Down surge late to beat Kildare in Division 2 final
Brian Dowling's men finished 4-22 to 3-18 adrift of Down in their Allianz League Division 2 Final clash in Grattan Park, Inniskeen
Down 4-22
Kildare 3-18
Kildare hurlers finished seven points adrift of Down when they met in the in their Allianz League Division 2 Final clash in Grattan Park, Inniskeen.
After two Kildare goals early in the second half, Down responded with a quick-fire double of their own. The third Down goal will hurt the most for The Lilies as a free from wing-back from Marc Fisher from his own 45' was sent into the Kildare box and bounced into the top of the net. The goal made the score 3-18 to 3-16 in Down's favour in the 61st minute.
As Kildare pushed to respond, Down pushed clear and were crowned Division 2 champions.
Down, Tom McGrattan 2-5 (0-4 frees), Eoghan Sands 0-6, Tim Prenter 1-3, Donal Hughes 0-4, Marc Fisher 1-0, (1-0 frees), Chris Egan 0-2, Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-2.
Kildare, David Qualter 0-7 (0-5 frees), Jack Sheridan 2-0, Darragh Melville 1-0, Cian Boran 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-2, Gerry Keegan 0-2, James Burke 0-2, Daire Guerin 0-1, Rian Boran 0-1, Jack Higgins 0-1.
DOWN: Stephen Keith; Matt Conlan, John McManus, Tom Murray; Marc Fisher, Caolan Taggart, Liam Savage; Donal Hughes, Phelim Savage; Chris Egan, Tim Prenter, Eoghan Sands; Tom McGrattan, Ronan Beatty, Pearse Óg McCrickard. Subs: Finn Turpin for Phelim Savage (48 minutes), Niall McFarland for Liam Savage (48 minutes), Paul Sheehan for Chris Egan (57 minutes).
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Simon Leacy, Rian Boran; Daniel O'Meara, Cian Boran, Paul Dolan; Daire Guerin, Cathal McCabe; James Burke, Jack Higgins, James Dolan; Jack Sheridan, Darragh Melville, David Qualter. Subs: Gerry Keegan for James Dolan (Half-time), Muiris Curtin for Darragh Melville (44 minutes), Jack Travers for Jack Sheridan (67 minutes).
Referee: Brian Keon