Curtin's for Antrim as Kildare register dominant league win

The Kildare hurlers put in a brilliant display to beat Antrim in their Allianz Hurling League Division 1B meeting. This game was pegged pre-match as crucial for both sides in the hunt for survival and it certainly carried that atmosphere into this showdown in Cedral St Conleth's Park.

It was a slow start to proceedings before business picked up around the 10 minute mark and challenges began to fly in and scores started to flow.

These sides were near inseparable in the first 15 minutes of this game. Trailing by one at 0-8 to 0-7 after 18 minutes of action, Kildare put together the best sequence of scores in the first half when they rattled off four without reply, three from Jack Sheridan and one from Cathal McCabe.

Kildare’s three point lead earned in that phase of the game would remain until half-time, The Lilies went in at the break leading 0-14 to 0-11. Perhaps the best aspect of Kildare’s first half was their defensive output all over the field, snuffing out danger at the back and turning turnovers into points at the top end of the field.

Kildare pushed themselves five clear in the 10 minutes after half-time before hitting the net for the first time. A superb ball was flown into Muiris Curtin who in turn offloaded to James Dolan, the Celbridge man found the very top of the corner of the net leaving Domhall Nugent no chance.

The Lilies were totally dominant in the second half even before two goals in two minutes from Muiris Curtin which killed this game. The Moorefield man rose high above his marker and brilliantly fetched possession before spinning and finding the top corner to score one of the finest goals you could hope to see. 

Curtin got in again when he received a flick up from the feet of a hurl-less Cathal Dowling before firing back across goal and low into the net.

Three excellent goals added style points to an exceptional performance as Kildare got their first Division 1B win on the board with a 3-21 to 0-20 victory over Antrim.

Kildare, Jack Sheridan 0-9 (0-6 frees), Muiris Curtin 2-2, James Dolan 1-0, Jack Travers 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-2, Cathal McCabe 0-2, Cathal Dowling 0-1, Daire Guerin 0-1, Gerry Keegan 0-1, Conn Kehoe 0-1.

Antrim, Sean Elliott 0-12 (0-9 frees, 1 x '65), Ryan McCambridge 0-3, Conal Cunning 0-2, James McNaughton 0-1, Ruairí Donaghy 0-1, Eoin O'Neill 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Simon Leacy, Conan Boran; Cathal McCabe, Cathal Dowling, Jack Travers; Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, Gerry Keegan. Subs: James Dolan for Jack Travers (33 minutes), Alan Goss for Paul Dolan (51 minutes), Conn Kehoe for Cathal Dowling (59 minutes), Harry Carroll for Dan O'Meara (64 minutes), Tom Power for Gerry Keegan (68 minutes).

ANTRIM: Domhall Nugent; Niall O'Connor, Paddy Burke, Ruairí McCormick; Stephen Rooney, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Eoin O'Neill; Ruairí Donaghy, Sean Elliott, Seán Duffin; Conor Johnston, James McNaughton, Conal Cunning. Subs: Scott Walsh for Ruairí Donaghy (Half-time), Keelan Molloy for Seán Duffin (Half-time), Eoin McFerean for Ruairí McCormick (42 minutes), Paul Boyle for Eoin O'Neill (56 minutes), Jack McCloskey for Conor Johnston (56 minutes).

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)

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