerry were awarded a free and Shane Conway had little option but to try his luck for a goal but 'keeper Paddy McKenna was on hand to push his effort out for a 65 and while Conway duly converted it was not enough as Kildare clinched a vital win by five points — 2-20 to 0-21.

The win guarantees Kildare a semi-final place but if they can defeat or even draw with Offaly next Sunday in Tullamore they will go straight to the final; at worst they are guaranteed a semi-final spot with a home fixture, one week later.

So it is win number 15 on the trot for Kildare and counting; another big game next week in O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

A great crowd, a mighty display that sees the hurling star of Kildare continue to rise in the right direction.

Great stuff!

SCORERS

Kildare: James Burke 0-12 (10 frees), Gerry Keegan 1-2, Brian Byrne 1-0, Paul Dolan 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1, Paddy McKenna 0-1, Mark Delaney 0-1, Cathal Dowling 0-1, Declan Flaherty 0-1.

Kerry: Shane Conway 0-10 (5 frees, 65), Padraig Boyle 0-6 (5 frees), Gavin Dooley 0-2, Daniel Collins 0-1, Keith Carmody 0-1, Jordan Conway 0-1.

TEAMS

Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Niall Ó Muineacháin, Simon Leacy, Cormac Byrne; Cian Shanahan, Rian Boran, Conan Boran; Paul Dolan, Cathal McCabe; James Burke, Gerry Keegan, Paul Divilly; Brian Byrne, Declan Flaherty, Cathal Dowling. Subs: Jack Travers for Cian Shanahan (half-time); Cian Boran for Paul Divilly (47 minutes); Mark Delaney for Declan Flaherty (57 minutes); Jack Higgins for Gerry Keegan (66 minutes); Drew Costello for Cathal McCabe (73 minutes).

Kerry: John B O'Halloran; Cillian Trant, Eric Leen, Eoin Ross; Evan Murphy, Michael Boyle, Paudie O'Connor; Daniel Collins, Gavin Dooley; Kyle O'Connor, Fionan MacKessy, Michael Leane; Shane Conway, Daithi Griffin, Padraig Boyle. Subs: Keith Carmody for Daithi Griffin (half-time); Niall Mulcahy for Paudie O'Connor (half-time); Jordan Conway for Padraig Boyle (46 minutes); Jason Diggins for Cillian Trant (49 minutes).

REFEREE: Caymon Flynn, Westmeath.