JOE McDONAGH CUP ROUND 3
Kildare 0-14
Kerry 1-17
A six-point victory, and a worthy one it was too for Kerry in what was a probably difficult task on the street to a hurting Kildare.
It was a recreation the Kingdom at all times seemed like successful, which isn’t to say it was a simple victory by any method of means. Kildare, regardless of being down to 14 males for the ultimate twenty minutes following the dismissal of Paul Dolan, make their friends work arduous for it.
Even because the Lilywhites hit plenty of poor wides within the final 5 – 6 minutes – two from David Qualter and one from keeper Paddy McKenna – it nonetheless took an excellent objective by Jordan Conway in damage to present the Kingdom the safety they craved.
In the long run it was a candy end result for Stephen Molumphy’s males and retains them very a lot in rivalry for a fourth straight Joe McDonagh Cup last look.
Most encouragingly it’s debatable that nearly as good as they have been, there’s extra to return from the Kingdom. Within the circumstances, it rained continuous from begin to end on the Curragh plain, among the hurling they performed was candy, however extra so it was the grit that dug this one out.
Fionán Mackessy gave a man-of-the-match show on the half-back line, Paudie O’Connor as ever was caught in every little thing and when the fats was within the fireplace Mikey Boyle got here off the bench to settle nerves late on.
That dogged willpower was evident from the off as regardless that Kildare fairly encouragingly – forcing a save from John Brendan O’Halloran two minutes in from Brian Byrne earlier than taking an early lead by means of a David Qualter free – the Kingdom quickly bought to grips with the scenario and earlier than lengthy seemed the higher aspect.
Not by a large margin thoughts you. It was a properly balanced contest because the rain fell softly on the Hawkfield turf. All the identical when Kerry stretched the sport out to a three-point recreation by the eighteenth minute – with factors from Conway (a pair of frees), Darragh Shanahan and Pádraig Boyle – it didn’t really feel undeserved.
Kerry have been working actually arduous and placing a excessive press on the house aspect, who struggled at instances to clear their strains. Once they did, nevertheless, younger Cian Boran at full-forward seemed an actual hazard for Kildare, and an incredible outlet for lengthy ball.
It was little shock when he ended Kildare’s drought on eighteen minutes and with it the house aspect got here increasingly into the sport, going tit-for-tat with the Kingdom for a spell earlier than a run of three factors on-the-trot – beginning with a poor turnover from Paudie O’Connor, which was punished ruthlessly by Cathal McCabe – to degree the sport again up at six factors apiece by 28 minutes.
With the Kildare crowd more and more vocal, Kerry wanted to do one thing to settle the factor down once more and with Brandon Barrett, taking part in intelligent stuff, choosing out Eoin Ross they regained the lead only one minute later.
Additional factors Boyle and Conway (a free) gave the inexperienced and gold again their three-point benefit come the half-time whistle – 0-6 to 0-9 – a really first rate place to be in, particularly contemplating they’ve confirmed very a lot to be a second half aspect this season.
Regardless of that, Kildare began the second half properly with a pair of pointed Qualter frees. Kerry finally getting in control 5 minutes into the half with Pádraig Boyle being blocked for a objective likelihood by Rian Boran.
After {that a} trio of factors unanswered from Kerry – Jordan Conway making an instantaneous influence off the bench, plus a pair of Boyle factors – had Kerry 4 clear on 43 minutes. On prime, in command, simply not dominantly so.
Developing on the fiftieth minute mark the margin remained at 4 – 0-10 to 0-14 – however the sending off of Paul Dolan (on a second yellow) appeared to present Kerry a decisive benefit.
The factor was although, regardless of having a number of the ball they didn’t rating instantly – Eoin Ross lacking out on a objective likelihood – permitting Kildare a manner again into the sport as a pair of factors, Cathal McCabe and a Qualter free, left it 0-12 to 0-14 with twelve minutes remaining.
Even when that made for a considerably nervy end the Kingdom have been capable of provide you with the products each time Kildare bought shut. Niall Mulcahy with a degree straight off the bench on 59 minutes proving the purpose.
Nonetheless as the sport entered the top stage it was nonetheless nearly within the melting pot as we’ve mentioned. Certainly, Kildare had an opportunity for a objective on 61 minutes saved brilliantly by John Brendan O’Halloran at point-blank vary following a intelligent flick by McCabe.
Kerry, although, completed powerfully with Jordan Conway very a lot to the fore. Having a primary likelihood of a objective on 68 minutes – saved by Paddy McKenna – earlier than lastly making the breakthrough within the 71st minute having taken an excellent help from namesake Shane to go away it 0-13 to 1-17.
And, whereas Kildare did get one final rating by means of Qualter, there was by no means any likelihood of the Lilywhites putting again on the Kingdom from there. The spoils going again down the M7 with the inexperienced and gold.
After three rounds Kerry have 5 factors on the board. Not a foul place to be in any respect forward of a fourth spherical conflict away to Offaly in a fortnight’s time.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna, Niall Ó Muineacháin, Simon Leacy, Cian Shanahan, Paul Dolan, Rian Boran, Drew Costello, Johnny Byrne, Cathal McCabe (0-2), James Burke, Gerry Keegan (0-1), Paul Divilly, Brian Byrne, Cian Boran (0-2), David Qualter (0-8f) Subs: Declan Flaherty for P Divilly (inj), 27, Seán Christanseen for J Burke (inj), 41, Seán Whelan for C Boran, 56
KERRY: John Brendan O’Halloran, Evan Murphy, Darragh Shanahan (0-1), Eric Leen, Eoin Ross (0-1), Jason Diggins, Paudie O’Connor, Fionán Mackessy, Kyle O’Connor, Michael Leane, Pádraig Boyle (0-5, 1f), Shane Conway (0-5, 3f), Brandon Barrrett, Colin Walsh (0-1), Gavin Dooley Subs: Jordan Conway (1-2) for G Dooley, half-time, Dan Goggin (0-1) for B Barrett, 53, Niall Mulcahy (0-1) for E Ross, 58, Mikey Boyle for D Shanahan, 62, Philip Lucid for P Boyle, 72
REFEREE: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)
