McGirr Cup; Kildare too strong for Leitrim

Kildare advanced to the semi-final of the Paul McGirr (minor) Cup with, in the end, a hard-fought but fully deserved win over Leitrim at wind-swept Manguard Park, Hawkfield on Sunday.

The home side, playing with strong wind, dominated from the word go, playing with the elements in their favour and led at the break 1-12 to 1-2, the Kildare goal coming in the 12 minute with Mark Travers finding the Leitrim net.

It took Leitrim until 23 minute to get their opening score and that was followed by a fine goal from Jack Donohue to give the vocal Leitrim fans something shout about.

Leitrim came storming back into it on the resumption with a two-pointer from Daire Boyle and a goal from Senan McGowan to cut the lead back to four.

Kildare re-grouped tacked on a few points and a goal from Hugh Martin settled the Kildare nerves and while Leitrim never gave up it was Kildare who advanced in the end on a final score line of Kildare 3-16 Leitrim 2-10, their final goal coming from Nathan Dunne.

Scorers: Kildare, Hugh Martin 1-4 (one two-pointer), Nathan Dunne 1-1, Mark Travers 1-0, Rory Thompson 0-3 (3 frees); Pauric Carty 0-2, Ollie Deller 0-2, Sean Gleeson 0-2, Niall McAndrew 0-1, Charlie Doran 0-1.

Leitrim, Senan McGowan 1-6 (two two-pointer frees); Jack Donogue 1-0, Darragh Boyle 0-2 (two-pointer), Conor Reynolds 0-1, Daire McCabe 0-1.

KILDARE: Jamie Wall (Round Towers): Dan Sargent (Eadestown), Niall McAndrew (Naas), Sean Gallagher (St Laurence's); Charlie Cullen (Ellistown), Aidan Maddock (Clane), Sean Gleeson (Round Towers); Calum Keaveney (Athy), Ollie Deller (Round Towers); Naethan Dunne (Naas), Hugh Martin (Suncroft), Mark Travers (Naas); Pauric Carthy (Rathangan), Rory Thompson (Raheens), Charlie Doran (Clane). Subs: Eoghan Lyons (Clane) for Rory Thompson (47 minutes); Conor O'Brien (Ellistown) for Pauric Carty (54 minutes); Rian Curran (Raheens) for Mark Travers (54 minutes); Max Rainbow (Sarsfields) for Calum Keaveny (63 minutes).

LEITRIM: Scott Kerr; Jack Donohue, Ronan Connolly, Louis Quinn; Cillian Darragh Boyle, Evan Gilligan, Karl Gethins; Thomas Gunn, Gearóid Curley; Conor Reynolds, Senan McGowan, Fankie McManus; Sean Gaffney, Daire McCabe, Mark Noan. Subs: Cillian McSweeney for Karl Gethins (40 minutes); Jak Prior for Thomas Gunn (42 minutes); Ross O'Shea for Darragh Boyle (54 minutes); Michael O'Grady for Conor Reynolds (54 minutes); Jack Moolick for Mark Nolan (58 minutes); Charlie Slevin for Gearoid Curley (59 minutes).

REFEREE: Ian Howley.