Big win for Kildare hurlers
Kildare's Daire Guerin tries to barge his way through three Kerry opponents Photo: Sean Brilly
Kildare picked up their opening win of the Allianz National Hurling League with a comprehensive 17 point win over Kerry who were the visitors to Cedral St Conleths for Round 2. After a three point away defeat away to Down last weekend this was a game that Kildare had little margin for error.
Kildare went to the dressing rooms at half time with a healthy 1-14 to 0-8 lead courtesy of a fourth minute Cathal Dowling goal. The Naas man had opened Kildare's account inside the opening minute before teaming up with Daire Guerin for the goal.
Kerry kept in touch with the Lilywhites up to the 26th minute and when Adam Segal pointed from 45 metres the gap was down to three.
The three point gap didn't reflect the home sides superiority and they flexed their muscles before the break outscoring Kerry by 7 points to 1.David Qualter brought his opening half total to seven with three more frees and a 65.Paul Dolan Dan O Meara and James Burke rounded off an impressive half that saw 9 between the sides.
Kerry were slow out of the dressing rooms but they did hit the ground running as they outscored the home side by four points to one inside three minutes.The comeback was shortlived and over the closing 31 minutes they could only ad five Shane Conway frees.
Kildare were impressive over those closing minutes David Qualter responded quickest to a Muiris Curtin save to fire home a second Kildare goal on 40.Qualter went on to bring his personal tally to 1-13. Jack Sheridan returned to fire over three points his free from his own 45.
Gerry Keegan,Simon Keacy,James Burke and Cian Boran were all on the scoreboard as Kildare finished out in style. A three week break awaits before the journey to face Derry on 22 February. They will travel in confidence.
Paddy McKenna, Cormac Byrne, Simon Leacy 0-1, Rian Boran, Daniel O Meara 0-1, Cathal McCabe,Cian Boran 0-1, Daire Guerin 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-1,Daragh Melville, Jack Travers, Muiris Curtin 0-1, David Qualter 1-13 (2 '65,10 frees), James Burke 0-2, Cathal Dowling 1-2. Subs: Gerry Keegan 0-1 for Curtin, 44; Jack Sheridan 0-3 (1f) for Travers, 53; Conn Kehoe for Melville, 58; Richy Hogan for McCabe, 62; James Dolan for Burke, 64.
Louis Lee, Kyle O'Connor, Dara Kearney, Daithi Griffin, Darragh Shanahan, Ronan Walsh, Ronan Donovan, Killian Hayes, Rory O'Mahony 0-2, Jack Sheehan, Adam Segal 0-1, Tom Doyle 0-1, Oisin Maunsell, Shane Nolan 0-1, Shane Conway 0-11 (9f). Subs: Seanie Brosnan 0-1 for Sheehan, h/t; Seanie McGrath for Shanahan, 48; Jeremy McKenna for Segal, 50; Niall Mulcahy for Nolan, 57; Darragh Conway for Hayes, 64.
Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)
