Christy Ring: Kildare come good in second half against Wicklow

In the end there was all of 22 points separting Kildare and Wicklow in this Round 2 Christy Ring Cup played at Manguard Park and while the final score line looks impressive it was not until the second half that Kildare pulled clear of an injury-hit Wicklow side.

Kildare led at the break by six points, after a half that saw them on top but hitting no less than ten wides in that period.

The goal in the fifth minute, saw James Burke nip in to steal the sliother ahead of a Wicklow defender, before blasting an unstoppable shot to the net.

Wicklow, to their credit, kept in touch and were just one point in arrears on 16 minutes before Kildare hit three points in a row and while the visitors reduced the lead with a Padraig Doran long range effort, Kildare pushed on again with points from Muris Curtin, Jack Sheridan (free) and two points from Mark Delaney to lead at the break 1-11 to 0-7.

No doubt after a stern talking to from manager Brian Dowling, Kildare stepped it up considerably on the resumption and with goals from Daire Guirin and Muiris Curtin and 16 points the home side recorded their expected big win with a total of ten players getting on the score sheet.

Final score line: Kildare 3-27 Wicklow 0-14.

Next up for Kildare is another home game with Derry the visitors next Saturday, throw-in 1 pm.

Scorers: Kildare, James Burke 1-4, Jack Sheridan 0-6 (6 frees), Muiris Curtin 1-2, Mark Delaney 0-3, David Qulter 0-3, Daire Guerin 1-0, Darragh Melville 0-2, Rian Boran 0-2, Conan Boran 0-2, Harry Carroll 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1, Conn Keogh 0-1.

Wicklow, Ian Clancy 0-3 (3 frees), Rian Waters 0-2, Dan Redmond 0-1, Padraig Doran 0-2, David Maloney 0-2, Gary Hughes 0-1, Brian Kearney 0-1, Dylan Byrne 0-1, Jack O'Toole 0-1 (free).

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Cormac Byrne, Mark Grace, Harry Carroll; Paul Dolan (EECC), Conan Boran, Rian Boran; Cathal McCabe, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, James Burke, Conn Kehoe; Muiris Curtin, Jack Sheridan, Mark Delaney. Subs: David Qualter for Conn Keogh (47 minutes); Declan Flaherty for David Qualter (53 minutes); Jack Higgins for Simon Leacy (54 minutes); Darragh Melville for Mark Delaney (64 minutes); Frank Bass for Cathal McCabe (66 minutes).

WICKLOW: Conor McNally; Ben Kearney, Brian Kearney, Tommy Collins; Dylan Byrne, Padraig Doran, James McGing; Cian Lohan, Brandan Ryan; Rian Waters, David Maloney, Ian Clancy; Dan Redmond, Gary Hughes, Luke Maloney. Subs: Jack O'Toole for Cian Lohan (50 minutes); Ruairi O'Brian for Ben Kearney (53 minutes); Torna Mulcrony for Gary Hughes (54 minutes); Shane Browne for James McGing (60 minutes); Cormac Byrne for Dan Redmond (71 minutes).

REFEREE: Brian Keon, Galway.

Christy Ring results:

Derry 2-26 Tyrone 0-13;

London 4-26 Sligo 0-12.