Kildare make it back-to-back Kehoe Cup wins

Kehoe Cup 2024 Round 3

Kildare 1-22

Meath 1-19

Kildare made it back to back Kehoe Cup titles with a three point victory over a Meath side who made Kildare battle all the way and when the Royals lead by four at the interval they were full value for that advantage.

Kildare responded after the break and inspired by a brilliant Jack Sheridan performance that yielded a personal tally of 1-16 they eventually clawed their way to the front to secure the victory.

In a dress rehearsal for this week's opening league encounter in Navan Brian Dowling introduced eight new faces from the win over Down seven days earlier, choosing to rest those who had college games during the week.

On a dry afternoon the crossfield breeze made conditions difficult for the shooters but Meath adjusted best over the opening thirty five minutes and it was corner forward Padraig O Hanrahan, from a free, who had them on the scoreboard after two minutes.

Good work between Moorefield duo Reece Gavin and Conn Kehoe saw the later restore parity with a fine shot over the shoulder.

Meath had settled the better and were showing a greater hunger in those opening minutes.They hit three scores between the fourth and sixth minutes to move five ahead.

James Kelly and Seanie Martin firing over two points before Eoin Donegan got the games opening goal.Seanie Martin played a lovely pass to Donegan and although Cormac Byrne cleared his initial effort off the line Donegan was on hand to tap home the rebound.

Jack Sheridan and Padraig O'Hanrahan swapped frees as we passed the 10th minute before James Kelly added his second when centre back Shane Whitty had time to offload the pass after he found himself deep in Kildare territory. Jack Sheridan added a second free after Cian Shanahan was foulded but Kildare weren't operating with any great fluency and they struggled to gain a foothold in the game.

Daire Shine got his first of the afternoon for the Royals firing over from 45 metres to keep the gap at six.
With referee Kyle Waters letting some hairy tackles go unpunished it seemed to galvanise Kildare.

A superb block from Frank Bass under the stand saw Conn Kehoe transfer the ball to Jack Sheridan who fired over the score of the half from close to the sideline.Padraig O'Hanrahan fired over two quick frees the second a monster from his own 65.It pushed Meath seven ahead with ten minutes to the break.

Kildare finished the half the stronger and four Jack Sheridan points all from frees after Reece Gavin, Conn Kehoe and Daire Guerin felt the brunt of heavy Meath tackles.Kildare went to the dressing room with a pep in their step and after that sluggish start they could look forward to the second half with renewed hope.

Second Half
Meath made four changes at the break to try to build on their 1-9 to 0-8 half time advantage and although Tom Shine pushed them five ahead with thirty seconds it was Kikdare who hit the next four points to close the gap to the minimum after 41 minutes.

The impressive Paul Dolan, enjoying the freedom of midfield, added a point after setting up Rian Boran just a minute earlier. Jack Sheridan added his eight again from a free before Declan Flaherty hit a inspirational point from inside his own 65.
Kildare were in full flow now and despite two Padraig O Hanrahan frees the home side were in the ascendancy.

The Lilywhites struck for their goal on 47. Frank Bass won possession from a Rian Boran pass and a slick pass had Jack Sheridan in on a goal for a chance he wasn't going to miss. Kildare were in front for the first time.

Brian Dowling introduced some fresh legs. Sheridan and O'Hanrahan swapped three frees each but with ten minutes remaining Kikdare still held the advantage.

Kildare went up a notch before the close of play.Paul Dolan,with his second,Jack Higgins and three more Sheridan points pushed Kildare five ahead and well on their way to the silverware.

Meath did find time for a late flourish of points from James Kelly,Kris Gorman and Padraig O Hanrahan but it was only fitting that man of the match Jack Sheridan would have the final say with his 16th point of the afternoon.

A total of 4-38 over three Kehoe games shows the importance of the Naas sharpshooter.
The final whistle sounded after 6 minutes of injury time as Kildare enjoyed a 1-22 to 1-19 victory.

Brian Dowling as manager and Paddy McKenna in his new role as captain didn't have long to wait to get their hands on silverware but with a trip to Navan on the cards next Sunday it will be put to bed Tuesday night. Another close one on the way.

KILDARE: Mark Doyle, Daniel O'Meara, Sean Christanseen, Cor-
mac Byrne, Drew Costello, Cian Shanahan, Rian Boran 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-2, Daire Guerin, Frank Bass, Jack Sheridan 1-16 (13 frees), Jack Higgins 0-1,Conn Kehoe 0-1, Declan Flaherty 0-1, Reece Gavin. Subs: Sean O'Connor for Reece Gavin 46 Mark Grace for Cian Shanahan 56 Muiris Curtin for Frank Bass 62. James Dolan (Cel-
bridge) for Drew Costello 63. Darragh Melville for Declan Flaherty.

MEATH: Philip O Reilly, Jarleth Ennis, Ciaran Lonergan, Ronan Byrne, Niall McLarnon, Shane Whitty, Ethan Devine, Tom Shine 0-1, Sean Geraghty, James Murray, Daire Shine 0-1, Seanie Martin 0-1, Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-12 (12 frees), Eoin Donegan 1-0,James Kelly 0-3. Subs: Simon Ennis for Niall McLarnon (half-time); Kris Gorman 0-1 for Ethan Devine (half-time); James Toher for Sean Geraghty (half-time); Nicholas Potterton for Eoin Donegan (half-time); Mark Horan for James Murray 51. Jack Walsh for Daire Shine 51; Adam Kelly for Tom Shine 60.
Referee Kyle Waters Offaly.