Kildare hurlers romp to huge victory over Tyrone

Christy Ring Cup

Kildare 2-31

Tyrone 0-11

Kildare will rarely have victories as easy as this as their long trip north to O Neill Park in Dungannon for Round Four of the Christy Ring Cup resulted in a twenty six point win. The win resulted in win number four of the competition and all but assures the Lilywhites of a place in the final on the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The 26 point victory was just reward for a Kildare side who dominated from the opening minute and despite shooting eighteen wides they totally outclassed Tyrone from the word go. Tyrone's cause wasn't helped when Sean Duffin was sent off for a second yellow on 60 minutes.

On a beautiful afternoon the Dungannon pitch was in pristine condition and ready for some proper summer hurling.Kildare hit four points in as many minutes at the start and essentially set the tone for the rest of the game.The excellent David Qualter opened the scoring from play inside the opening minute.Cathal McCabe got his first and when David Qualter,deputising for the absent Jack Sheridan, added two frees Kildare were four up in as many minutes.Aidy Kelly got Tyrone's opening score from a free seven minutes in.

Kildare's dominance all over the field was evident from an early stage and four further points before the end of the opening quarter pushed them 0-8 to 0-1 ahead.

The Boran's Conan and Cian hitting points either side of white flags from David Qualter and Daire Guerin. Aidy Kelly did get a second Tyrone free but they couldn't make any real inroads on a solid Kildare backline.

Aidy Kelly again from a free and a point from substitute Jack McToal was all the home side could muster before the break. Midfielder Sean Duffin was lucky to escape with only a yellow for a reckless tackle on Cathal McCabe as we passed the 21st minute.

Kildare finished the half with a fifteen point lead, outscoring Tyrone by 0-11 to 0-2 to emphasis their superiority.

David Qualter brought his first have total to 0-9 with five further frees.Simon Leacy with two, Mark Delaney, Cian, Conan and Rian Boran all raised white flags as Kildare went to the dressing room 0-19 to 0-4 to the good.

Conan Boran didn't return for the second half and James Dolan replaced him in a reshuffle that saw the Celbridge man in the full forward line. It didn't take long for Dolan to announce his arrival as he goaled directly from the restart. This years U20 finished like a veteran on his first Christy Ring appearance. David Qualter from a free and two Cian Boran efforts all enhanced Kildare's scoreboard before Aidy Kelly's fourth free opened Tyrone's second half account.

Despite Kildare's dominance they were wasteful in front of goal and after ten first half wides they added eight more after the break.

Joe McToal and Bryan McCabe were on the mark for the home side but it just ignited Kildare again David Qualter from play added his eleventh before he was replaced by Jack Sheridan.

A brilliant Cathal McCabe pass set up Cian Boran for his fifth before Sheridan announced his arrival with a 40 metre free.

The Kildare substitutes all played a part on the scoring charts in seeing out the comfortable win. Jack Sheridan hit 1-3,his goal coming directly from a line cut. Declan Flaherty with two and Conn Kehoe all reminding the management of their capabilities.

Sean Duffin got his second yellow on sixty as Jack McToal and Aidy Kelly brought the Tyrone total to 0-11.Cian Boran brought his personal tally to an impressive six points but when Kevin Parke from Donegal sounded the final whistle after four minutes of injury time Kildare had a resounding 2-31 to 0-11 win.

Kildare will never have an easier afternoon than thisThey created 53 scoring opportunities in a completely one sided affair.

All eyes turn to London next weekend where a draw or win will guarantee a final place for Kildare.

With a superior scoring difference they would still remain in pole position in the event of a defeat.

MAIN MAN

David Qualter

The Kildare backline were rarely troubled in this game. Rian Boran was solid. Cian Boran added six points but the Man of the Match goes to David Qualter. On a day where he took over the free taking duties he contributed 0-11 from frees and play.

TURNING POINT

Such was Kildare's dominance there was no Turning Point in this encounter. Four points in as many minutes at the start set the tone for a comfortable win.

TALKING POINT

The Kildare points came from all angles and distance as Tyrone put up very little resistance. When James Dolan came into the fray at half time the young Celbridge attacker was presented with a goal chance within 30 seconds. He made no mistake as he finished like a veteran for the score of the game.

WHAT NOW?

Kildare will make the trip to London to round off their campaign.

Scorers: Kildare, David Qualter 0-11 (0-7 frees), Cian Boran 0-6, Jack Sheridan 1-3 (0-2 frees, 0-1 Sideline), James Dolan 1-0, Declan Flaherty 0-2, Conan Boran 0-2, Simon Leacy 0-2, Rian Boran 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1, Daire Guerin 0-1, Mark Delaney 0-1, Conn Kehoe 0-1.

Tyrone, Aidy Kelly 0-6 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65’), Jack McToal 0-4, Bryan McGurk 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna, Daniel O'Meara, Mark Grace, Harry Carroll, Paul Dolan, Conan Boran, Cian Shanahan, Simon Leacy, Rian Boran, Cathal McCabe, David Qualter, Daire Guerin, Muiris Curtin, Mark Delaney, Cian Boran. SUBS: James Dolan for Conan Boran H/T, Declan Flaherty for Mark Delaney 45, Conn Kehoe for Muiris Curtin 54, Jack Sheridan for David Qualter 54, Cormac Byrne for Cathal McCabe 59.

TYRONE: Cathal McElhatton, Dean Rafferty, Ruairi Devlin, Tiernan Morgan, Mark McClean, Cormac Munroe, Bryan McGurk, James McCann, Sean Duffin, Aidy Kelly, Lorcan Devlin, Rory Weir, Fionn Devlin, Sean Og Grogan, Cormac Taggart. SUBS: Jack McToal for Cormac Taggart 22, Ben Gormley for Rory Weir 49, Turlough Mullin for Tiernan Morgan 51, Conal McKee for Sean Og Grogan 55, Anthony Crossan for Mark McClean 56.

Referee: Kevin Parke Donegal.