Kildare reach Walsh Shield final with last-minute win over Antrim

Kildare 0-17

Antrim 2-10

Brian Dowling's Kildare hurlers finished their first pre-season game, after their game with Galway last week was called off, as one-point winner's with a dramatic late win over Antrim to reach the Walsh Shield final, where they will face Kilkenny.

A back and forth opening half saw the sides level at 0-4 apiece after 15 minutes of action. Antrim then took the lead through full-forward Conal Cunning before The Lilies rattled off three without reply in the best spell that either side had had to that point.

One of the highlights of the first half from a Kildare point of view was Jack Sheridan’s faultless free-taking in difficult wind conditions. The Naas forward hit six first half frees. As well as those scores, diligent defensive work from Dan O’Meara and much of the backline will have pleased Brian Dowling, although the semi-frequent handling errors will hopefully have been eradicated come Allianz League time.

Antrim's route back was led by their free-taker Conal Cunning but it was midfielder Ryan McCambridge who got the first half’s final score to leave Kildare with just an 0-8 to 0-7 lead at the break.

Antrim got a better start to the second half than even Davy Fitzgerald could have dreamed of with two goals in three minutes. The first from Jack McCloskey following a ball across from Conal Cunning and the second from Paul Boyle, who latched onto a rebound after a fine save from Paddy McKenna. 

Kildare responded to the setback well with the game’s next three points to close the gap to two, at 2-7 to 0-11, with 15 minutes remaining.

That gap was maintained into the final 10 minutes too with Conal Cunning grabbing his fifth point and Antrim’s first single of the second half. However, the gap was brought back down to two by Jack Sheridan’s first from play in the 49th minute.

It was the same pair at it again with one at each end as this game sat at 2-9 to 0-13 in the 55th minute.

Jack Sheridan’s eighth free and ninth point made this a one point game in the 57th minute when he knocked over a set-piece.

A Cormac McKeown point for Antrim was again answered by Jack Sheridan to maintain a single point gap into added time.

It set up a grandstand finish with Jack Travers equalising brilliantly from out wide before substitute Liam O’Reilly won this game for Kildare with the last play of this semi-final. The Lilies edged Antrim at the death 0-17 to 2-10 to reach the Walsh Shield semi-final, where they will face Kilkenny away from home.

Kildare, Jack Sheridan 0-10 (0-9 frees), Gerry Keegan 0-2, Muiris Curtin 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-1, Jack Travers 0-1, Liam O'Reilly 0-1.

Antrim, Conal Cunning 0-6 (0-6 frees), Jack McCloskey 1-0, Paul Boyle 1-0, Joseph McLaughlin 0-1, Eoin O'Neill 0-1, Ryan McCambridge 0-1, Cormac McKeown 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Evan O'Briain, Rian Boran, Dan O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Alan Goss, Cathal McCabe; Caolan Smith, Gerry Keegan, Tim Ryan; Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, James Dolan. Subs: Jack Travers for Tim Ryan (40 minutes), Darragh Melville for James Dolan (46 minutes), Michael Owens for Darragh Melville (51 minutes), Liam O'Reilly for Evan O'Briain (51 minutes), Tom Power for Gerry Keegan (52 minutes).

ANTRIM: Domhall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Eoin McFerran, Ruairi McCormick; Gerard Walsh, Joe Maskey, Sean McKay; Eoin O Neill, Ryan McCambridge; Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle, Seán Duffin; Jack McCloskey, Conal Canning, Joseph McLaughlin. Subs: Niall O'Connor for Sean McKay (31 minutes), Seann Elliott for Jack McCloskey (38 minutes), Conor Johnson for Joseph McLaughlin (38 minutes), James McNaughton for Eoin O'Neill (44 minutes).

Referee: Kyle Waters (Offaly)

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