Kehoe Cup: Kildare too strong for Down

Kildare made it three wins from three with a comfortable 11 point win over Down in Round 3 of the Kehoe Cup at Hawkfield COE this afternoon.

Kildare led at the break 0-15 to 0-5, ironically scoring the same total for the opening half that they managed in the entire game against Wicklow a week previously.

In control throughout, they led 0-6 to no score before the visitors opened their account after 17, a free from centre forward Chris Egan.

James Burke was again the top scorer in the opening half with five, with Jack Travers and Cathal McCabe raising three points apiece.

Down improved somewhat on the resumtpion without ever threatening Kildare, in fact David Herity introduced no less than six second half subs, to add to their two earlier.

Kildare now meet Meath next Saturday in the final game of the Kehoe, a game that could see the Cup return to Kildare if they defeat The Royals.

Final score: Kildare 0-26 Down 0-15.

Scorers:Kildare, James Burke 0-7 (4 frees), Jack Travers 0-3, Cathal McCabe 0-4, Declann Flaherty 0-3, David Qualter 0-3 (2 frees), Paul Dolan 0-2, Johnny Byrne 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1, Reece Gavin 0-1, Cathal Dowling 0-1,

Down, Chris Egan 0-6 (4 frees, 65), Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-4 (1 free), Jordan Doran 0-1, Sean Campbell 0-1, Oisin McManus 0-1, Paul Sheelhan 0-1, Sean Campbell 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Simon Leacy, Sean Christanseen, Cormac Byrne; Jack Travers, Cian Shanahan, Harry Carroll; Cathal McCabe, Paul Dolan; Johnny Byrne, James Burke, Jack Higgins; Brian Byrne, David Qualter, Cathal Dowling. Subs: Killian Aherne for Cathal Dowling (23 minutes); Declan Flaherty for Jack Higgins (32 minutes); Drew Costello for Harry Carroll (49 minutes); Frank Bass for James Burke (57 minutes); Reece Gavin for Paul Dolan (57 minutes); Sean Whelan for Cathal McCabe (60 minutes); Michael Hogan for Cormac Byrne (60 minutes); Peter O'Donoghue for James Burke (60 minutes).

DOWN: Stephen Keith; John McManus, Barry Trainor, Tom Murray; Caolan Tegart, Matt Conlon, Niall McFarland; Jordan Doran, Liam Savage; Ryan McCusker, Chris Egan, Pearse Óg McCrickard; Tim Prenter, Oisin MacManus, Paul Sheehan. Subs: Tom McGrattan for Ryan McCusker (44 minutes); Sean Campbell for Paul Sheehan (46 minutes); Padraig Doran (58 minutes); Jason Croskery for Chris Egan (59 minutes);

REFEREE: Derek Ryan, Meath