Kildare hurlers turn on the style in the second half against Carlow

Allianz Hurling league Division 2A, round 2

Kildare 0-25

Carlow 0-11

The talk prior to the start of this opening game in the Allianz Hurling League, Division 2A between Kildare and Carlow as all about the home side's lineout as word filtered through that some four players from the home side would not be togging out due to a disciplinary issue, with two players receiving a two week ban due to attending a club function; while the others were due to missing training.

And while Kildare did make three changes from the team announced it had noting to do with discipline, just tactical.
And it was the visitors who got off the brighter side, David Herity's side opening with a point inside a minute through Johnny Byrne.
James Burke, after a brilliant catch was fouled and he duly split the posts to get his tally of 11 points up and running.

Carlow opened their account on five minutes when centre forward Ciaran Whelan split the posts from a free and while the same player missed the posts with his next effort, Kildare added three quick points from Cian Boran, Conor Dowling and Gerry Keegan to make it 0-5 to 0-1 with just 11 minutes on the clock.

Although leading Kildare were certainly not at full tilt and some of their handling was poor to say the least. However it took Carlow until the 17 minute to record their second point of the game, a point from Fiachra Fitzpatrick.

Cian Boran got his second of the half before his brother Cian, needed attention after a high challenge that saw Evan Kelly pick up a yellow car.

James Burke converted a free to put five between them but Carlow hit back with points from centre back Kevin McDonald, taking over the frees after Ciaran Whelan was forced off injured. McDonald added another to the cut the deficit to three but James Burke collected a puck-out, passed to Cian Boran who found the posts.

Jon Nolan and Richard Coady left two between them but before the half-time whistle Kildare tacked on two points from Gerry Keegan and James Burke to leave the half-time score reading Kildare 0-10 Carlow 0-6.

It was by no means a vintage half from Kildare and no doubt manager David Herity had some stern words with his charges during the break.

What ever he said certainly had the desired effect as it was a transformed side who came out for the second period.
Paul Dolan and James Burke extended the lead a The Lilies took complete control but having said that Carlow look like they were in for a goal but a brilliant save from Paddy McKenna denied them and the follow-up effort went left and wide.

Brian Byrne and Fiach O'Toole (Carlow's first point of the second half in the 44 minute) were followed with white flags from Cathal McCabe, James Burke (free), Conan Boran and another free from Burke as Kildare now led 0-17 to 0-7 with just 47 minutes gone.

And there was no let up as the Carlow challenge simply disappeared, the visitors firing over another three to bring their tally up to twenty.

Jon Nolan got the home side's second point of the half on 55 minutes before James Burke burst through from midfield, unleashed a rasping shot but Carlow keeper Brian Tracey was equal to the task.

Kildare took the opportunity to empty the bench and that certainly did not halt their scoring as they continued to find the range through substitute Declan Flaherty (2), Paul Dolan, Cathal McCabe and James burke to bring their total up to a very healthy 25 points.

Carlow got the two final points of the game through Evan Kealy (free) and another from Kevin McDonald as the final whistle arrived on the score line of Kildare 0-25 Carlow 0-11.

Impressive, no doubt but with Carlow missing a few vital players hard to know exactly where Kildare are but they are certainly in top form, scoring well and while the opening half was somewhat sloppy, with very tentative play, overall another fine display.
Next up v Down this Sunday in Hawkfield with a 2 pm throw-in.

SCORERS
Kildare: James Burke 0-11 (9 frees), Gerry Keegan 0-2, Cian Boran 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-2, Declan Flaherty 0-2, Cathal McCabe 0-2, Cathal Dowling 0-1, Johnny Byrne 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1, Conan Boran 0-1.

Carlow: Kevin McDonald 0-3 (free, 65), Jon Nolan 0-2, Richard Coady 0-1, Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-1, Ciaran Whelan 0-1 (free), Fiach O'Toole 0-1 (free), Jack Treacy 0-1, Evan Kelly 0-1 (free).

TEAMS
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Niall Ó Muineacháin, Conan Boran, Simon Leacy; Jack Travers, Rian Boran, Cian Shanahan; Paul Dolan, Cathal McCabe; Johnny Byrne, Gerry Keegan, James Burke (C); Brian Byrne, Cathal Dowling, Cian Boran. Subs: David Qualter for Cian Boran (48 minutes); Declan Flaherty for Cathal Dowling (53 minutes); Sean Christanseen for Rian Boran (58 minutes); Killian Aherne for Johnny Byrne (58 minutes); Cormac Byrne for Simon Leacy (66 minutes).

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, Jack McCullagh; Tony Lawlor, Kevin McDonald, Niall Bolger; Richard Coady, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Ciaran Whelan, Fiach O'Toole; Jack Tracey, Jake Doyle, Ciaran Kavanagh. Subs: Evan Kealy for Ciaran Whelan (12 minutes); JP Treacy for Fiach O'Toole (53 minutes); Eric English for JP Treacy (63 minutes); Diego Dunne for Richard Coady (64 minutes).

REFEREE: Thomas Walsh, Waterford.