Kildare hurlers remain on course to retain Kehoe Cup

2024 Kehoe Cup Round 2

Kildare 2-17

Down 0-15

Manager Brian Dowling saw his side make it two from two with this somewhat comfortable victory over Down on Saturday at Manguard Park, Hawkfield.

Once Kildare fired two goals in the opening five minutes the visitors were always chasing and in fairness it was a chase they never really looked like winning.

The win, coming on top of Kildare's win over Wicklow a week ago after which they (Wicklow) withdrew from the Kehoe Cup giving Meath a walk over this weekend it means that Kildare and Meath will now meet in Round 3 with the winners taking the early silverware on the day.

That game, incidentally, will be played at Manguard Park also so a real chance for Kildare to make it back-to-back Cups having taken the honours in 2023.

An opening goal inside a minute from Cian Boran, set up by Paul Dolan was the perfect start and while Mark Fisher replied with a point for Down, a second goal on five minutes with Jack Sheridan strolling although the Down defence before blasting to the net and the early indications were all pointing Kildare's way.

James Dolan an Jack Higgins added points for the home side before Tom Prenter hit two quick points and with Caolan Teggart firing over a free the score read Kildare 2-2 Down 0-5 after fifteen minutes.

The Boran boys, Cian and Rian, combined for the former to point, Jack Sheridan added two frees with Rian Boran adding another as Kildare now led 2-7 to 0-6, Pearse Óg McCrickard converting a Down free.

Caolan Teggard got his second and while Pears Óg added three frees before half-time Kildare saw Jack Sheridan add two to his first half total as Kildare led at the break 2-9 to 0-9.

The second half was a bit like two teams just going through the motions with both missing good chances early on before Jack Sheridan converted a free following a foul on Cian Boran, that after the home side had hit four wides on the trot.

Down half-time substitute Oisin McManus reduced the deficit with a free and Mark Fisher got his second of the game.

However, there was no denying Kildare who controlled the game with some ease adding points from Muiris Curtin, Jack Sheridan (free) and substitute Conn Keogh to stretch their lead out to 2-13 to 0-11.

As the wind was beginning to get up and the rain starting to fall the game reached its inevitable ending with the sides sharing four points equally before the final whistle arrived Kildare winning on a final score line of Kildare 2-17 Down 0-015.

These teams meet again in a few weeks time with Kildare travelling north and no doubt it will be different Down side than what we saw in this game on Saturday.

MAIN MAN

No real stand-out performances on either side but with Jack Sheridan firing a total of 1-9 to add to his 2-12 from the previous week, he deserves to get the accolade. Other decent performances from Mark Grace and Harry Carroll and midfielder Rian Boran.

TURNING POINT

I suppose when a side hits two goals, the first inside the opening minute and the second inside five minutes of the start there is hardly any need to look beyond two strikes form Cian Boran Jack Sheridan for a turning point.

TALKING POINT

Last season Kildare defeated Down at this stage in the same competition as they went on to win the Kehoe Cup undefeated with four wins from four but one can expect a much different display from the boys in black and red when they meet again on February 25 in Ballycran.

REFEREE WATCH

Not a whistler we have come across before but Derek Ryan did a fine job throughout the game. Derek is a Redemptorist priest and is based in a monastery in Dundalk, which in itself is certainly unusual these days.

Scorers: Kildare, Jack Sheridan 1-9 (7 frees), Cian Boran 1-0, Rian Boran 0-2, Muiris Curtin 0-2, Jack Higgins 0-1, James Dolan 0-1, Conn Kehoe 0-1, Cian Shanagan 0-1.

Down, Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-4 (2 frees), Oisin McManus 0-3 ( frees), Caolan Teggart 0-2 (2 frees), Tim Printer 0-2, Mark Fischer 0-2, Daithi Sands 0-1, Eoghan Sands 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna cpt; Cian Shanahan, Seán Christanseen, Mark Grace; Harry Carroll Simon Leacy, Conan Boran; Rian Boran, Daire Guerin; Paul Dolan, Jack Sheridan, Jack Higgins; Muiris Curtin, Cian Boran, James Dolan (Celbridge). Subs: Conn Kehoe for James Dolan (49 minutes); Frank Bass for Jack Higgins (57 minutes); Drew Costello for Harry Carroll (63 minutes); Reece Gavin for Paul Dolan (65 minutes); Sean O'Connor for Conan Boran (68 minutes).

DOWN: Stephen Keith cpt.; Darragh Mallon, Tom Murray, Conor Cassidy; Mark Fisher, Caolan Teggart, Barry Trainor; Liam Savage, Donal Hughes; Niall Milligan, Eoghan Sands, Pearse Óg McCrickard; Tim Printer, Chris Egan, Danny Toner. Subs: Tom McGrattan for Danny Toner (half-time); Oisin McManus for Tim Printer (half-time); Niall Milligan for Pearse Óg McCrickard (55 minutes); Matt Conlon for Conor Cassidy (56 minutes).

REFEREE: Derek Ryan.