Opportunity missed as Kildare go down to Kerry in Joe McDonagh

Defeat in Round 1 of the Joe McDonagh Cup at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, on Saturday, was a major disappointment, from a Kildare point of view.

A clash between two of the sides that would not be considered the strongest in the six team competition, the result pours pressure on Kildare as they face up to very strong opposition in the coming weeks.

Looking at the visitors warm-up one could not be but impressed, they looked slick, focused, up for the battle and most important of all, as they went through their routine their stick work was impressive, very impressive.

And from the word go the boys in green and gold brought that warm-up into the action.

On the opposite Kildare looked somewhat lethargic, failing to win most of the 50-50 clashes while their first touch looked far from what is expected at this level.

It was Kerry danger-man Padraig Boyle who opened the scoring with David Qualter equalising from a placed ball after Jack Sheridan was fouled.

Paul Dolan linked up with Darragh Melville whose effort was brilliantly saved by Kerry no. 1 Louis Dee, the rebound found its way to Gerry Keegan and the Celbridge man fired over.

Oisín Maunsell had them tied up before David Qualter edged The Lilies ahead again on eleven minutes.

Still Kerry had more possession at this stage but their shooting lacked accuracy, however on 12 minutes a long ball into the danger area saw Boyle get a flick to find the Kildare net as they took the lead 1-2 to 0-3.

A poor clearance saw the sliothar land in the hand of Kevin Goulding, the centre back fired over. It was one of a fair few poor clearances from a defence that was working hard to contain Kerry but many of their clearances were rushed and did not find their intended targets.

Darragh Melville and Cathal McCabe landed points but in between Padraig Boyle hit three on the trot.
Jack Sheridan was coming in for stick, reacted and was duly yellow carded.

Two points, frees, from David Qualter reduced the deficit to two, the second after Sheridan was once again the recipient of some close attention and this time his immediate marker, Kyle O'Connor, finally got a yellow card.

As we have often seen in the past in similar circumstances once the 'marker' has been carded he is moved and in this case Darragh Conway was given the task of 'looking after' Sheridan.

As Kerry clocked up their ninth wide of the opening half, Cathal McCabe dispossessed a Kerry defender and duly sent over.

A high challenge on Paul Dolan saw Daithi Griffin pick up a yellow as David Qualter converted the resultant free to level on 30 minutes.

Before the break that man Boyle hit a beauty, a long range free, to push his side one ahead at the break Kerry 1-7 Kildare 0-9.
Kildare, would have the benefit of a stiff breeze on their backs in the second half but they would certainly need to show vast improvement if they were to get their first ever victory in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Kerry's Darragh Shanahan picked up an early yellow and five minutes in Paul Dolan hit a beauty of a long range effort from close to the sidelinen on the terrace side and the teams were level.

A minute later Kildare were awarded a free after the sliother was brought forward for mouthing. David Qualter knocked over from 20m line but inexplicitly the point was chalked off, the referee, who had a decent game in fairness, intimated Qualter had advanced too far when striking the ball.

Cathal McCabe had Kildare in front and Darragh Melville left two between them on 44 minutes, Kildare 0-12 Kerry 1-7 and yet to score in the second half.

Padraig Boyle reduced the lead with a free before Rian Boran averted a dangerous situation with a brilliant block.
Boyle added a point to draw level but Kildare responded with points from David Qualter (2) and Cian Boran.

Daire Guerin saw yellow but another free from Qualter saw Kildare open a four point lead on 53 minutes and he should have added another but a 65 went right and missed the target.

Still Kildare were looking very good at this stage, and with top marksman Padraig Boyle being replaced, presumably injured, on came Dylan Moriarty, but the no 22 certainly made his mark for the 15 minutes of action he saw.

Three points on the trot saw the lead cut back to one but again Kildare responded and two points for Qualter and one from Gerry Keegan had the home side leading 0-19 to 1-12 with 64 minutes on the clock.

However that was Kildare's last score of the game as Kerry came storming back with three points from Moriarity before Kevin Goulding had them level on 72 — 0-19 to 1-16.

Before that leveler Kildare had hit three wides and then into time added on Oisín Maunsell hit the winner, Kildare had an opportunity to level but Gerry Keegan's effort went left and wide; Jack Sheridan should have been awarded a free, perhaps if the foul had been committed on a different player, it may have been given.

Final score on a very disappointing day for Kildare hurlers — Kerry 1-17 Kildare 0-19.

MAIN MAN
Padraig Boyle
On a day David Qualter (10 points0 was the main man for Kildare, it was Kerry's full forward Padraig Boyle, who was the outstanding player on the field. He caused untold damage hitting an impressive 1-7 in total and even when subbed his replacement, Dylan Moriarty raised no less than five vital white flags.

TURNING POINT
Despite conceding a goal on 12 minutes, Kildare trailed by just one at the break; went four ahead on 64 but then Kerry upped their game hitting the final five points on the trot between the 66 and 73 minute.

TALKING POINT
Kildare showed nothing like the form they are capable of, as manager Brian Dowling said after the game “it was our worst performance on the season.”

Kildare's full forward line of Jack Sheridan, James Burke and Jack Higgins (replaced by Muiris Curtin on 55 minutes) but none of the quartet managed to raise a white flag between then; while The Lilies half-back line managed an impressive four points between them.

WHAT NOW?
Little or no time to look back on this disappointment as Kildare are straight back into action on Saturday when Westmeath are the visitors and with the other results last week seeing Carlow hammer Down 6-23 to 0-20 and Laois defeating Westmeath 3-25 to 1-22, ,the importance of next week's game is there for all to see.

SCORERS

Kerry: Padraig Boyle 1-7 (5 frees), Dylan Moriarty 0-5 (5 frees, 65), Oisín Maunsell 0-3, Kevin Goulding 0-2.

Kildare: David Qualter 0-10 (8 frees, 65), Cahal McCabe 0-3, Gerry Keegan 0-2, Darrgh Melville 0-2, Cian Boran 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-1.

TEAMS

Kerry: Louis Dee; Kyle O'Connor, Flor McCarthy, Dara Kearney; Darragh Shanahan, Kevin Goulding, Darragh Conway; Paudie O'Connor, Daithí Griffin; Tom Doyle, Killian Hayes, Luke Crowley; Ronán Walsh , Padraig Boyle, Oisin Maunsell, Subs: Shane Nolan for Luke Crowley (48 minutes); Seanie Brosnan for Daithi Griffin (52 minutes); Dylan Moriarty for Padraig Boyle (58 minutes); Adam Segal for Killian Hayes (69 minutes); Rory Mahony for Ronan Walsh (69 minutes).

Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Simon Leacy, Rian Boran; Paul Dolan, Cathal McCabe, Daniel O’Meara; Daire Guerin, Cian Boran; David Qualter, Gerry Keegan, Darragh Melville; Jack Sheridan, James Burke, Jack Higgins. Subs: Muiris Curtin for Jack Higgins (46 minutes); Jack Travers for Daire Guerin (54 minutes).

REFEREE: Colm Cunning, Antrim.

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