Kildare set for Joe McDonagh Cup final on June 8 after Down win

Kildare 1-26

Down 1-14

Kildare booked their place in the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup final after defeating Down on Saturday in Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge on a final score line of Kildare 1-26 Down 1-14.

Down have proven a very difficult outfit for Kildare over the past number of seasons, already this year they have defeated The Lilies and while the home side certainly came into this one full of confidence, at the back of the mind those defeats were no doubt lingering.

A win on Saturday ensured advancement to the decider, however if the game between Laois and Carlow had ended in a draw then The Lilies had to come out on top, a draw would not have been enough and while that other game incredibly ended all square with a late and controversial Laois goal, Brian Dowling said after the game they went into this one with the intention of winning and nothing else.

The home side started somewhat hesitantly, showing a few nerves in front of a good attendance with Down taking the lead inside two minutes, a point from Tim Printer, David Qualter levelling up a minute later.

Top free taker, Paul Sheehan edge the visitors in front but points from Cathal McCabe and Simon Leacy had Kildare in front by one after eight minutes.

Donal Hughes leveled up matters but Kildare began to find their rhythm.

A disputed point went against Kildare before James Burke fired over, Donal Hughes leveld again at 0-4 apiece before Kildare stepped it up.

Points from Paul Dolan, Gerry Keegan, and a 65m free from David Qualter put three points between the sides on 16 minutes and while Daithi Sands got one back for Down, Kildare came again, a long ball in was gathered by Jack Sheridan who fed Gerry Keegan who was fouled and Qualter did the rest and when Cathal Dowling found the range, followinf a lovely ball in from Paul Dolan, Kildare led 0-9 to 0-5 with 19 gone.

Jack Sheridan was again fouled; Qualter again pointed and extended the lead with two pointed frees to lead 0-12 to 0-5.
Jack Sheridan was denied by Down keeper Stephen Keith before Darragh Melville, all alone, split the posts.

It was all Kildare at this stage, Darragh Melville carried the ball with intent deep into enemy territory, crossed to David Qualter and the Maynooth man blasted to the net to lead 1-13 to 0-5 on 29 minutes.

And while Down hit back with two frees, Simon Leacy, once again outstanding, found Gerry Keegan, the Celbridge man fired over to leave the half time score reading Kildare 1-14 Down 0-7.

Kildare came out for the second half fully aware there would be a kick in the Down side and that certainly proved the case with two quick points from Finn Turpin and a free from Paul Sheehan.

David Qualter replied for Kildare; Paul Sheehan replied with a similar score after Rian Boran made a brilliant fetch, lost possession and is intended pass went astray, a foul ensued and Sheehan made no mistake to leave it 1-15 to 0-10 after 44 minutes.

Qualter added a point from some 65m before Gerry Keegan found himself in on goal only to be denied by a brilliant save from Stephen Keith.

Donal Hughes got a point back for Down but again The Lilies stepped up with points from Qualter (free) a brilliant point from second half substitute Jack Travers and another converted free after Jack Sheridan was again fouled.

Travers was certainly up for the challenge, using his strength to great effect and when another Qualter converted free was followed by a Gerry Keegan point Kildare now led 1-21 to 0-11 on 55 minutes and were well on their way to their first ever Joe McDonagh Cup final and remember up this season The Lilies had never recorded even a win in this competition in their three years prior to 2025.

Another Qualter point (free) and a Darragh Melville effort extended the lead, with Qualter adding yet another point from a placed ball to extend the gap out to 15 points with five minutes remaining.

Paul Sheehan reduced the lead with two frees before Down were awarded a free outside the 20m line.

Kildare packed the line, with keeper Paddy McKenna out in front and it was the Clane man who made the stop with his usual aplomb.

Paul Sheehan added a free before Killian Harrington got his name on the score sheet and while Down hit back with a late goal from the stick of substitute Shea Pucci it was a mere consolation as the final whistle arrived with Kildare winning on a final score line of 1-26 to 1-14.

A magnificent victory for Brian Dowling's side who have grown in strength and strength since losing to Kerry by a point in their opening game.

It has been a memorable season, to date for Dowling's side, a successful league saw them promoted and now to reach the final of the Joe McDonagh Cup is a major step forward.

When one considers that at the start of this competition the no. 1 aim for The Lilies was to cement their place in the McDonagh Cup and build on that next season. Now they are in the final and on top of that automatically advance to a pre-
quarter-final of the Liam McCarthy against either the third place finishers in the Leinster or Munster senior hurling championships.

That will be a home game as well (albeit a mere week after the McDonagh Cup final) but for now all thoughts are on Croke Park in two weeks time, a curtain-raiser for the Leinster senior final.

As said Laois will provide the opposition, they defeated Carlow with a very late controversial goal, the sides met just two weeks ago when Kildare had a very comfortable win, this time around Laois will be gunning for Kildare but The Lilies tails are up, their confidence is high and they can certainly travel to Croker in the knowledge that they have already beaten their opposition and are more than capable of repeating that.

Bring it on!

SCORERS
Kildare: David Qualter 1-13 (65, 12 frees), Gerry Keegan 0-3, Darragh Melville 0-3, Cathal Dowling 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-1, Simon Leacy 0-1, James Burke 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1, Jack Travers 0-1, Killian Harrington 0-1.

Down: Paul Sheehan 0-8 (8 frees), Shea Pucci 1-0, Donal Hughes 0-3, Daithi Sands 0-1, Tim Prenter 0-1, Finn Turpin 0-1.

TEAMS
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Richie Hogan, Rian Boran cpt, Daniel O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, James Burke; Cathal McCabe, Darragh Melville, David Qualter; Gerry Keegan, Cathal Dowling, Jack Sheridan. Subs: Jack Travers for James Burke (26 minutes); Conn Keogh for Jack Sheridan (56 minutes); Liam O'Reilly for Cathal McCabe (60 minutes); Killian Harrington for Cathal Dowling (64 minutes); Jack Higgins for Gerry Keegan (65 minutes).

Down: Stephen Keith; Matt Conlan, Marc Fisher, Niall McFarland; Ruairi McCrickard, Caolan Taggart, Ben Teggart; Tim Prenter, Phelim Savage; Pearse Óg McCrickard, Donal Hughes, Finn Turpin; Paul Sheehan, Eoghan Sands, Daithi Sands. Subs: Chris Egan for Phelim Savage (34 minutes); Liam Savage for Marc Fisher (54 minutes); Michael Dorrian for Pearse Óg McCrickard (54 minutes); Shea Pucci for Finn Turpin (58 minutes); Conor Cassidy for Niall McFarland (62 minutes.

Referee: Brian Keon, Galway.

LISTEN: Kildare star reacts to reaching Joe McDonagh Cup final