Dubs prove too strong for Kildare hurlers
Jack Sheridan gets to grips with Dublin's Conor Burke Photo: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes
Dublin made amends for their five point defeat away to Clare last weekend by accounting for a Kildare side who never recovered from conceding two goals inside the opening 14 minutes, courtesy of full forward Ronan Hayes. That gave Dublin the buffer that continued throughout the closing 56 minutes of the game and they were always able to keep Kildare at arms length but some strange refereeing decisions didn't help the Lilywhites cause.
Parnell Park was in remarkably good shape after nearly 72 hours of rain and Kildare arrived in the capital hoping to avenge last years All-Ireland quarter-final defeat. The step up was always going to be tough and so it proved. Muiris Curtin had a glorious goal chance after 12 minutes but Dublin keeper Eddie Gibbons saved for a 65 that Jack Sheridan converted for Kildare's first score..
The resulting puck out lead to that second Hayes goal that opened the nine point lead and emphasied the contrasting fortunes of the respective sides Andy Dunphy's fourth minute clearance broke kindly for Hayes and he drove low past Paddy McKenna. Mckenna had to react quickest to another Hayes attempt on goal and Donal Burke converted the resulting '65.Burke was accurate throughout the half adding six in total as Dublin made all the early running Jack Sheridan was Kildare's only scorer in that opening half as he converted that 65 along with three frees and a delightful point from play. Trailing 2-8 to 0-5 Kildare had a mountain but nine opening half wides didn't help the cause.
Kildare improved considerably after the break and while the gap never came under 9 points they were better defensively as the tackles were sharper and crisper and Dublin had to work harder for scores. Jack Sheridan added four further frees after the break and Cathal McCabe chipped in with a free from distance. With 10 minutes remaining Gerry Keegan landed Kildare's best score of the game but is was mere consolation..
Dublin kept plugging away and they had great performances from Paddy Smyth and Chris Crummey over the closing quarter. Donal Burke brought his personal tally to 0-11.
Last years beaten All Ireland semi finalists outscored Kildare by 7 points to 1 over the closing minutes to help record the 14 point win.
Kildare will have a week to recover before Antrim visit Cedral St Conleths next and it now becomes a significant fixture in the context of the league. Brian Dowling's charges will want to pick up a valuable two points.
Eddie Gibbons; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Connell, Andrew Dunphy, Chris Crummey, Conor Burke; Brian Hayes 0-1,Conor Groarke; Conor Donohue, Donal Burke 0-11 (3'65,7f), Darragh Power 0-1, Dara Purcell 0-2, Ronan Hayes 2-0, Diarmuid O Dulaing 0-1. Subs: Conal O Riain 0-2 for Donohue, 42; Cathal Kennedy 0-1 for Groarke, 48; Sean Gallagher for O'Connell, 62; Tom Brennan for O Dulaing, 64; James Madden for Purcell, 67.
Paddy McKenna; Simon Leacy, Rian Boran, Dan O Meara, Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Liam O'Reilly; Alan Goss, Cathal McCabe 0-1 (1f); Daire Guerin, Gerry Keegan 0-1, Cathal Dowling, Jack Sheridan 0-9(1'65,7f),Muiris Curtin, James Dolan. Subs: Jack Travers for Dolan, h/t; Conan Boran for Goss, 50; Caolan Smith for Dowling, 58; Cathal Dervian for O'Meara, 65; Tim Ryan for Curtin, 67.
James Owens (WX)
