Curtin's for Antrim as Kildare register dominant league win

Kildare 3-21

Antrim 0-20

Kildare dominated Antrim to put their first win on the board in Allianz Hurling League Division 1B while heaping pressure on Davy Fiztgerald’s Antrim who are now winless from their first three.

The visitors got the game’s opening two scores through Sean Elliott and Ruairí Donaghy before Jack Sheridan settled home nerves with a free.

Ryan McCambridge answered back for Antrim when he found himself in acres of space in midfield before Kildare got back level with superb scores from Muiris Curtin and Jack Travers which lifted the support in Newbridge. 

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

These sides were near inseparable in the first 15 minutes of this game in fact and, 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. Antrim were architects of their own downfall in that spell with their goalkeeper being penalised for a delayed restart, as well as a poorly lost puck-out, both of which were punished by Kildare.

Kildare’s three point lead earned in that phase of the game would remain until half-time in the end, but, in the moment, Antrim responded sharply with two points to close the gap. The Lilies responded with two of their own and both exemplified the edge that Brian Dowling’s men displayed all day.

First, Jack Travers hassled and harried to turn over possession before jinking into space and firing over for a point all of his own making. Just a couple of minutes later, Cathal Dowling was the first responder to a Jack Sheridan set-piece which came back off the post and he extended their advantage. 

Two Sean Elliott scores and a point from each of the Kildare wing-back's meant 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.

Three points down in a crucial fixture, an Antrim response was expected but any desire to do so was stifled by the brilliant home side. 

Kildare pushed themselves five clear in the five minutes after half-time with points from Cathal McCabe and Jack Sheridan before they hit 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.

Dolan’s goal was answered at the other end by a Sean Elliott free before two set-pieces from Jack Sheridan restored and then extended the gap again. After 10 minutes of second half action, The Lilies led 1-18 to 0-12.

The Lilies were totally dominant in the second half and the game was already getting away from Antrim before two goals in two minutes from Muiris Curtin killed it. 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. 

Two minutes later, and separated by a Ryan McCambridge point, 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. It was a clean and confident strike to give The Lilies a commanding 3-18 to 0-14 lead in the 49th minute.

The pace of the game dipped slightly from here with Kildare content and having got through an enormous amount of work, while Antrim looked devoid of belief.

The result was never changing but there was one final punishment for The Saffrons when Jack McCloskey was sent off for a swipe off his hurl across an opponents shin which meant he saw red in the 73rd minute.

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: Domhnall 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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