Kildare take Kingdom for first league win

Kildare 1-21

Kerry 1-14

Kildare got their first win of their Allianz Hurling League campaign over Kerry at the weekend. Remarkably, the victory keeps them in the hunt for a potential semi-final spot.

When news came out pre-match that top-scorer Jack Sheridan would miss the game, sympathies went out to manager Brian Dowling whose side has had an unfortunate time with absentees already this year.

The man to bear the burden of responsibility on set-pieces was Maynooth’s David Qualter, and he did so with an almost faultless display.

Kildare started bright and Paul Dolan fed James Burke to set up a goal chance just past the minute mark. Louis Dee between the Kerry posts would deny The Lillies the perfect start with a superb save.

In fact, the visitors would open the scoring with a free from Maurice O’Connor, who was talismanic for his side on the day.
Two Qualter frees and a fine Cian Boran score from play settled Kildare into this game as they took a two-point lead.

Kildare defended well in the opening minutes, and throughout in fact, to reduce Kerry to scores from set-pieces. The gap would come down to one again as Maurice O’Connor struck his effort between the sticks, before Simon Leacy restored the lead with a super score from range.

Leacy’s score would be followed up by a third converted Qualter free of the afternoon just before the 10-minutes mark.
Kerry would fire themselves back into this game and level with three scores on the trot. The turn in fortunes was inspired by a booming score from midfielder Killian Hayes that lifted the crowd.

A turnover high up the pitch would bring Kerry to within one as Kildare coughed up the ball at the back. Dan Goggin would punish the mistake before Maurice O’Connor drew the sides level, again from a set-piece.

Kildare were looking long and into the corners with passes that looked more like the attacker had to make something of them than being given possession. These aerial 50-50s rarely went Kildare’s way as they pumped the ball up to James Burke on several occasions, but saw full-back Evan Murphy often come out the better of the two in the sky.

After some needless losses of possession, Kildare would do as Kerry did just prior and mount a run of scores of their own, going one better with four without reply. An exceptional long-range free from James Burke would set the tone as Kildare kicked on.

Cian Boran would grab his second before David Qualter nailed his first score from play of the day so far with a superb point. Qualter would then drill a ‘65 between the posts to give the home side a four point lead with seven minutes remaining in the half.

It was not a margin they would keep until the break as Kildare gave up easy balls in the wrong areas and were punished on back-to-back occasions for their misplaced passes. Kyle and Maurice O’Connor would be on the end of those turnover moves to score.

Kildare’s lead was back to three points after a brilliant Muiris Curtin score from out wide. The resulting puck-out would be sent straight to Daithí Griffin, who was sweeping, before being sent diagonally across the field to Maurice O’Connor. O’Connor drove at Kildare and smashed his unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.

A Kildare point from James Burke sent them in with a 0-11 to 1-7 lead as their hard-earned margin narrowed just before the break.

It was a sucker-punch to Brian Dowling’s side, who have had a few this year, but to their credit they came flying out of the blocks in the second half.

After a superb Jack Higgins point was matched by Michael Leane at the other end, Kildare sought to find the net as Simon Leacy threaded James Burke through. Burke turned to face the goal, but was blatantly dragged to the floor by Fionán Mackessy and the referee awarded a penalty.

After Kildare missed two last week, Paddy McKenna stepped up again and made no such mistake as he drilled his effort low and hard into the back of the net for the perfect start to Kildare’s second half.

The home side had righted their late first half wrongs, but weren’t done there as they pushed to extend their advantage. After scores from Declan Flaherty and a couple more Qualter frees, Kildare were nearly out of sight as this game hit 15 minutes to go.

The remaining minutes would involve little more than Kildare matching Kerry’s scores as they came down the home stretch. Credit must go to that Kildare defensive unit however as they conceded just one goal chance in this game and were much more solid at the back compared to recent outings.

That goal chance came in the 56th minute as Fionán Mackessy drew a stunning save from Paddy McKenna. The Kildare goalkeeper had to move sharply low to his right to keep the shot from finding his net.

Kildare would run out comfortable victors by a seven-point margin and bring a welcome first league win for Brian Dowling.

MAIN MAN
Simon Leacy
The Naas wing-back was undoubtedly the standout player in this game. Leacy made his mark at both ends of the field as he mopped up everything at the back and transitioned the ball brilliantly to the Kildare forwards throughout.

TURNING POINT
Kildare's strong start to the second half and subsequent penalty was crucial in turning this potentially tricky game around. The goal settled Kildare nerves after a disappointing end to the first half.

TALKING POINT
Following a tough opening few weeks, Kildare remain in with a chance of reaching a league semi-final. A great opportunity for The Lillies to show their best form in the last league game of the season, which they have perhaps only done once this year.

WHAT NOW?
Kildare face Carlow in the last round of their Division 2A league campaign next weekend.

Scorers: Kildare, David Qualter 0-9 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65'), Paddy McKenna 1-1 (1-0 penalty, 0-1 frees), Cian Boran 0-3, James Burke 0-3 (0-1 frees), Declan Flaherty 0-2, Simon Leacy 0-1, Muiris Curtin 0-1, Jack Higgins 0-1.

Kerry, Maurice O'Connor 1-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 65'), Fionán Mackessy 0-2, Killian Hayes 0-1, Dan Goggin 0-1, Kyle O'Connor 0-1, Michael Leane 0-1, Gavin Dooley 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Cian Shanahan, Seán Christianseen, Harry Carroll; Simon Leacy, Conan Boran, Rian Boran; Cathal McCabe, Daire Guerin; David Qualter, Jack Higgins, Paul Dolan; Muiris Curtin, James Burke, Cian Boran. Subs: Declan Flaherty for Harry Carroll (Half-time), Conn Kehoe for Muiris Curtin (61 minutes).

KERRY: Louis Dee; Eric Leen, Evan Murphy, Kyle O'Connor; Tomás O'Connor, Darragh Shanahan, Fionán Mackessy; Tom Doyle, Killian Hayes; David Woulfe, Maurice O'Connor, Rónán Walsh; Dan Goggin, Michael Leane, Daithí Griffin. Subs: Gavin Dooley for Rónán Walsh (Half-time), Niall O'Mahony for Tomás O'Connor (61 minutes), Flor McCarthy for Niall O'Mahony (68 minutes), Morgan Madden for Tom Doyle (70 minutes), Darragh Reen for Michael Leane (71 minutes).

Referee: Sean Cleere, Kilkenny